Anticipated challenges facing the dental profession: A narrative review

Background: The dental profession is undergoing significant transformations driven by technological advancements, demographic shifts, and evolving healthcare policies. This review aimed to identify and discuss the anticipated challenges that the dental profession is likely to face in the coming decades, with a focus on technological, demographic, economic, educational, and public health aspects. Design and methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Key search terms included “dental profession challenges,” “future of dentistry,” “dental technology,” “demographic shifts in dentistry,” and “economic impact on dental practices.” Articles were selected based on relevance, recency, and the inclusion of diverse geographic perspectives. Results: Rapid integration of digital dentistry, artificial intelligence, and tele-dentistry requires significant investment and continuous learning, posing a challenge for practitioners to stay current. An aging population and increasing demand for geriatric dental care, coupled with a workforce that is also aging, will strain resources and require specialized training. Conclusion: The dental profession faces multifaceted challenges that require coordinated efforts from educational institutions, professional organizations, policymakers, and practitioners. Addressing these challenges proactively will be essential to ensuring the sustainability and advancement of the profession.