Exploring the future of oral health

The way people receive health care is changing rapidly. New technologies, evolving care and payment models, workforce changes, scientific advances and a growing understanding of the relationship between oral health and overall health may all influence oral health care in the decades ahead. Oral Health 2050 provides an opportunity to look beyond today's challenges and consider what we want the future to become.

The goal of Oral Health 2050 is to develop a long-term vision and roadmap for the future of oral health. The initiative is intended to identify important trends and possibilities, encourage conversation, and help the oral health community make thoughtful choices today that can contribute to a healthier future.

The initiative is examining four major areas that could significantly influence the future of oral health:

• Artificial intelligence and technology, including how innovation may change the way oral health conditions are prevented, detected and treated.
• Wellness, including the relationship between oral health, overall health and well-being of both patients and providers.
• Payment models, including how people may access and pay for oral health care in the future.
• Delivery of care, including where, how and by whom oral health services may be provided.

These topics areas are interconnected, and the initiative will consider how changes across them could affect patients, professionals and communities.

The ADA is enlisting perspectives from a broad range of people with different expertise and experiences to participate in panel discussions aligned with the identified topic areas. Panel participants include dentists, dental educators, physicians, health care innovators and other leaders from outside dentistry. The ADA has also entered into an agreement with Boston Consulting Group, who will serve as the initiative’s research and consulting partner.

Yes. Understanding the perspectives and priorities of the people who may receive oral health care is an important part of envisioning its future. A public facing survey will be fielded by Boston Consulting Group to gather insights from consumers, and those findings will help inform the initiative’s work.

No. No one can know exactly what health care will look like 25 years from now. Oral Health 2050 is about expoloring possibilities, identifying forces that could shape the future and considering the choices that could lead to better outcomes. The goal is not simply to predict the future. It is to help shape a better one.

Not necessarily. Oral Health 2060 is a forward-looking initiative designed to generate ideas, insights and a shared vision. Exploring a potential future does not mean that a specfic policy, technology, or care model has been endorsed or will be adopted.

The work of the panels is intended to help establish a roadmap for the next 25 years of oral health and provide insights that can guide the continuing work of the oral health community.