How We Can All Ensure Dentistry Will Be a Good Career Path for Generations to Come

If we want future generations to see dentistry as are warding, sustainable and fulfilling career, we must take intentional steps today to ensure its longevity, adaptability and continued relevance.We must embrace change, expand education, set global standards and create a profession that is positioned for success for generations to come.Here are a few of my thoughts on the longevity for dentistry…

Short-Term: Providing the Tools for Success

For dentistry to thrive long-term, we need to first ensure that today’s practitioners have the resources they need to be successful. The future of dentistry will be shaped by advancements in technology, science and business practices. We must equip dentists with:

• AI guidance to enhance diagnostics, efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Access to cutting-edge research and innovations that allow them to offer the best possible care.
• New business models and educational resources that help them navigate the dentistry’s changing landscape.

By making sure that today’s dentists have what they need, we lay the groundwork for a profession that continues to attract the best and brightest in the years ahead.

Long-Term: A Diverse, Evolving Profession That Reflects Society

The next generation of dentists will look different, work differently and expect different things from their careers. The best way to ensure the profession remains strong is to embrace that evolution, not resist it.

That means:

• Evolving our approach to education, business and patient care to meet the needs of modern practitioners.
• Recognizing that growth and innovation are necessary to remain the leading voice in dentistry.
• Encouraging more diversity in leadership so our profession reflects the people we serve.

The future of our profession depends on membership involvement, adaptability and a willingness to embrace new ideas. If we do this right, dentistry will become an even stronger, more influential and more fulfilling profession for generations to come.

Expanding Our Reach: The Global Future of Dentistry

What we do here in the U.S. has ripple effects around the world. As a profession, we can benefit from international collaboration, sharing education and resources and ensuring that no matter where someone learns or practices, they have access to the highest standards of care.

To accomplish this, we must:

• Open up aspects of education and accreditation to ensure that all dentists, regardless of location, receive the best possible training.
• Build up education in non-U.S. countries to strengthen the worldwide dental profession.
• Share a code of standards internationally to align best practices across borders.
• Build a strong, diverse, international network of dentists who can learn from and support one another.

By doing this, we position dentistry as a truly global profession, one that welcomes and uplifts all who want to be part of it.

The Time to Act is Now

We cannot assume that the future of dentistry will take care of itself. We must be the ones to shape it. By expanding our vision, strengthening our global presence, supporting today’s practitioners and welcoming new voices into the profession, we ensure that dentistry continues to be a respected, innovative and rewarding career.

The world is changing, and dentistry must change with it. The question is: Will we lead that change, or will we let it happen to us?

I know which path I’m choosing.