As the dental industry undergoes rapid transformation each year, there are some trends dentists say could harm patient care and business operations.  [Becker's Dental]

Eight dentists recently spoke with Becker's to discuss what they think are the most dangerous trends in dentistry.

Editor's note: These responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: What are the most dangerous trends in dentistry today?

Robert Baskies, DMD (Phillipsburg, N.J.): Having worked for a few DSOs in the last 10 years, I fear the following: Private equity firms buy the private practices and in many cases streamline the business end of the practices by getting better contacts with dental labs and dental suppliers. This gives the profits that they need to make their investors happy. Private equity firms usually only hold their investments for five to six years and then they sell them to the next private equity firm. There is nothing less to streamline. The next private equity firm can only get profits by cutting ancillary staff, cutting salaries for all employees and/or cutting back on necessary supplies. The staff is unhappy, and they leave. Ultimately, patient care suffers and offices start to close.

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