For a number of years, dentistry has operated within an environment of uncertainty. In the coming decade there are several social, economic and technological influences that are set to realign and rebalance, meaning the profession faces a profound transformation set to alter the way in which dentistry is delivered.
Late last year, Henry Schein One conducted an online survey to investigate these aspects of the profession and gauge the opinions of the people working within it. The survey included questions on clinical & operational procedures, relationships with patients and how the delivery of dentistry might change in the next half decade and more.
722 clinical and clerical dental professionals across Australia, Canada and the UK completed the survey and the data collected from these responses has been collated into white paper Current & Future Perceptions in Dentistry .
The top challenges facing Australian practices include staff shortages, increased cost of materials and disposable income of patients.
Our survey found these challenges have been felt globally as the ability to access dentistry, particularly for elective procedures, is linked to a patient's personal economic situation and disposable income.
Costs in running a dental practice continue to increase and staff shortages have been felt the most when recruiting for dentist and dental nurse positions. This has been a huge challenge for the global industry but particularly for 39.4% of Australian practices.
How can we adapt to these challenges?
Practice management systems (PMS) have transformed the role of dental software from functional assistant when first released to a powerful business tool in 2025. But did you know that a surprise feature of these tools is not just housing your patients data but streamlining current practices.
Dental software from Henry Schein One now integrates with scanning and imaging software, patient feedback software for reputation management and payment software. All of which is designed to streamline in-surgery and front-desk processes and help the profession address the challenges being faced.
Download Henry Schein One’s white paper Current & Future Perceptions in Dentistry and explore the technology, trends, and insights shaping the next decade of dental care.
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