Whether it’s improving care through enhanced technology or rising costs, dentistry is always changing for the good and the bad. Within this ever-evolving landscape, DrBicuspid asked dentists and others to share their roses and thorns in dentistry in 2025.
Dr. Benjamin Lu.Lu Dental.
Dr. Ben Lu, of Lu Dental Care in Los Angeles, said one of the most encouraging developments in 2025 has been the continued growth of Medicare Advantage plans that include meaningful dental coverage.
“This expansion has opened the door to preventive and restorative dental care for many seniors who previously delayed or avoided treatment due to cost,” Lu told DrBicuspid. “As a practice, it has been rewarding to see patients regain comfort, function, and confidence simply because access to care has improved.”
Additionally, “we’ve also seen remarkable progress in digital dentistry -- particularly in digital crown and denture design,” Lu said. “These technologies have significantly reduced remakes and adjustment appointments, improved accuracy, and shortened turnaround times as more dental laboratories fully adopt digital workflows. The result has been a smoother experience for both patients and clinicians.”
However, Lu said dentistry continues to face challenges.
“Rising costs of dental supplies, laboratory services, and staffing have put pressure on practices across the country,” Lu said. “Additionally, insurance carriers have increasingly narrowed coverage definitions and, in some cases, denied procedures that were previously preauthorized, creating frustration for both providers and patients. These hurdles add administrative complexity and can delay care, even when treatment is clearly clinically necessary.”
Dr. Jason Auerbach.Riverside Oral Surgery.
Dr. Jason Auerbach, known as "The Bloody Tooth Guy" (@bloodytoothguy) on Instagram and an oral surgeon at Riverside Oral Surgery in New Jersey, told DrBicuspid his rose in 2025 has been leading the continued momentum toward truly surgeon-led care in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
“More surgeons are stepping into leadership roles and shaping how care is delivered, with a renewed focus on clinical judgment, patient experience, and long-term excellence,” Auerbach said.
“It’s been encouraging to see the profession prioritize models where surgeons lead not just in the operatory but in setting the standards that define quality, trust, and outcomes,” he said.
When it comes to thorns, Auerbach has a unique take.
“What some might call a thorn in 2025, I see as an opportunity: helping surgeons navigate an increasingly complex practice environment without losing their autonomy or identity,” Auerbach said. “As healthcare becomes more layered, the challenge has been building infrastructure that supports surgeons rather than distracts them. Surgeon-led platforms like (dental service organization) MAX (Surgical Specialty Management) have a real opportunity to remove friction behind the scenes so clinicians can stay focused on what matters most: their patients and their craft.”
Dr. Sandip Sachar, of Sachar Dental in New York City, told DrBicuspid that the biggest bright spot of 2025 was the continued integration of technology into her practice.
Dr. Sandip Sachar.Sachar Dental NYC.
“Many of these advances have made the patient experience better and have helped to take the fear out of dentistry,” Sachar said. “And that has been incredible! Simple things like more comfortable digital impressions and visual aids that help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment make for an overall more comfortable and less anxious patient experience," Sachar said.
"Additionally, the ability to schedule appointments online and fill out medical history paperwork before ever stepping foot into the office makes it easier than ever to get the care that is needed. In a city where everyone is busy and expectations are high, these technologies have helped us deliver care that meets or exceeds expectations.”
Her biggest thorn is rising expenses, with reimbursements not keeping up.
“Almost everything we rely on -- materials, labs, staffing -- has gotten more expensive,” Sachar said. “As overhead costs continue to rise, many practices struggle to keep up. Balancing high-quality care with rising operational costs and low reimbursements has been one of the most difficult challenges of 2025.”
T-Scan, a tool that measures the timing and force of a patient’s bite in real time is this year’s win for retired prosthodontist and educator Dr. Robert Kerstein, a computerized bite analysis expert at RBR Consulting.
Dr. Robert B. KersteinRobert B. Kerstein, DMD.
