When I look at what's coming in 2026, three trends stand out that are already being implemented by forward-thinking practices today. Together, they point to a clear takeaway: The operational burden of dentistry is finally shifting away from people and onto technology, not as a nice to have, but as a necessity for growth.
AI and automation will become true growth engines
Dr. Ryan Hungate.
2026 is the year AI stops being a buzzword and starts being judged by measurable outcomes. At this point, if a practice is still manually handling tasks that technology can reliably automate -- eligibility, documentation, scheduling optimization, claims workflows -- that's no longer a technology problem. It's an operating decision.
When AI and automation handle repetitive, administrative work, teams don't just save time, they can unlock capacity for the activities that actually drive growth: better patient care, more effective treatment conversations, and stronger experiences.
We're already seeing this play out. Children's Dental Fun Zone has seen a 19% increase in both preventive and restorative cases, and A Shop for Smiles has seen a 75% increase in treatment plan acceptance with AI-enhanced diagnostics.
Cohesive technology is the best defense against margin pressure
Too many practices are still operating with fragmented technology stacks that don't talk to each other. That fragmentation creates blind spots, duplicated work, and unnecessary risk. Every disconnected system adds friction, cost, and opportunity loss.
Fragmented systems not only slow teams, they distort decision-making. When data lives in silos, leaders are flying blind on utilization, cash flow, and patient access. Cohesive technology changes that equation. When your practice management system, imaging, revenue cycle management, patient communications, and analytics work together, you gain clarity and systems that are more secure, scalable, and built on open integrations.
Practices that treat technology as a connected ecosystem supporting patients, people, and profits are seeing the benefits. Pediatric Dental Group of Colorado is getting paid two weeks quicker and eliminating at least 30 days from the accounts receivable sequence, while Areo Dental has seen 20% growth with connected technology.
Differentiation will define who thrives and who blends in
Here's the part I find most exciting: In 2026, practices get to choose who they are thanks to the technological advances we've seen over the past few years. That matters, because patients expect more than a transactional healthcare experience. New dentists want to align with organizations that reflect their values, and investors are looking for practices that stand out, not ones that look identical on a spreadsheet.
Technology gives practices the freedom to differentiate without adding complexity or overhead. When operational burden shifts from people to systems, teams gain capacity to focus on brand, clinical philosophy, and patient experience -- the things technology should enable, not consume.
Dr. John Andrew's dental practice has shifted its focus from manual administrative work to cultivating relationships and supporting the needs of its elderly patient base. Kare Mobile relies on Dentrix Ascend's connected technology to bring state-of-the-art treatments directly to patients, especially in communities where oral care is underrepresented.
Looking ahead
If I had to sum up 2026 in one sentence, it would be this: We're entering a golden age for practices willing to rethink how work gets done. The practices that win in 2026 won't work harder or hire faster. They'll redesign how work gets done and build systems that scale without burning out people.
Learn more about the trends that will define 2026 in this year's Dental Trends Outlook Report.
As chief clinical and strategy officer, Dr. Ryan Hungate, MS, leads Henry Schein One’s revenue cycle management automation and One Platform strategy. Dr. Hungate is the founder of Simplifeye Inc. and an orthodontist. Prior to pursuing dentistry, Hungate worked for Apple designing the Apple retail workflow.
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