Continued margin compression, outside people trying to get in between dental teams, and insurance companies denying care and delaying payments are a few of the burdens facing dental leaders.
Prioritizing alignment, culture and honesty with staff and patients is key to navigating these strains.
Three dentists and DSO executives recently connected with Becker’s to share some of the external pressures that are pushing the industry today.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What external pressures in the dental industry concern you most today?
Matt Hendrick. Co-founder of Elevate Dental Partners (Denver): The external pressure that concerns me most in dentistry today is the growing influence of short-term capital combined with rising cost structures. As private equity has accelerated into the space, some models are built around compressed hold periods and aggressive growth targets. When those incentives are not aligned with doctors and long-term patient care, it creates cultural strain and operational instability.
Source: Dentistry’s biggest pressure points / Becker’s Dental