3 Major Challenges Dentists Face Today (and How Education Solves Them)

Dentistry is one of the few professions that demands equal parts artistry, science, psychology, and leadership. Every day, dentists restore function, create beauty, and build trust with patients—all while running a business, leading a team, and keeping up with rapid advances in technology and technique. It’s rewarding work, but it’s also far from simple.

Dr. Nada Albatish, a restorative dentist with two practices just north of Toronto, has seen these complexities firsthand throughout her 18 years in practice. With a focus on comprehensive, interdisciplinary care, she has built her career not only on clinical excellence but also on collaboration and leadership. As an active leader within the Seattle Study Club network, she also has a front-row seat to the challenges her colleagues face across North America.

In her view, three issues rise above the rest: information overload, building a workplace culture that attracts and retains people, and patient communication in an increasingly stressful world. The good news? Each of these challenges can be addressed through one common solution—education.

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Challenge 1: Information Overload

Modern dentistry is overflowing with information. New products and techniques are launched almost daily, marketed heavily through social media, online platforms, trade magazines, and countless continuing education outlets. While access to knowledge has never been greater, the sheer volume can leave dentists overwhelmed.

“We’re constantly bombarded with information,” Dr. Albatish explains. “How do you know which cement is truly the strongest? Which technology is worth the investment? Which business strategy will actually help you transition or grow your practice? It’s difficult to separate marketing from evidence.”

The result is a sense of paralysis for some practitioners, and wasted resources for others who make decisions without reliable guidance.

The Educational Solution: Trusted Mentorship and Critical Discussion

Continuing education in collaborative settings—especially small-group study clubs—provides an antidote. Instead of navigating an ocean of information alone, dentists can discuss new materials and techniques with trusted colleagues, evaluate case outcomes, and hear firsthand what truly works in practice.

In Seattle Study Club meetings, members present real cases, ask difficult questions, and debate different approaches. This peer-driven model filters the noise, helping dentists gain confidence in their choices.

“When someone in our club faces a challenge, they bring it to the group,” says Dr. Albatish. “And without fail, the best solutions come from that collaboration.”

Challenge 2: Building a Place People Want to Work

Dentistry has always been a team-driven profession, but in recent years, practice owners have faced unprecedented challenges in hiring and retaining staff. Hygienist and assistant shortages, combined with shifting workforce expectations, have made culture one of the most critical issues in dentistry today.

“It’s no longer enough to just offer a steady job,” Dr. Albatish notes. “Team members want to feel valued, supported, and inspired. They want their workplace to make their lives better, not just busier.”

For many practices, this shift has been difficult. High turnover impacts not only the bottom line but also the patient experience.

The Educational Solution: Leadership Development

Leadership is not something most dentists are formally trained in, but it is essential to creating thriving teams. Through education—particularly study clubs that integrate both clinical and leadership training—dentists can develop the skills they need to support their teams.

“Every time we learn how to better communicate, how to better understand human psychology, and how to uplift people, we create stronger cultures,” says Dr. Albatish. “When teams feel supported in their health, mindset, and growth, they don’t just stay—they thrive. And that translates directly into better care for patients.”

By investing in their own growth as leaders, dentists transform their practices into places where people truly want to work.

Challenge 3: Communication in a Changing World

If there’s one challenge that transcends time, it’s communication. But today’s world presents unique complexities.

Patients are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and financial stress than in previous decades. Economic pressures often weigh heavily on treatment decisions. In this climate, simply explaining a treatment plan is not enough.

“Dentists today need to go beyond presenting facts,” Dr. Albatish explains. “We have to speak in ways that build reassurance, that meet people where they are, and that make every step feel like a win.”

The ability to communicate with empathy and clarity has become one of the most important skills in practice—but also one of the most difficult to master alone.

The Educational Solution: Shared Experience and Skill-Building

Study clubs create space for dentists to practice communication in real-world contexts. Through role-playing, case presentations, and peer feedback, members learn not just what to say, but how to say it. They also learn to adapt communication styles to different patient needs, creating an approach that feels both personalized and effective.

“Patients today require a different kind of reassurance,” Dr. Albatish says. “The more we learn from each other, the better we become at giving people the confidence to move forward with their care.”

The Common Thread: Lifelong Learning

For Dr. Albatish, the solution to all three challenges—information overload, workplace culture, and communication—comes back to education.

She recalls hearing the phrase “lifelong learning” as a dental student at the University of Toronto. At the time, it felt like a slogan. Now, nearly two decades later, she sees it as the very foundation of her career.

“Dentistry evolves constantly,” she says. “New research, new materials, new patient expectations. If we stop learning, we fall behind—not just for ourselves, but for our patients and our teams.”

The pandemic underscored this truth. Online and independent learning helped keep education moving, but it also highlighted what was missing: collaboration. Today, Dr. Albatish sees a growing return to in-person, small-group learning—an environment where dentists don’t just consume information, but actively engage with it alongside their peers.

Turning Competition into Collaboration

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of education in community is its ability to transform competition into collaboration. Dentistry can often feel isolating, with practitioners comparing themselves against peers. But within the study club model, dentists realize they are not alone in their struggles—and that sharing knowledge benefits everyone.

“When someone is vulnerable enough to bring a challenge to the group, the support and solutions that come back are incredible,” Dr. Albatish shares. “That’s how education turns competition into collaboration. It brings out the best in all of us.”

Ready to Turn Challenges Into Growth?

The challenges dentists face today are real—but they don’t have to be faced alone. Through continuing education, mentorship, and the collaborative power of Seattle Study Club, dentists gain the clarity, confidence, and community they need to thrive.

If you’re ready to cut through the noise, build a stronger practice culture, and communicate with patients more effectively, the next step is simple: join Seattle Study Club, where education isn’t just information—it’s transformation.