Dental Sound Bites – Details, episodes & analysis

A look at the top trends and challenges for dentists in 2026. Dr. Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the ADA Health Policy Institute, shares the industry predictions to help you prepare for the year ahead. 

Special Guest: Dr. Marko Vujicic 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

Show Notes 

• In this episode, we're looking at the top trends and challenges for dentists in 2026 with our guest Dr. Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the ADA's Health Policy Institute.  

• The episode starts by looking back at the predicted dental trends for 2025, which were staffing shortages, insurance challenges, and rising overhead costs. 

• When speaking about economic confidence, Vujicic notes that at the end of 2024 dentists expressed a significant rise in economic optimism about the stability of the dental sector. But, by the end of 2025 confidence levels had dipped, and practice confidence dropped as well due to tariffs, economic uncertainty, and larger national concerns. 

• The ADA's Health Policy Institute (HPI) conducts quarterly surveys. Dentists are invited to enroll in the panel by emailing hpi@ada.org to help share their experiences and strengthen national data. 

• Dentists were asked about their biggest expected challenges for 2026, and they reported that their core issues remain consistent with last year's, but with insurance leading the list, followed by staffing shortages and overhead cost increases. These issues remain steady across urban and rural practices, as well as with different practice modalities. 

• About 90% of dental practices report they are still struggling with hiring staff, even though there's a growing pipeline of dental hygienist graduates, and a rebound in patient volume. The conversation explores whether technology could help with this issue, but dentistry remains a hands-on profession with limits on how much can actually be automated. 

• Dentists shared with ADA's HPI that this year they intend to hire more staff, reevaluate their insurance networks, and invest in equipment, technology and software.  

• Some key findings from HPI's Practice Ownership Trends report shows that today's early-career experience is very different from past generations with a delayed path to practice ownership. Data shows that most dentists will eventually become owners, just later in their careers. The major change: ownership is delayed, not disappearing. 

•  Another interesting theme that emerged from the data was the generational, cultural, and priority shifts happening in the profession. Also, HPI introduces fresh insights into gender pattens that show that even though women start with a lower rate of practice ownership than men, the ownership gender gap closes by mid- and late- career. 

• The conversation shifts to explore the challenges and opportunities from the broader national policy forces shaping dentistry in 2026, and the impact of the economic data influencing decisions in multiple states.  

• HPI continues their research and is focusing on tracking emerging dental policy issues, research on the impact of Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) regulations, and forthcoming analysis of oral trends within Medicare Advantage, to list a few. 

Resources 

• Read ADA's Health Policy Institute's report Practice Ownership Trends in Dentistry: A New Look at Old Data. 

• Learn more about HPI's latest studies and publications, including those mentioned in this episode. 

• Share your experience with us! Dentists are invited to enroll in the HPI panel by emailing hpi@ada.org.  

• For more information on the ADA's Health Policy institute, visit their website ADA.org/HPI. 

• Connect with Dr. Marko Vujicic. 

• Subscribe to the ADA's HPI Newsletter. 

A conversation on leadership and what the future of our profession could look like. We're talking with ADA President Dr. Rich Rosato. 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

Show Notes 

• In this episode, listen to a conversation on leadership and the future of the dental profession with ADA President Dr. Richard Rosato. 

• Dr. Richard Rosato, a Concord, New Hampshire, oral surgeon is president of the American Dental Association. In addition to being a past president of the New Hampshire Dental Society, he's served on various ADA committees, councils, and task forces, later representing District One on the ADA Board of Trustees from 2019-2023. The married father of three is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. 

• Dr. Rosato reflects on transitioning into the role of ADA President, and shares his focus on unity, visibility, and action across the profession. 

• What are the key priorities of Dr. Rosato's leadership? He shares with our audience the philosophy and pillars of his ADA presidency, including the long‑term vision for shaping the future of dentistry through Oral Health 2050, a forward‑looking initiative designed to guide the profession. The effort includes the development of five expert panels focused on the topics that matter most to dentists and their patients. 

• The importance of dentists' voices at both the state and national levels is reinforced by Dr. Rosato, as he addresses declining membership numbers, while encouraging active engagement as a way for members to shape policy, direction, and the future of the profession. 

• The discussion reinforces the importance of dentist participation at both the state and national levels. Dr. Rosato encourages active engagement as a way for members to shape policy, direction, and the future of the profession. 

• Dr. Rosato underscores his trust in collective dialogue, diverse viewpoints, and allowing thoughtful processes to unfold by sharing his belief that the "smartest person in the room is always the room" itself. 

• How can effective leaders handle friction?  Dr. Rosato discusses one of his most significant leadership challenges and highlights the importance of leading with both short‑term realism and long‑term optimism. Rather than viewing limitations as setbacks, he explains how constraints challenge leaders to be more creative, innovative, and intentional in shaping meaningful solutions for members. 

Resources 

• Read the statement on clinical autonomy referenced in this episode. 

• Learn more about advocacy and how you can join the ADA, America's leading oral health advocate, in fighting for what matters to you and your patients. 

• Connect with Dr. Rosato on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or email at rosator@ada.org. 

• Stay connected with the ADA on social media! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for the latest industry news, member perks and conversations shaping dentistry. 

We're joined by ADA President, Dr. Brett Kessler, and ADA President-elect, Dr. Richard Rosato to talk about key issues that are shaping the future of dentistry. Drs. Kessler and Rosato laid out their vision in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) and share more, plus they talk about what they're hearing from ADA members around the country. 

Special Guest: ADA President, Dr. Brett Kessler, and ADA President-elect, Dr. Richard Rosato. 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

A fascinating look at the cutting-edge artificial intelligence that is transforming the dental landscape, with innovation expert Shawn Kanungo. A practical guide to the latest AI-driven tools and technologies that can revolutionize efficiency and outcomes in dental practices. 

Special Guest: Shawn Kanungo 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

We're diving deep into the world of pediatric sleep medicine from recognizing the signs of sleep-disordered breathing to collaborating with specialists. Find out what dentists need to know about sleep and airway health. 

Special Guest: Dr. Loria Nahatis 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

Answers to the top questions every dentist should know. Practical resources to address the legal issues relevant to you, your team, and your practice. 

Special Guest: Paula Tironi  

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

A look at the top challenges and trends for dentists in 2025. Dr. Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the ADA Health Policy Institute, shares industry predictions to help you prepare for what's coming. 

Special Guest: Dr. Marko Vujicic 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

Vaping and e-cigarettes have become a hot topic in the headlines, causing concern about their impact on our health. We're exploring the impact of vaping on oral health.

Special Guests: Dr. Purnima Kumar 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

Real-life worst-case scenarios and the quick-thinking solutions that turned potential disasters into success stories. 

Special Guests: Dr. Brett Kessler 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

In this episode of the Dental Sound Bites Podcast, The latest trends and breakthroughs in oral health and dentistry, from the ADA Forsyth Institute. 

Special Guests: Dr. Wenyuan Shi and Dr. Ben Wu 

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast