Trends in Dentistry 2021

Making sense of unusual times for clinicians

Jason Mazda

Predictability is one of the primary goals that dental professionals strive to achieve, not only in clinical cases but in the operation of their businesses as well. Unfortunately, as we approach the 2-year anniversary of when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, unpredictability reigns supreme. Dental practices across the country have been busy as patients returned to their chairs with more disposable income, but will it last? Adoption rates for certain technologies continue to climb, but dentists are still closely monitoring costs and, in some cases, limiting capital investments. And amid these and other pandemic-related concerns, dentistry is facing its own unique challenges in dealing with the staffing shortages that have plagued the country as a whole.…