Background Global health systems are entering a decade defined by aging populations, multimorbidity, workforce shortages, and constrained fiscal capacity. Within this context, dentistry is transitioning from a procedure-centered specialty to an integral component of population health. The convergence of digital technologies, biological innovation, and policy reform presents both opportunity and disruption. This review examines the macro- and meso-forces shaping oral health care from 2025 to 2035 and identifies principles for advancing equitable, connected, and prevention-oriented care.Methods A structured narrative synthesis was conducted using peer-reviewed literature, regulatory documents, and policy reports published between 2015 and 2025. Searches across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified sources on public-health integration, workforce transformation, digitalization, fiscal trends, and educational reform. Grey literature from WHO, FDI, OECD, and industry sources were included to capture real-world adoption signals. Findings were thematically coded and interpreted through the Quadruple Aim and Learning Health System frameworks.Results Three primary forces are driving dentistry’s evolution: integration into public-health policy and universal health coverage ; transformation toward distributed, digitally enabled, interprofessional workforce models; and fiscal realignment toward value-based efficiency. Additional forces include accelerating digital and artificial intelligence adoption, cultural shifts toward transparency, and educational reform emphasizing data literacy and ethics. Together, these dynamics support an emerging oral-health ecosystem characterized by interoperability, predictive analytics, and regenerative approaches.Conclusions Dentistry’s future is defined by convergence across technology, biology, policy, and human experience. Progress will depend on integration, value-based care, and preserving empathy within increasing digital systems.
Building similarity graph...
Analyzing shared references across papers
Loading...
Artemiz Seif Adkins
Straumann (Switzerland)
Frank Kumli
Futures Group (United States)
SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
UCLouvain
University of the Pacific
Building similarity graph...
Analyzing shared references across papers
Loading...
Adkins et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
synapsesocial.com/papers/69f988e215588823dae17d5a — DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2026.2653351
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: