Publisher’s Letter: Securing the Future of Dentistry with AI

Artificial Intelligence was an inescapable topic in practically every area of our lives in 2025. Though it can be marketing hype in some cases, the power of this technology shouldn’t be dismissed when it comes to your practice. In 2026 AI and similar automation technologies will transform the everyday experience of dentists.

In this issue of Chairside^® magazine, we highlight how AI makes diagnosis more precise, treatment planning simpler, intraoral scanning more powerful, implant placement more predictable, and chairside milling more accessible. I encourage you to explore this issue and determine if these solutions are right for you.

In my five decades in dentistry, I’ve become certain of one thing above all else: Change is the only constant. Failing to embrace change often results in change being forced upon you by someone else, and that someone rarely has your best interests in mind. Those who are forward thinking, those who push boundaries and challenge assumptions are often rewarded greatly — not just financially, but also by controlling their own destiny.

With how rapidly our industry is changing, the start of the year is a great time to consider again questions such as: What are my biggest pain points? What part of my daily experience is gainful, financially or otherwise? Are there things I could be adding or subtracting to make dentistry better for patients or practitioners? Today, there’s more than likely an AI solution that can create positive momentum for you in almost any area of dentistry.

That’s not to say there are no risks with these new technologies. There are certainly many pretenders in the AI field who overpromise and underdeliver. That’s why I’d encourage you to work with dental companies that have been focused on innovation for longer than the most recent news cycle: The leading experts like Overjet, Medit, and Glidewell — whose support you can count on for years to come.

Our industry has reached an inflection point. There’s growing interest from venture capitalists and non-dental entities who see dentistry as a new profit frontier. But for those of us who wish to keep the patient and dentist as the focal point, I truly believe that our best way forward is to embrace these technologies — to welcome change, take action and lead ourselves to a better tomorrow.