The Big PictureChanging the course of oral health care
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Background
Disruptive innovation is an economic process by which an industry or a company provides simple, accessible, and basic products or services at the bottom of a market, then moves steadily up the market, eventually displacing its established competitors. Companies and industries tend to innovate faster than consumer need evolves, so they eventually produce products or services that are too sophisticated, too expensive, and too complex for their consumers. Then disruptive innovation occurs. Oral
Current Conditions in Oral Health Care
The major trends seen in US health care overall and oral health care specifically are a skyrocketing increase in health care costs unaccompanied by improved oral health care outcomes; greater understanding of the harm and unexplainable variations in the system; profound health care disparities that exist despite advances in care; and increased awareness of the power of consumers.
Health care expenses account for 20% of the US gross domestic product (GDP), which is over twice the percentage spent
Results of Current Conditions
Dental office visits have fallen more than 10% for over a decade. The types of procedures performed today differ significantly from what used to be done. Restorative procedures now account for just 14% of dentists’ procedure mix and diagnostic and preventive services account for 79%. In 1959, amalgam restoration placement accounted for 41% of the mix and dental examinations and prophylaxis accounted for 42%. This change results when people put off seeking dental care because of the cost, when
Disruptive Innovation in Oral Health Care
Some trends indicative of disruptive innovation are already being seen in oral health care. Dental practice ownership is shifting from solo practice to group practice. The growth of very large dental conglomerates is the fastest growing segment of the industry. In fact, the larger the dental establishment, the faster is its growth rate. The trend to consolidation is driven by economies of scale to lower prices, the incorporation of technologies that centralize and increase efficiency in the
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Glassman P: Disruptive innovation and the oral health system. J Am Coll Dent 83:4-13, 2016
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