Good morning. Move over, titanium and screws—future dental implants might just oink. Scientists have grown human-like teeth in pigs, opening the door to bioengineered replacements that could one day make traditional implants obsolete. Does that new molar come with a side of bacon?

Inside this issue:
- Trade war in the operatory
- Billion-dollar biohack

⏰ Your reading time today: 5 mins 5 seconds

🏆 Enjoy your coffee break with Word of Mouth, a dental-themed word game inspired by Wordle … guaranteed to leave you grinning, not grinding!

MARKETS

📉 Align Technology ($ALGN) – 190.72 | -15.61 (7.57%)
📈 Colgate-Palmolive ($CL) – 90.11 | +4.44 (5.18%)
📈 Dentsply Sirona ($XRAY) – 19.05 | +0.70 (3.81%)
📉 Envista Holdings ($NVST) – 21.39 | -0.24 (1.11%)
📈 Henry Schein ($HSIC) – 77.64 | +2.07 (2.74%)
📈 Patterson Companies ($PDCO) – 31.07 | +0.06 (0.19%)
📉 3D Systems Corp ($DDD) – 3.84 | -0.85 (18.15%)
📉 Weave Communications ($WEAV) – 13.29 | -4.07 (23.42%)

Data is provided by Google Finance. Stock data as of market close, reflecting changes over the past 5 days, as of 5:00 p.m. ET.

THE DRILL DOWN

⚖️ States continue to turn up the heat on private equity, as California legislators try again to regulate PE in healthcare, while a new Indiana bill would require state approval for healthcare deals.

🔬 Dental boards under the microscope, as a new report questions whether state regulators have changed since the Supreme Court’s NC Dental ruling, alleging continued industry influence. Ensuring expertise or just business as usual?

👓 Corporate Transparency Act back in effect, as a federal judge reverses a prior injunction, reinstating the requirement for small businesses, including many dental practices, to report ownership details by March 21. A House bill aims to delay the deadline to 2026. More paperwork, less chair time.

💸 New bill seeks to allow oral care purchases through FSAs and HSAs, potentially enabling consumers to use pre-tax funds for items like toothbrushes and toothpaste. Brushing up on benefits.

🥗 ADA backs new dietary guidelines, expressing general support for the latest science report while emphasizing the connection between nutrition and oral health.

🦷 Florida legislators push for dental therapists, as a new bill aims to address provider shortages by introducing mid-level practitioners—a move met with pushback from many dentists. Expanding access or lowering the bar?

🏢 ADA relocates after nearly 60 years, as Dr. Brett Kessler marks the move from its longtime Chicago headquarters to a new space on Michigan Avenue. Same mission, new address.

COST OF BUSINESS

Trade war in the operatory

If you thought inflation or the pandemic were tough on dental supply costs, buckle up, because tariffs may be coming to an operatory near you. The Trump administration has started its tenure with a raft of proposed trade barriers. While details and ripple effects are still being assessed, these tariffs could impact prices on dental imports and exports to and from China, Europe, North America, and beyond. With supply chains and costs in flux, let’s drill into what matters to dental leaders.

What’s happening: The latest trade moves could change the way DSOs handle supplies and costs. China tariffs are being expanded, with potential implications for made-in-China dental imaging equipment, handpieces, and imported materials. The U.S.-Canada-Mexico tariff standoff is temporarily paused, but if resumed, it could impact the flow of dental material and supplies that currently move cross-border. Tariffs on dental companies in Europe and India may be next.

What could get hit: Everything from surgical gloves to fluoride varnishes could see a price bump as trade policies shift, domestic manufacturers adjust, and purchasers adapt.

Tariffs on ceramics, metals, and composites could drive up the cost of prosthetics, forcing labs to increase fees. Overseas implants, crowns, and bridges represent 40 percent of the U.S. market for dental restorations. The National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) is warning that tariffs on imported crowns, bridges, and implants will put significant pressure on its members and the broader industry.

