Growing awareness about oral health’s integral role in overall wellness is driving a promising rise in demand for dental care services. In fact, 65% of adults visited a dentist in the past year,¹ reflecting an increasing focus on preventive care. While this trend is positive, it’s important to consider the impact on dental practices as they adjust to this influx in demand. As more patients seek dental care, dental practice staff face the challenge of balancing patient demand with the increased administrative and financial workload that comes with running a practice and providing high-quality, efficient health care.

While a shortage of workers remains a concern among dentists for 2025,² according to the American Dental Association, dentists feel a sense of confidence in terms of their practice, dentistry overall, and the US economy.³ Thanks to novel innovations in technology, there are new ways to help automate and facilitate administrative processes, such as managing electronic health records and streamlining patient financing to help your staff adapt to a shifting consumer landscape. Digital tools can help organizations focus on quality patient care and practice growth. These resources are especially impactful for small to mid-sized businesses as smaller teams are more likely to be operating with limited staff. As we look to the year ahead, keeping up with the latest innovations will be the key to maximize efficiency and streamline processes.

Integrate digital scheduling and check-in capabilities

Incorporating digital and AI technology can benefit practices by automating office staff functions traditionally performed manually, such as scheduling appointments, sending patient reminders, checking insurance eligibility, or managing clinical documentation. By automating these functions through advanced technology, patients can efficiently request and schedule the services they need from their providers. Using technology to bridge the gap between patients and providers helps empower patients to prioritize their health and wellness while freeing staff to focus more on direct patient interactions.

Practice management systems support back-office tasks

Providers are increasingly investing in practice management systems (PMS) to organize manual billing and administrative tasks.⁴ When used to its full potential, PMS technology can automate electronic health records, insurance claims, and accounts receivable, reducing the potential for errors. It can also track payments and manage financing. Utilizing a PMS software that also integrates payment solutions, such as CareCredit, can contribute to seamless financial processes for providers and patients alike.

Partner with financial services to manage payment processes

Oftentimes, discussing finances with patients can be challenging for providers, as it is already a sensitive subject made even more complex when tied to important care decisions. According to Synchrony’s 2023 dental lifetime of care study, paying for treatment is a common concern among patients.⁵ Solutions like Synchrony’s CareCredit credit card can help dental practices of all sizes—including small and mid-sized independent practices—navigate these difficult conversations by offering support and resources through a curated provider portal to make educating patients on the financing process easier. It’s key to work with a financer who supports practice staff with the tools they need to seamlessly meet the needs of their customers and business, all while building loyalty and delivering quality care among patients.

Third-party financing may also simplify revenue cycle management by managing the burden of payments for providers. This creates efficiencies, allowing practices to focus more on patient care rather than devoting numerous administrative hours to following up on payments or consolidating unrecouped costs each financial period.

Looking to the future of technology and care

Technology continues to evolve rapidly, facilitating more advanced care solutions, helping to improve workflows, and driving toward better efficiency within dental practices. Through implementation and digital integration, it is possible to simplify administrative processes, increase overall dental practice efficiency, and utilize the time saved to enhance the patient experience.

Editor's note: This article appeared in the June 2025 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.

References

1. Norris T, Adjaye-Gbewonyo D, Bottoms-McClain L. Early release of selected estimates based on data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/earlyrelease202405.pdf
2. Sanders to lead HELP Committee in hearing on dental crisis in America. News release. US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. May 14, 2024. https://www.help.senate.gov/dem/newsroom/press/news-sanders-to-lead-help-committee-in-hearing-on-dental-crisis-in-america
3. S5 E06: Dental industry predictions for 2025 with ADA’s chief economist Dr. Marko Vujicic. Podcast. American Dental Association. https://www.ada.org/publications/dental-sound-bites/season-5/dental-industry-predictions-for-2025-s5e6
4. Navigating the latest updates in dental practice management software. Adit. December 18, 2023. https://adit.com/latest-trends-dental-practice-management-software-2024
5. Synchrony, Health & Wellness. Dental lifetime of care study. CareCredit. October 19, 2023. https://www.carecredit.com/providers/insights/dental-lifetime-of-care-study