“It gives dentists measurable insight into something that profoundly affects headaches, muscle tension, TMJ symptoms, and even stress hormones like cortisol,” Kerstein told DrBicuspid.
“Unlike decades-old articulating paper, which shows only where teeth touch, T-Scan reveals the when and how hard, allowing for more precise care and often relief from symptoms patients never realized were connected to their bite,” Kerstein added.
But his thorn had to be the profession’s stubborn resistance.
“Despite strong clinical evidence and the growing understanding that oral health affects whole-body wellness, many dentists still rely on legacy tools out of habit and misplaced assumptions about what counts as valid data,” Kerstein said.
Dr. Richard Nejat, a periodontist and dental implant specialist at Laser Gum Solutions in Pennsylvania, told DrBicuspid that the rapid advancement and integration of digital technology, particularly 3D imaging, AI-assisted diagnostics, and fully guided implant workflows, are the roses of the year.
Dr. Richard Nejat.Dr. Richard Nejat/Advanced Periodontics & Implant Dentistry.
“These tools have increased precision; improved treatment outcomes; and enabled us to deliver faster, more comfortable, and more predictable care to our patients,” Nejat said. “The level of accuracy we can achieve today would have been unimaginable even a decade ago.”
His thorn is an ongoing challenge: access to care.
“Too many patients still delay or avoid treatment due to cost, fear, or lack of education about early intervention,” Nejat said.
“Even with incredible innovations at our fingertips, technology can only go so far if patients never make it into the chair. Improving accessibility, awareness, and preventive education remains one of the most significant hurdles we face as a profession,” he said.
Dr. Heike Kraemer, PhD, MSc, president of the Interdisciplinary Dental Education Academy, told DrBicuspid the current trend in dentistry that will help it grow in 2026 is the increased application of advanced functional diagnostics along with minimal invasive treatments.
Dr. Heike Kraemer, PhD, MSc.Leaders in Advanced Continuing Dental Education.
“The clinicians are now able to better assess the jaw function, occlusion, and skeletal relationships and can implement treatment plans that deliver the aesthetic harmony, as well as stable long-term results,” Kraemer said. “The combination of prosthodontics, orthodontics, and preventive care yields results that are more predictable and saves oral structures,” she said.
The biggest thorn for Kraemer is the gap between the knowledge that is available and consistent clinical use.
“A lot of practitioners have difficulties in connecting complex insights of functions to everyday life. Interdisciplinary treatment involves specific skills and knowledge of jaw mechanics, and unless a fine hand-on training is obtained, outcomes may not be as good as they can be,” Kraemer said. “The solution to this gap is the development of training that will result in the long-term success of patients.”
Dr. Catrise Austin, a cosmetic dentist in New York City and host of the Let’s Talk Smiles podcast, told DrBicuspid her rose of the year is the rise of accessible, minimally invasive smile transformations.
Dr. Catrise Austin.Dr. Catrise Austin.
“This year, I’ve seen a major shift in what patients want and what we can deliver. With the economy tightening, people still desire confident, healthier smiles, but they’re prioritizing affordable, less invasive options,” Austin said. “The demand for treatments like no-prep and minimal-prep veneers, clear aligners, and advanced teeth whitening has surged.”
Furthermore, Austin said, “patients are more informed than ever, too. They’re watching YouTube breakdowns, following dental educators on Instagram, and listening to podcasts like mine to understand their options before walking into any office. That level of awareness has opened the door to better patient-dentist communication; higher case acceptance, because people understand value; and more conservative cosmetic dentistry that protects natural tooth structure.”
However, Austin said the rising cost of routine dental care remains a sticking point.
“My biggest thorn of 2025 has been watching routine dental care become financially out of reach for more Americans, even those with insurance,” Austin said. “With inflation, rising overhead costs, and insurance reimbursement rates that haven’t kept pace in over a decade, patients are delaying basic care more than ever.”
The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.
