The dental industry experienced significant events during 2024, some of which were startling and disruptive and others that presented new beginnings and opportunities.
These articles, in order of popularity, capture the tailwinds, hot-button issues, and challenges that affected the industry this past year and most definitely promise to impact 2025. Here are the five most popular business articles.
Top 10 DSOs in the U.S. ranked
In March, DrBicuspid released its ranking of the 10 largest dental service organizations (DSOs). Heartland Dental, TAG - The Aspen Group, and Pacific Dental Services maintained their stronghold as the top three largest DSOs in the U.S., respectively, while MB2 Dental climbed the ranks and further expanded in the U.S. Be sure to read our latest ranking of the 10 largest DSOs.
What dental practices need to know about the Change Healthcare cyberattack
At the end of February 2024, DrBicuspid Editor-in-Chief Kevin Henry spoke with dental insurance expert Teresa Duncan about the cybersecurity attack on Change Healthcare and its effect on dental practices. Throughout 2024, cyberattacks and resulting data breaches increasingly ramped up. Practices are an especially alluring and vulnerable target for hackers. There are many proactive steps practices can take to shore up their security.
Trump expected to call for end of water fluoridation in 2025
According to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Trump will recommend in January that fluoride be removed from public water systems, according to a story that was published by NPR. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer with no medical or public health background, has called fluoride "industrial waste" that is linked to bone fractures and cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.
Dental society responds to risk of water fluoridation's end
In response to the potential end of water fluoridation, in November, the Massachusetts Dental Society announced its continued support of adding cavity-fighting fluoride to public water systems.
"Like the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society remains staunchly in support of community water fluoridation at optimal levels to help prevent tooth decay," according to a statement from the society dated November 20.
Schein restructures, including layoffs, to save up to $100M
In a surprise announcement last August, Henry Schein announced that it was restructuring the company, including conducting an undisclosed number of layoffs, in the hopes of saving the company up to $100 million, according to a company press release dated August 6. The company was last restructured in 2022.
As part of the company's updated 2024 financial guidance, the restructuring plan included a number of cost-saving strategies to meet an annual run-rate savings of $75 million to $100 million, according to the company.
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