The quality and caliber of individuals leading dentistry, the increased amount of collaboration between medical professionals and the positive impact of consolidation are all reasons for excitement for five dental leaders.
The leaders featured in this article are all speaking at Becker's 2024 dental conferences. This includes our Spring Future of Dentistry Roundtable, which is set for June 19-21 at the Swissotel in Chicago, and our Fall Future of Dentistry Roundtable, which is set for Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
If you work at a DSO or dental practice and would like to be considered as a speaker, contact Randi Haseman at rhaseman@beckershealthcare.com.
As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who will speak at our roundtables. The following are answers from our speakers at the events.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What are you most excited and/or optimistic about in the dental industry?
Haim Haviv. Founder and CEO of Hudson Dental (New York City): The future of dentistry and the much needed consolidation. Historically, dentists have been pushed into ownership, irrespective of whether it's the right fit for them personally or financially. The DSO model has changed that. Moreover, the providers who are interested in ownership can still have a big stake in the game, while benefiting from the scale and resources that the DSO offers.
Louis Kaufman, DDS. Managing Member of Smile Design Studio of Hyde Park (Chicago): I am optimistic that there will continue to be collaboration between medical and dental. We need to see the integration of dental health and overall health. We will see continued integration with other medical disciplines, I believe we will see more advancements in genetic testing and research. Teledentistry will become increasingly important to allow more consultations that can be done remotely and decrease the expense to the patient and overhead of the dental practice. This can be useful for patients in underserved areas of the country.
Trevor Lines, DDS. Business Development Consultant of RevTribes (Gilbert, Ariz.): The thing I am most optimistic about in the dental industry, as it undergoes a massive consolidation, is the caliber of people who I see leading the growing organizations. Every leader I have met, interacted with or coached is an outstanding human being who cares deeply about the care provided by their business. If this is a trend which continues, the industry as a whole will be delivering on a very high standard of service to both its internal and external customers.
Tia Meyer. Clinical Director of Neighborhood Dental Care (Sioux Falls, S.D.): The opportunity to serve more patients by coming together as one. Focusing on collaboration, rather than competition! I truly believe this will elevate our dental community to new heights. I can't help but feel the immense benefits that will continue to arise from offices coming together as groups! Collaborative efforts among dental professionals continue to lead to a myriad of advantages, from shared resources and knowledge to enhanced patient care and community outreach. Imagine the impact we will make collectively, the ability to pool our expertise, streamline administrative processes and even negotiate better deals with suppliers. Together, we can create a supportive network that fosters growth, innovation, and, most importantly, a stronger foundation for delivering exceptional dental services.
Justin Welke, DDS. Founder and Owner of Chicago Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics: I am most excited about the consolidation of specialty practices. I am also very excited about the use of AI in the dental industry.