Last updated on August 25th, 2021
Worldwide, the dental industry is going through a major shift, and it’s thanks to what leading economists around the world are calling the Fourth Industrial Revolution. If you’re planning on recruiting dentists for your corporation or practice, you’ll want to pay attention to this movement.
“We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another,” writes Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman at The World Economic Forum. “In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before.”
Now, think about how these changes have the potential to impact the dental industry. Imagine a clinic where dentists are able to 3D print implants, prosthetics, and night guards on the spot. At this same clinic, dentists can also ease patients using augmented reality to explain important oral health concepts.
Believe it or not, these types of capabilities are already springing up in clinics across North America, with medical research backing continued advancements to innovation.
It’s no surprise that dentists rank #2 in best healthcare jobs, #10 in best paying jobs, and #4 in best STEM jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of dentists is projected to grow faster than the national average for all occupations.
Given the pace of innovation, these are the fastest-growing dental jobs to watch, according to trends that we’ve observed across our customer base at Prodent Search:
Effective dental care, for patients, requires more than a few trips to the office when someone has a problem. Dentists need to ensure that they are meeting their patients’ needs, around the clock, especially in rural areas where access to dental resources is limited.
“Teledentistry has the ability to improve access to oral healthcare, improve the delivery of oral healthcare, and lower its costs,” explains one research study. “It also has the potential to eliminate the disparities in oral health care between rural and urban communities.” This practice expands into other areas of dentistry, beyond primary care, such as orthodontics.
While some dentists may choose to incorporate teledentistry into their practices, others will likely specialize in delivering care remotely. When hiring a dentist, it will be important to identify candidates who are watching this trend and can step into the growth of the sector.
Given the rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Economy, dental industries around the world will need to revisit the traditions that corporations and practices consider “normal.” What is the best way to integrate innovation into standards of care?
Top talent from dental school, curious about this question, may choose to dedicate their lives to exploring this question. What this need may create is more competition in the private sector, in corporate environments seeking to hire aspiring high performers.
One way to appeal to high performers’ intellectual instincts is to encourage more hybrid roles.
“There are various levels of academic involvement, from part-time to full-time salaried commitment. If full-time, commitments often include teaching, research, clinical practice and university service,” explains ASDA.
Regardless, it is crucial for recruiters and clinics to appeal to the academic and intellectual interests of their hires. Continuous education and alliances with academia are crucial to company growth in the long-run.
To some extent, this capability has the potential to fall on practice owners. But corporations will need to keep up with the changing technical landscape, as well.
As with teledentistry and academic dentistry, innovation practices have the potential to become both standalone jobs—and absorbable into a dentist’s everyday profession.
“The future of dentistry will look a lot different than it does currently,” explains an article in NYU. “It’s a field that’s becoming increasingly focused on comfortable, cost-effective practices and techniques that prioritize preventative care over reactionary procedures.”
When hiring, recruiters will need to keep watch for dentists who show an aptitude to learn, evolve, and lead. Adaptability will be crucial for organizations to gain a competitive edge in the future—and this agility begins with the day to day operations of people.
Across North America, dentists are redefining their roles with a future driven by curiosity and learning. In 2020 and beyond, the hiring landscape is on the cusp of transformation, too.
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