Thinking about a side hustle? So are a lot of dentists.

As technology changes and the cost of healthcare rises, dentists are looking at new ways to approach old-school thinking. AI capabilities for dental implants are causing dentists to question the legal and ethical impacts of artificial intelligence, rising hospital and drug prices are impacting spending and the wall between doctors and dentists is beginning to crumble. As industry standards change, will your practice keep up?

But first, we all know that feeling when a last-minute opening pops up on the schedule.

Another outbreak. Two unvaccinated people have died due to the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania. The virus can produce Koplik's spots in the mouth.

Responding to reviews. An Iowa dentist was fined for posting unprofessional responses to negative online reviews of him and included patient information.

Ever feel like a salesman? Redditors are discussing their regrets when choosing dentistry as their profession.

A bat taste in your mouth. A Virginia doctor is going viral after she woke up to find a bat trying to get in her mouth.

Business Group on Health’s 2027 Employer Healthcare Strategy Survey reveals employers are projecting a 9.2% increase in health costs next year as hospital and drug prices rise and workers and their families get sicker. Health cost growth is expected to decrease to around 8% after plan benefit changes, which healthcare reporter Rebecca Pifer Parduhn writes is “still an uncommonly sharp year-over-year spike, if predictions bear out.” Some of the offerings at risk of being cut include employer benefits, cutting programs and letting go of vendors unable to provide savings.

Why this matters: Employers need to begin to rethink their spending, as existing budgeting strategies can’t keep up with the rising medical costs. President and CEO of BGH Ellen Kelsay warns that with employers’ backs up against the wall, “they’re going to have to make some harder decisions.” (Healthcare Dive)

Looking to leverage your clinical skills beyond the dentist chair? Dr. Namrata Upadhyay, founder of NAMrn Pro, shares a list of side hustles that make sense for dentists, expanding their career to fit their interests. Think freelance consulting for dental companies, medical writing, KOL, clinical study design, medical marketing and regulatory support.

Why this matters: As the healthcare industry changes and more people are struggling to regularly visit the dentist, now is the time to develop skills that still put your medical knowledge to use while creating work for you. (Dr. Namrata Upadhyay on LinkedIn)

AI is increasingly being used in dental offices, expanding beyond the receptionist computer to the implant process, enhancing surgical precision and speeding up the treatment process. However, like most new technology, the industry now has to define the ethics and legal challenges that come with this AI, specifically when it comes to patients’ privacy.

A study by Cureus assesses dentists' perceptions of the ethical and legal challenges associated with AI-assisted implant dentistry. It also evaluates their relationship with AI knowledge and professional characteristics.

Why this matters: Cureus revealed that a key finding from the study was that “greater AI knowledge was associated with lower ethical and legal concern, suggesting that familiarity with AI may influence how dental professionals perceive the risks and uncertainties surrounding its use.” If you are planning to use AI during the implant process, make sure you are considering the ethical and legal risks. (Cureus)

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