Summary
Dental leaders are facing critical decisions on whether to grow, partner, sell, or maintain their current course amidst industry changes. With dental service organizations (DSOs) consolidating and artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping modern practices, the choices made this year could significantly influence the next decade. The fifth annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place on September 14-15 at the Hilton Chicago, aims to provide 250 executives and 90 speakers the opportunity to discuss growth, talent, and technology in dentistry, fostering informed decision-making.
In an interview, Curtis Swager, CEO of North Pittsburgh Oral Surgery, shared insights on the biggest issues in the dental industry today. He highlighted the growing presence and adoption of AI, emphasizing its potential benefits and challenges. Many organizations are exploring AI largely as a cost-saving tool, but Swager noted the importance of understanding its implications on patient care and business operations. He acknowledged his own group's cautious approach to AI, especially following an unsuccessful initial implementation in their phone system.
As the dental industry matures with technology, Swager expressed excitement about the advancements while remaining apprehensive about the pace of regulatory developments surrounding AI. He underscored the need for organizations to adapt responsibly and maintain workforce integrity as these tools evolve. Effective dental leaders in the coming years will need to balance traditional business fundamentals with innovative technological strategies, investing in team development while embracing change.
Swager pointed out that culture is paramount for the success of DSOs and dental groups, reflecting a shift back to basics in the industry. The retention and growth of top talent will be crucial as groups navigate a landscape that is expected to see significant mergers and realignments in the near future. Moving forward, the focus will remain on the people within organizations, as strong teams will drive success in this ever-evolving environment.
Show Notes
In this episode, Curtis Swogger, Chief Executive Officer, North Pittsburgh Oral Surgery, discusses how AI is reshaping dental operations, why thoughtful implementation matters more than rapid adoption, and the importance of maintaining a people-first culture. He also shares his perspective on leadership, workforce development, and what will drive success for dental groups in the years ahead.
More from Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
In this episode, Matt Hare, Vice President of Network Growth and Client Success, CoverMyMeds, and Bill Sicheneder, Vice President of Network Sales, CoverMyMeds, discuss how healthcare organizations can reduce medication access barriers through stronger connectivity, streamlined workflows, and strategic partnerships. They also explore preparing for benefits reverification season and building scalable systems that improve efficiency and patient access.
In this episode, Bahar Bazmi, Chief Revenue Cycle Officer at WVU Health System, joins the podcast to discuss the revenue cycle through the lens of the “sandwich analogy” and how its different components work together to support financial performance. She also shares insights on defining success over the next year and empowering staff to strengthen revenue cycle operations.
This episode recorded live at the Becker's 11th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference features Tinu Tadese, MD, System Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Boston Medical Center, who discusses reducing data fragmentation, preserving clinical context across care transitions and turning patient data into actionable insights
In this episode, John D’Angelo, MD, President and CEO of Northwell Health, discusses a fundamentally different approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA): bioelectronic medicine, which uses the body’s own nervous system to help regulate the inflammation that drives the disease. Delivered by a small implanted medical device that stimulates the vagus nerve, the FDA-approved therapy offers an alternative to costly medications that can also cause significant side effects or fail to provide adequate relief.
In this episode, Ryan Mezinger, Senior Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at MetroHealth, and Dr. Amit Gir, CEO and Co-Founder of Phox Health, discuss how MetroHealth's pharmacy delivery model is improving medication access, adherence, patient satisfaction, and care continuity while strengthening chain of custody and pharmacy operations.