Dr. Rand, of Watermark Dental in Brewer, Maine, recently spoke with Becker’s about what he predicts for the dental industry in 2024.
Editor’s note: This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Q: What changes do you expect to see in the dental industry in 2024?
Dr. Brad Rand: Dentistry in the U.S. will continue to see many of the recent trends continue:
- DSOs will continue to increase (recent numbers suggest around 16%).
- Medical loss ratios for dental insurers will continue to be introduced at the state level (12 states in 2023) with various methods of implementation.
- Recruitment of dental hygienists and dental assistants will continue to be challenging.
- Reimbursement rates from dental insurances are likely to remain flat, with some areas seeing modest increases and others experiencing some decreases.
- Dollars spent on dental care have been increasing, but consumption is likely to slow in step with the overall economy.
- 3D printing will continue to be one of the top industry trends with printing of final dentures, veneers, crowns and other fixed restorations.