Imaging devices, CAD/CAM systems, and handpieces sourced from Europe and China could see price spikes, raising capital costs for practices.

Likewise, U.S. domestic producers of dental tech, supplies, and equipment who sell to foreign markets could be hit by reciprocal tariffs.

Who pays the bill: Tariffs won’t just hit suppliers—DSOs, group practices, solo practitioners, and patients will feel the financial pressure until markets, suppliers, and purchasers adjust:

• DSOs and group practices may have the purchasing power to negotiate better pricing, but even they won’t escape increased costs on essential materials.

• Smaller groups and solo practices will feel the squeeze the most, lacking the bulk-buying power to offset supply chain disruptions.

• Insurance reimbursements may not keep up with new costs, meaning practices will either adjust pricing or absorb the added expenses.

• Patients may face higher out-of-pocket costs on treatments like implants, crowns, and even routine care as material costs rise.

Why it matters: Trade policy may become a direct cost factor in dental operations, and practices that aren’t preparing for supply chain shifts could be caught off guard.

• Dental practice purchasers may wish to lock in expanded vendor contracts now to hedge against future cost jumps.

• Alternative suppliers at home or from outside of tariff-affected regions are options, but shifting operations takes time and investment from purchasers and producers alike.

• Supply chain disruptions could slow down lab work, forcing practices to manage patient expectations on longer turnaround times.

Looking ahead: With China tariffs locked in, potential European and Indian trade restrictions looming, and the U.S.-Canada tariff pause expiring soon, the next few months will determine how deep these price hikes go.

For dental leaders, the strategy is clear: Negotiate hard, lock in prices where possible, review supply chains, and prepare for cost shifts in Q2 and beyond. Because in 2025, cost control isn’t just about efficiency—it’s now about foreign policy. Global supply chains meet chairside realities.

BUSINESS BITES

💰 Dentira acquires CureMint, expanding its procurement platform and reinforcing its role in automating dental supply chains for DSOs and multi-site practices.  

📊 Align posts strong Q4, reporting $995.2M in revenue and a 6.1% YoY increase in clear aligner volume, with projections for steady growth in 2025 despite FX headwinds. Straightening out the market.  

🏆 Henry Schein CEO is honored, as Stanley Bergman receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors for his impact on healthcare distribution. Still making moves after all these years. 

🦷 Pan-Am Dental expands, acquiring JB Dental Lab and Avaneer Dental Studio to strengthen its lab network. Backed by Caymus Equity, the deal marks its third and fourth acquisitions since 2019.  

📈 Smile Doctors reports record growth, citing a strong 2024 with increased ortho patient volume and expansion plans for 2025. 

🌐 Pacific Dental Services expands access to care, with the PDS Foundation reaching underserved communities through clinics and outreach programs. Closing gaps—literally and figuratively. 

🏢 Dental M&A keeps rolling, as Parkview Dental Partners acquires two more practices, adding to the wave of private practice consolidations.  

🦷 Aspen Dental and Ivoclar team up, introducing Signature Elite Denture technology, promising better function, aesthetics, and patient comfort. Because even dentures deserve the VIP treatment. 

💸 Straumann bets on China’s implant market, expecting rising demand to drive 2025 growth. Turns out, missing teeth are a global opportunity. 

 🏢 Heartland Dental toasts a year of expansion, adding locations and tech upgrades in its latest growth report. Scaling smiles—and EBITDA. 

 📈 Dental365 welcomes Lawrence Dental Group, bringing its network to Kingston, PA, in a new acquisition.  

NEXT OPPORTUNITY

Billion-dollar biohack

Patients are spending billions on supplements, ice baths, and longevity hacks—but they’re missing a major opportunity hiding in the mirror each morning as they brush. Science is proving oral health isn’t just about teeth; it’s a key player in longevity, disease prevention, and performance. Yet, in the booming $480 billion U.S. health optimization market, dentistry is barely part of the conversation. For dental providers, that’s not just a clinical insight—it’s an untapped business opportunity. 

