5 Trends Your Dental Practice Needs to Know in 2025

As 2024 draws to a close, many dental practices are looking ahead to the future and what 2025 will bring. The world is full of new innovations, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, and consumers and businesses alike are considering ethical and logistical questions about how they consume and operate. For dental and oral surgery practices everywhere, big questions about how they run their practices, how they manage their staff, and whether to invest in technology have to be answered.

While no one source has exactly the right answer for every dental or oral surgery practice, we can make some key predictions about what trends we can expect to see impact our industry in 2025.

#1 Digital Dentistry Has Arrived

Like many other industries, dental and oral surgeons are also embracing AI. We will continue to see AI enhancing both clinical practice and the patient experience in these areas, among others: diagnosis, image analysis, treatment planning, patient management and engagement and operational tasks (like inventory management).

#2 Patient Expectations are Rising

People are getting more and more used to highly personalized customer engagement that supports them throughout their whole experience. They are looking for easy ways to receive instructions and reminders, fill out forms, and give feedback.

#3 Cosmetic Dentistry Leads Innovation

Cosmetic dentistry is increasing in popularity and leading the way when it comes to innovation. In fact, a recent study indicates that this market is projected to experience an annual growth rate of 7.1%. The top ways people are embracing innovative cosmetic dentistry are through digital smile design, gum contouring, teeth-whitening w/nanotechnology, ultra-thin and durable veneers, and by exploring more biocompatible materials.

#4 Dental Service Organization (DSO) Sales Increase

DSOs are on a fast track for growth. One report indicates that the market will be worth $454.7 billion by 2030, for an impressive growth rate of 15.8% a year. Understanding this, we know that it’s likely that in 2025 we will continue to see an increase in DSO sales. 

#5 Ongoing Staffing Shortages

In 2024, 60% of dentists indicated staffing recruitment was their top challenge, and we expect this to stay true in 2025. While the staffing shortage may not be solvable overnight, mitigating the effects of the staffing shortage is possible. Practices will need to leverage digital dentistry and other technologies that can help their staff save time while still ensuring their patients’ expectations are being met.

Next year promises to be an exciting, challenging year for dental and oral surgery practices everywhere. Whether you’re considering implementing AI at your practice, or selling to a DSO, there are big questions to consider and it will be important to keep a pulse on what’s to come.

Intiveo is a preferred communication partner for oral surgeons and other dental specialists. The company helps over 14,000 providers communicate the important requirements of their procedures to over 18 Million patients annually.