The dental industry is undergoing profound transformation amidst the growing expectations of patients, emerging technologies, and shifting healthcare landscapes. As we head to 2024, let us see what consumers can expect from dental brands (both B2B and B2C). Some of the dental industry trends are as follows:
The dental industry will embrace major marketing trends
The dental industry has not gone too mainstream with the marketing trends until it aims to be a global brand. Even the popular dental industry brands have used some of the mainstream marketing strategies like TV commercials, print ads, etc. But now to cater to present-day and modern consumers, the dental industry will embrace major marketing trends and use multichannel to reach out to its target audience.
Digital marketing and social media marketing
It has become inevitable for dental professionals to strengthen their online presence and visibility. Consumers often turn to search engines and social media to discover niche brands and it’s relevant to the dental industry too. Dental organizations and professionals will leverage various aspects of digital marketing.
It includes user-friendly websites along with mobile applications, investing in SEO to compete online, email marketing strategies to build engagement with potential and existing target audiences, PPC ads to increase website exposure and drive instant traffic, etc.
Social media marketing is another important aspect of digital marketing and the dental industry will actively invest in gaining the attention of social media users. Dental organizations can create their own social media communities, and engage their audience with various content formats in various platforms.
Also, UGC (User-generated content) plays a crucial role in social media engagement and dental professionals can leverage UGC to build brand authenticity.
Overall, there are many ways in digital marketing including affiliate marketing, influencer marketing, location-based marketing, and other strategies where dental industry will actively invest. However, dental organizations need to carefully choose digital marketing strategies depending on their business type (B2B OR B2C).
Virtual consultations
Tele dentistry or virtual consultation can be considered both the technology trend and marketing trend. Dental brands that are striving to maintain a competitive edge will embrace and normalize virtual consultations.
Tele-dentistry or telehealth is one of the major dental industry trends. Consumers are finding it convenient, cost-effective, and time-saving and it is increasing customer satisfaction. Hence, many dental organizations are leveraging telehealth/tele-dentistry practices to remain relevant to the expectations of their target audience.
Video content/ Video Marketing
Video content is another powerful part of digital marketing and dental organizations can leverage video marketing to educate their audience regarding their dental treatments, also B2B dental companies can utilize video marketing to provide information about their dental products/services.
Leveraging AI and automation
It is one of the major tech trends that is going to stay beyond 2024. Dental organizations can leverage various capabilities of AI and automation to enhance customer satisfaction. AI and automation is also major dental industry trend where dental professionals/dental businesses will bring AI wherever possible to bridge the gap between consumer and dental brand.
Rise in comprehensive dental solutions
Consumers are expecting comprehensive dental solutions in one single place instead of traditional dental clinics that are generic. Consumers are preferring consolidated dental solutions where they get immediate access to all the specialties of dentistry including general dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, cosmetic procedures in dentistry, etc.
Some consumers have complex dental needs that require treatment from one or more specialties and consumers are finding the consolidated care easy-to-access, convenient, and time-efficient, improving patient outcomes and ensuring continuity of care.
Hence dental organizations and professionals will invest in advanced technologies, and digital records and strive to establish a one-stop dental solution platform to cater to the needs of modern consumers.
Get ready to cater to sustainable consumerism
Sustainable consumerism is seeing a notable surge in all industries and the dental industry is no exception. Modern-day consumers are aware of how the actions/products they use can cause adverse effects on the environment and are very conscious about their choices.
Sustainable consumerism is a notable dental industry trend for 2024 and beyond that pushes brands to shift towards eco-friendly practices in providing dental solutions.
Sustainable consumerism in the dental industry can be implemented by:
- manufacturing eco-friendly dental products
- minimizing waste (shifting to electronic records instead of paper)
- energy-efficient lighting and heating (use of solar panels and renewable resources)
- water recycling, proper disposal, and recycling of amalgam waste
- sustainable supply chains
- Use of biocompatible materials in dental procedures
- Green building practices for new dental offices
- Prioritizing digital communication and making the consumer visits paperless
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way and is evolving day by day, successfully addressing the problems of modern consumers. Dental organizations will invest in advanced technologies such as digital smile design, inclusive smile design, natural-looking subtle enhancements, smile designing for the aging population, etc. Also, dental 3D printing and minimally invasive treatments are the major dental trends.
Dental 3D printing
3D dental printing refers to the production of dental prosthetics instead of implants. Printing of custom dental prosthetics allows accurate and patient-specific prosthetics that reduce the need for manual labor and ensure the right fit compared to traditional procedures.
Minimally invasive treatments
Minimally invasive treatments are gaining the highest popularity due to the patient-friendly nature of the treatments and are one of the major dental industry trends. It refers to dental procedures that aim to provide aesthetics and oral health by making the least possible disruption in the patient tooth structure. From teeth whitening to laser dentistry, and digital impressions, non-invasive treatments are going to gain more exposure from patients in the coming years.
Conclusion
The above are the dental industry trends that you will get to see in 2024 and beyond as implementation of some of the advanced technologies has just begun. However, we can see that dental organizations and dental professionals will work on providing increased satisfaction to present-day consumers.