What is the Biggest Problem Facing Dentistry Today?

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Dentistry and oral surgery are very rewarding to work in, but that doesn’t mean that the industry isn’t without its challenges. When we think about the biggest problem facing dentistry today, the truth is, there is more than one — and they all have solutions. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the biggest problems and innovative solutions facing dentistry today.

Problem: staffing shortages

In its recent 2025 Q2 report on the economic outlook in dentistry, the American Dental Association (ADA) reports that recruitment is still a challenge for practices of all sizes. At a glance, some statistics from this report include:

• Of the 32% of solo practices that recruited for dental hygienists:
  •  75.2% reported that recruitment has been extremely challenging
  • 17.7% reported that recruitment has been very challenging
• Of the 52.3% of practices with two to nine dentists that recruited for dental assistants:
  • 42.4% reported that recruitment has been extremely challenging
  • 28.5% reported that recruitment was very challenging

The same report also found that, for every practice size, recruiting for both dentists and administrative staff was challenging,

This study highlights how staffing shortages continue to be one of the biggest problems facing dentistry today. There are many factors that go into staffing shortages, including:

• Dental staff feeling overworked or professionally unsatisfied
• Burnout, especially from the lingering effects of the early Covid-19 pandemic 
• For some positions, unsatisfactory pay

When a practice is understaffed, it can increase stress for everyone. It can make it hard to focus on what matters most: delivering patient care. 

What can be done to solve staffing shortages in dentistry?

Solving staffing shortages requires creative problem-solving. While this challenge may continue through economic fluctuations, practice owners can use different tools to lessen the impact of this ongoing issue.

How automation can help

While nothing replaces human interactions in any healthcare setting, sometimes automation can be used to cover some of the gaps. Some of the ways automation through software can help combat staffing challenges are:

• Leveraging digital forms. Automate form sends for waivers, intake forms, and more — then save time by not having to type out information from paper forms into a computer.

• Sending reminders. Automating form completion reminders, appointment reminders, and more, significantly decreases the burden on administrative staff.

• Using mass messaging. Making sure a message that needs to be sent to multiple patients (an unexpected closure, for example) is made a lot easier with automation.
• Adopting a virtual waitlist. These can automatically notify patients if there is an opening, and give the staff the versatility to fill the schedule with a few clicks of the mouse.

Making use of automation can increase efficiency for your staff, so they can focus on patient care.

How can leaders help?

It goes without saying that a positive working atmosphere can help with job retention. When staffing shortages are already a problem, maintaining morale can be challenging. This is where leadership can play a key role. Creating and maintaining that positive atmosphere can include:

• Creating space to prioritize work-life balance and mental health
• Demonstrating that every person’s contribution is valuable
• Communicating goals and expectations with the team
• Scheduling team check-ins to see where everyone is at

Implementing a few changes at a dental practice can go a long way to creating a positive work environment for everyone. (We created the Practice Management Cheat Sheet with Dr. ArNelle Wright, if you want a few tips!)
 

Problem: engaging patients ineffectively

A common problem for dentists and oral surgeons is knowing how to engage patients effectively. This can result in a few different issues, including:

• Non-compliance. Patients either fail to remember or misplace pre- or post-procedure instructions. This can impact their health or create conditions where an appointment can’t take place. For example, someone coming in for a tooth extraction might walk through the door drinking a coffee.

• Wrong communication method. Some patients will miss a text, whereas others will never listen to a voice mail. As a result, patients may miss reminders or confirmations that come through in methods that don’t work for them.

• Happy patients don’t become advocates. Satisfied patients can theoretically be your best advocates! However, it can be challenging to leverage that advocacy, such as encouraging patients to leave social reviews so other patients can hear about you.
• Patients don’t come in for recalls. Getting patients to buy into their oral health and come in for recalls is an ongoing challenge for dental practices.

These are just some examples of how ineffective engagement can impact a practice. But the good news is that, with some strategizing, engaging your patients can be simple!

How can I effectively engage patients?

Engaging patients effectively can be hard! It’s important to keep in mind who your patients are when you’re building a strategy. For example, an older patient who is used to communicating by phone may want to keep it that way. But a younger patient who is used to confirming every appointment by text may want to communicate only by text!

One important thing to bear in mind is that changes in technology have a huge impact on the dental industry. We can see this reflected in the different ways we engage patients. Some examples of patient engagement include:

• Communicating in the medium the patient prefers, such as voice, text, or email
• Offering digital forms that the patient can fill out in the comfort of their home
• Creating reminder cadences that set the patient up for success
• Following up after treatment to provide instructions, check on recovery, and keep the patient connected to your practice
• Making it easy to leave reviews by sending direct links and simple instructions via their preferred communication method

When patient engagement tools are used strategically, practices can reduce no-shows, increase treatment acceptance, and build stronger long-term relationships with patients.

Problem: keeping up with rapid technological change

The dental industry is evolving quickly, with new tools, systems, and equipment emerging each year. While this creates opportunities for better patient care and operational efficiency, it also brings challenges for dental teams trying to keep up.

Some of the main difficulties include:

• Implementing new tech. Training staff on new technology, such as a 3D printer, can be challenging to make time for in the staff’s schedule
• Upfront costs. Investing in the latest equipment or software can be expensive, especially for smaller practices or solo dentists.
• Integration issues. New tools don’t always work seamlessly with existing systems, leading to manual workarounds that slow productivity.
• Staff resistance to change. Team members may be hesitant to adopt new processes, especially if they’re already managing heavy workloads.

How can dental practices keep up with technological shifts?

Adapting to technological change requires both a strategy and a mindset shift. It will be important to prioritize what matters most for your practice. Here are some approaches you might take:

• Invest in ongoing training. Allocate time and resources for staff to learn new systems, and provide refresher sessions to reinforce skills.
• Adopt tools that integrate well with existing software. This reduces duplicate work and makes transitions smoother.
• Roll out changes gradually. Implement new features in stages, giving the team time to adjust and offer feedback.
  Highlight the “why.” Showing staff how a tool will save time, improve patient care, or make their day easier can help build buy-in.

By taking a proactive approach, dental practices can embrace innovation without feeling overwhelmed — ultimately using technology to enhance both the patient and staff experience.

Intiveo offers resources to help you find solutions

We offer a variety of free resources to support dental and oral surgery practices tackling the biggest problems facing dentistry today! You can also hear insight directly from industry leaders on our podcast, The Patient Experience Blueprint. Join our community by subscribing here, and get resources delivered straight to your inbox!