Medical and dental communities are currently witnessing a technological revolution accelerating innovation in science and technology each year, according to a new report.
In the report, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, investigators detailed that the global wave of digitalization has fundamentally transformed how individuals access, analyze, and share information. Further, artificial intelligence (AI) is currently revolutionizing the ability to synthesize information, make discoveries, and personalize patient care.
The investigators indicated that the dental field has hundreds of new dental technology startups emerging. Just a decade ago, this growth would have seemed unimaginable. Additionally, there is a rising interest from investors in oral health, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to bring their ideas to the market. Consequently, the dental market is expanding at an unprecedented rate.
Historically, disruptive innovations have significantly influenced dentistry. Today, propelled by rapid technological advancements and the 2021 “Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges” report’s call to leverage these innovations for global oral and systemic health needs, the dental field seems primed and ready for another transformative event.
Understanding Disruptive Innovation
The notion of disruptive innovation has existed for decades. Coined in a 1995 Harvard Business Review article by Bower and Christensen, this theory described how small new services and technologies can eventually overshadow established market offerings. The term “disruptive” can also refer to various events in history, whether they are natural disasters, scientific breakthroughs, or technological advancements.
Dentistry has seen several notable disruptive events. For instance, the introduction of refined sugar in Western civilization led to a surge in cavities, thereby establishing the need for the modern dental profession. Similarly, the discovery of fluoride’s protective benefits prompted public health measures to fluoridate water in the United States, fundamentally altering the dental landscape. Also, the process of osseointegration and integration of titanium implants dramatically changed the treatment of edentulism. More recently, developments in computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques have streamlined the fabrication and delivery of dental restorations.
Brink of a New Era
Although significant technological, scientific, and medical advancements have occurred over the past 50 years, much of the dental profession has remained relatively static. Current caries treatment still largely relies on fluoride and restorations, neglecting the critical biological aspect—the local bacterial infection. Despite being the most common childhood disease, caries remains inadequately addressed.
Yet, dentistry stands on the brink of a new era, the investigators noted. There is a growing recognition of the deep connection between oral health and systemic health. A deeper understanding of the human oral microbiome has turned the oral cavity into a well-mapped area of study, revealing the species of bacteria present and the mechanisms behind caries and periodontal disease. Advances in oral stem cell research also hold promise for tissue regeneration.
These rapid scientific and technological advancements position the oral health field for its next major disruptive event.
What to Watch
What is that next big disruptive event for dentistry? While predicting the future is challenging, several key areas may warrant attention, according to the report. There is potential for biologically based diagnostic tools to emerge, enabling early predictions of both oral and systemic diseases, thus broadening preventive care beyond fluoride and standard hygiene practices. With around 66% of the global population now online and advancements in AI, dentistry is entering an era defined by intelligent information use, which is already having a significant impact on oral health.
AI-assisted digital dentistry and technology are paving the way for personalized care. A surge in diagnostic tools and home-based care options can be expected. Innovations in genomics, the oral microbiome, regenerative medicine, and biomaterials are creating enhanced treatment and prevention strategies. The next two decades promise remarkable disruptive innovations that could significantly improve oral health care.
