Future-Proofing Your Dental Practice: Embracing Change in 2026

As we step into 2026, dentistry faces a rapidly changing landscape. With new challenges come new opportunities, and now is the perfect time to prepare your practice for the future. Future-proofing isn’t just about survival - it’s about thriving and getting ahead, in an environment shaped by technology, shifting demographics, and evolving patient expectations. 

The Challenges Ahead 

A recent White Paper by Henry Schein One highlights several trends that will define dentistry in the coming years: 

• Recruitment Struggles: Over 75% of practices attempted to hire in the past year, with many finding it difficult to attract talent.

• Demographic Shifts: More female dentists are entering the profession, but many prefer not to own practices. This trend could reshape traditional ownership models. 

• Decline in Ownership Aspirations: Most associates have no plans to own a practice - 71.5% in the UK, 90% in Canada, and 69% in Australia. 

• Rise of DSOs: Corporate dental groups are expanding rapidly, with the global market projected to reach $835 billion by 2034. 

These changes raise an important question: How can your practice adapt and stay competitive? 

1. Prioritize Staff Retention and Morale

Your team is the backbone of your practice. Retaining skilled staff is just as important as recruiting new talent. Here’s how you can support them: 

• Leverage Technology: Advancements in AI-powered imaging means that AI can now be used as a “second opinion” while reading X-rays – reducing stress and improving diagnostic confidence. 

• Streamline Admin Work: Keep an eye on how technology can support this. For example, AI note-taking support is now available. This allows clinicians to dictate or record appointments directly into the software, saving time and reducing burnout. 

• Listen and Respond: Regular feedback sessions ensure staff feel heard and valued. A happy team means better patient care.  

2. Embrace a Multidisciplinary Approach

Recruitment challenges require creative solutions, but one of the most effective strategies lies in maximizing the skills already within your practice. By fully utilizing the expertise of dental hygienists, therapists, and dentists together, you create a seamless team that delivers broader patient care and strengthens the practice as a whole. 

This model doesn’t just ease staffing pressures - it expands patient access, improves efficiency, and ensures every role in the practice is working to its full potential. 

3. Elevate Patient Experience

These days, patients are more informed and expect transparency. Improving their experience is key to retention and treatment acceptance. Recent advancements in AI tools and systems for dentists can be helpful here. For example: 

• AI-Assisted Imaging: Dental imaging software, like Dentally Vision AI,  transforms X-rays into clear visuals that patients can understand. It uses color and labels to clearly signpost tooth parts, and the AI’s findings. 

•  In a recent episode of the Spilling the Teath podcast, Dr Kunal Rai, Clinical Director at Meliora Dental, reported a 75% increase in premium treatments after introducing AI imaging software - because patients trust what they can see. 

• Save Time for Conversations: AI note-taking tools, like Dentally’s Clinical AI Notes, allow you to record appointments and turn them into comprehensive notes or dictate your findings. This eliminates the need for lengthy post appointment write-ups and frees up minutes in every appointment - giving you more time to listen to your patients and build trust.  

Want to hear more? Check out Dr Rai’s episode of Spilling the Teath for insights into how AI improves patient confidence. 

4. Harness the Power of Marketing

Marketing isn’t just another item on the to‑do list - it’s one of the two most critical aspects practices must remember if they want to thrive. With patient expectations shifting and digital engagement at an all‑time high, the practices that win will be those that treat marketing as a strategic growth engine, not a side project. 

In the dental industry, marketing is about building trust, shaping brand identity, and creating a consistent patient journey. Practices that invest in this holistic approach see stronger loyalty, higher conversion rates, and a reputation that stands out in a crowded marketplace. 

Social media is a powerful marketing entry point for many practices, and Rebekah Mountford, Director of Strategy and PR at Tooth Club, recently offered practical advice about this on the Spilling the Teath podcast: 

• Give Social Media a Go: TikTok and Instagram Reels are dynamic tools for attracting new patients. Don’t overthink it - have fun with short, engaging videos that showcase your practice’s personality. 

• Remember the Human Touch: Ensure real people (not bots) respond quickly to inquiries. Redirecting clients to online booking links, such as those available through the Dentally Portal, can turn online engagement into confirmed appointments - a true game‑changer. 

For more of an insight into how social media marketing can transform your practice, listen to our full episode with Rebekah Mountford here.  

Your Action Plan for 2026 

Ultimately, technology should enable, not replace, human care.  

Patients want empathy, trust, and connection. Going into 2026, consider how AI can help your clinicians work smarter, spot issues early, and avoid invasive treatments. But equally, focus on patient care and experience - the human element of it all remains central to dentistry. 

For a deeper look at the future of dentistry and how you can prepare, listen to conversations with leading dental voices on Spilling the Teath now, or read Henry Schein One’s latest White Paper: Current and Future Perceptions in Dentistry.