As dental suppliers learn to adapt to price fluctuations brought on by ongoing tariffs, dental practices may also have to make some changes to remain successful.
Jeff Cellucci, chief strategy officer at MB2 Dental, recently spoke with Becker’s to discuss how tariffs are affecting dental practice operations, and the best ways to adapt to price fluctuations.
Editor’s note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.
Question: How are the current tariffs affecting dental practices as far as the cost of dental supplies, equipment and materials?
Jeff Cellucci: For many dental practices, the ripple effects of current tariffs are just beginning to surface. While some categories remain stable, others — especially those tied to global supply chains — are showing early signs of pricing pressure. Private practices and smaller groups with limited purchasing power are beginning to receive these increases from select vendors.
At MB2 Dental, we haven’t seen direct cost increases reach our practices yet. However, we’ve been in close communication with our preferred vendors since the first tariff announcements and continue to monitor the situation closely. With our scale and national footprint, we believe we should be among the last to absorb any pricing changes — if at all. If vendors move early to raise prices, we’re ready to shift spending toward alternative products or partners who maintain pricing discipline. In this environment, we believe vendors who hold steady will be best positioned to earn increased volume and long-term loyalty.
Source: Tariffs bite into dentistry: How dentists can stay ahead / Becker’s Dental