GNYDM 2011 - Christensen gets to the "Bottom Line"

Dentistry has undergone some changes over the past five years and has become more conservative, which is good, according to the ever-popular Gordon Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD.

Christensen, founder and director of Practical Clinical Courses and senior consultant, CR Foundation-Clinican's Report, was featured at a Monday, Nov. 28, afternoon CE session, "The Christensen Bottom Line - 2011," during the Greater New York Dental Meeting.

"Frankly, the changes are for the good," he said. "We've come somewhat back to our roots."

Some trends in dentistry he pointed out included:

• An increasing number of patients over age 65, who need dentistry

• More patients retaining their teeth

• Most patients use discretionary income to pay for dental work

• Lower-cost treatment is desired by most patients

• More resins and low budget items are popular

• Implants are a growth area

• New technology has high interest and is growing

On the down side, Christensen said the slow economic recovery is resulting in more practices filing for bankruptcies. At the same time, one-in-six dentists were faced with a lawsuit this year.