The science: Almost every month, new research confirms that oral inflammation isn’t just about cavities and bad breath—it’s a hidden driver of systemic disease and aging. 

• Dementia risk, with periodontal disease linked to a higher chance of cognitive decline and dementia

• Heart disease and stroke, with oral bacteria contributing to inflammation that raises cardiovascular risk 

• Athletic performance, with studies connecting oral inflammation to reduced oxygen uptake, slower recovery and other physical indicators

• Lifespan extension, with researchers identifying oral inflammation as a key obstacle to longevity 

The business case: While science is catching up, consumer behavior has already shifted. The longevity economy—spanning supplements, peptides, cold therapy, and functional medicine—is exploding, yet oral health remains overlooked. 

Biohacking influencers like Drs. Andrew Huberman, Peter Attia, and David Sinclair are reshaping how millions think about aging and disease prevention, but dentistry isn’t part of their script. That’s the gap—and the opportunity. 

The opportunity: With health optimization on the rise, dentistry is well-positioned to meet the demand. DSOs, group practices, and forward-thinking providers can expand their reach, attract new patient segments, and drive revenue by exploring: 

• Advancing treatment offerings: Integrating new treatment options, salivary diagnostics, and AI-driven risk assessments to detect inflammation earlier

• Reframing marketing and patient engagement: Positioning dentistry as a key player in longevity while partnering with wellness and healthcare providers to expand visibility

• Integrating diagnostics and data: Leveraging AI-powered tools for inflammation tracking, oral microbiome analysis, and salivary biomarker testing to provide patients with actionable health insights

• Developing membership-based models: Offering subscription-based preventive care plans that align with the demand for continuous health optimization and create recurring revenue streams

• Educating health-conscious patients in a new language: Increasing case acceptance and retention by emphasizing the connection between oral health, longevity, and whole-body wellness

The bottom line: The health optimization market is booming, and the science is clear: Oral health is an overlooked but essential part of longevity and disease prevention. Consumers are investing in proactive health strategies, yet dentistry remains an afterthought. This represents a golden opportunity to attract new patients, treatment demand, and revenue. 

This isn’t about changing dentistry. It’s restoring it—through marketing, education, diagnostics, and treatment—to the significance it should already have: a pillar of human health. Wait … are we making dentistry cool again? 

CLINICAL NOTES

• 🦷 Flossing may lower stroke risk, as researchers find a strong link between oral hygiene and reduced risks of ischemic stroke, cardioembolic stroke, and atrial fibrillation. Talk about killing two birds with one string.  
  

• 💊 Antibiotics before implants matter, as a study finds ciprofloxacin may increase implant failure rates, while amoxicillin remains the safer choice for preoperative use. Not all pre-meds are created equal. 
  

• 🤰 Pregnancy dental visits linked to better outcomes, as research shows skipping oral care during pregnancy is tied to higher risks of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders. Brushing for two. 
  

• 🦷 Tooth loss might mess with your gut, as microbiome shifts following missing teeth could impact intestinal health. Turns out, digestion starts long before the stomach. 

BEYOND THE CUSP

• Tiny primates get dental checkups, as the critters at the London Zoo undergo teeth cleaning and exams to ensure their long-term health.

• From fillings to festivals: Former dentist Rodolpho Wehba traded drill bits for DJ decks, becoming a global techno artist after leaving dentistry behind. Do beats pay better than bicuspids?

• Ye appears in dental operatory Super Bowl ad, appearing in a dentist’s chair for a bizarre 27-second commercial directing viewers to his website, which contained offensive content.

• Bruins' Callahan loses teeth mid-game, taking a puck to the face and making an emergency trip to the dentist. Hockey: where missing teeth are just part of the uniform.