Increased use of artificial intelligence and patient education could lead to a greater focus on preventive care in the dental industry this year, according to Steven Edwards, DDS.
Dr. Edwards is the president of Renuzoral, a dental product company. He recently spoke to Becker's to share his predictions for dentistry in 2024.
Note: This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: How do you think the dental industry will evolve in 2024?
Dr. Steven Edwards: The dental field is poised for remarkable advancements that will revolutionize the way we approach oral care. Here are my impressions of what dentistry in 2024 might look like:
Advanced digital imaging techniques and intraoral scanners will seamlessly integrate CAD/CAM workflows for most products, including temporary crown and bridge restorations, dentures, sleep/snore appliances, periodontal trays and more. Also, 3D additive printing of restorations will start getting better and may take the place of some of the subtractive methods of drilling solid blocks.
Artificial intelligence algorithms will work alongside dental professionals, assisting in the diagnosis of dental conditions and predicting treatment outcomes. AI can help develop treatment plans, prevention plans, workflows and even aid charting and treatment notes, thus freeing up valuable time for more personalized patient care.
Automation will also streamline administrative tasks, front desk duties, scheduling, handling emails, complaints, reviews, marketing, advertising, newsletters and much more. Artificial intelligence has barely scratched the surface of what can be dreamed up. I’m amazed at how much I use it already.
The materials used in dentistry will undergo significant advancements. Imagine advances in biomaterials and tissue engineering approaches that will pave the way for regenerative dentistry, promoting natural healing and restoration of oral tissues. In contrast, we’ll soon see needle ablation of wisdom teeth buds so that wisdom teeth won’t even grow, thus saving people from the trauma of third molar surgeries.
Access to dental care will be greatly expanded through the power of teledentistry. Remote consultations, patient education and triage services will be readily available, ensuring that even those in underserved areas have access to high-quality dental care.
In this future of dentistry, prevention will take center stage. With help from AI, dental professionals will have more ability to emphasize educating patients about oral hygiene practices, nutrition and supplementation, and will develop personalized self-care oral systemic fitness programs and regimens. After all, 80% of most common dental problems are easily preventable with the proper education and systems.
The connection between oral health and overall health will be fully recognized and integrated. Dental professionals will collaborate closely with healthcare providers, seamlessly managing systemic conditions that have oral manifestations. This holistic approach will ensure that your oral health is an integral part of your overall well-being. We’ll see more sleep medicine and sleep therapy coordination between dentists and physicians.
Despite the surge in DSO growth, dentistry will become more personalized than ever before. DSOs will realize that patients are as important as the bottom line. And Private offices will become more personalized to compete against generic DSOs. Advances in genetics and genomics will allow for tailored risk assessments, preventive strategies and materials based on individual factors. Your dental care will be precisely tailored to your specific needs, ensuring the best possible outcomes. We’ll see private dentists start going out of insurance networks and offering customized dental membership programs with better benefits and fewer hassles.
To address access issues, dental therapists and other midlevel providers will play a vital role in providing basic dental services under the supervision of dentists. This will particularly benefit underserved rural and low-income areas. There are already active programs for registered dental assistants in extended functions who provide interceptive care and communicate with supervising dentists via teledentistry and online preventive dental home care courses.
Furthermore, 3D-printed dental implants, some of which more closely mimic biological root shape and size, will emerge as a viable, cost-effective alternative to traditional implants. With improved success rates, more individuals will have access to life-changing implant procedures, restoring both function and aesthetics. Along with such procedures, patients will get advanced preventive training, because implants can fail similarly to natural teeth. New post-processing procedures to remove the oxide layer on titanium implants will prevent "metallosis," which is a probable cause of unsolved implant failures.
As the dental field progresses, payment models will shift toward prevention-focused approaches. Early intervention and comprehensive education will be prioritized to reduce the overall costs associated with extensive dental treatments. Public education on oral health will be at the forefront of dental initiatives, empowering individuals to take charge of their dental well-being. After all, many patients are starting to understand the oral-systemic link and how poor oral health can affect the entire body.
Oral microbiome testing will become widespread and become the "expert" instead of the ancient dental probe and subjective assessments of bleeding and arbitrary pocket depths. What gets measured correctly and is easily understood can be managed more successfully. Microbiome testing can revolutionize dental prevention. Despite the current surge of probiotics, we’ll see more emphasis on prebiotics to feed good microbes and postbiotics, which are more sustainable and resilient than probiotics.
The future of dentistry in 2024 is bright with technology, prevention, and personalized care leading the way. It's a future where oral health is seamlessly integrated into overall health, where access to care is expanded through innovative solutions and where your dental journey is tailored to your unique needs.