The dental specialty poised for growth in 2025

Regulatory changes and a continued focus on preventive care are just a couple of factors that are expected to drive significant growth in pediatric dentistry.

Barry Lyon, DDS, a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for Dental Care Alliance, spoke with Becker's about his predictions for the field in 2025.

Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.

Dr. Barry Lyon: The pediatric dental market continues to be strong, and the anticipation for 2025 is that it will be a robust portion of oral healthcare in the private sector and the DSO market. According to Precedence Research, the global pediatric dental market size was valued at $12.7 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around $48.07 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 14.17% between 2024 and 2033. This is being driven by the increasing prevalence of dental disease in younger populations and supportive government initiatives promoting oral health, along with a continued focus on preventive healthcare. Should the Trump administration influence removing fluoride from public water systems, then an expected significant rise in tooth decay will further strengthen growth of the pediatric dental market.

DSOs with specialty care have withstood recessions and the pandemic, while still exhibiting significant growth potential in pediatric dentistry. To further illustrate the expected demand for pediatric dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry conducted a Pediatric Dental Workforce Study, which showed that the number of practicing pediatric dentists in the U.S. nearly doubled from 4,213 in 2001 to 8,033 in 2018. The study projects that if current retirement and graduation rates persist, the number of pediatric dentists will increase by 62 percent, expanding the supply of full-time pediatric dentists from 9 to 14 per 100,000 children.

There’s significant unmet need for pediatric dental services, especially in more rural areas, not to mention the effect of removing fluoride from public water systems. The outlook for growth in 2025 and beyond is promising.

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