DOCTORS AND DENTISTS SPEAK ON THE TOP MEDICAL AND DENTAL TRENDS OF 2024

Healthcare is evolving at a rapid pace, with new technologies and innovations disrupting how medical and dental care is delivered. Myriad trends will shape the medical and dental fields in 2024.

Telehealth, or delivering virtual consultations and care, will witness explosive growth. Driven by COVID-19, telehealth use already expanded 20X in 2020. Convenience and infection control benefits will make telehealth vital for routine consults, monitoring chronic conditions, and triaging cases. Add-ons like prescriptions by mail, remote monitoring devices, and at-home testing kits enhance care access.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds tremendous promise across healthcare. From flagging patient risks to interpreting images and EMR data for diagnoses, AI automates time-consuming tasks for clinicians. Algorithms also show high accuracy rates for disease detection. By 2024, AI assistance will become routine – improving outcomes, costs and access to specialized expertise.

Wearable health tech will also go mainstream. Smart watches already provide fitness tracking and heart monitoring. Soon non-invasive wrist bands will track glucose, blood pressure and oxygen levels as technology improves. Real-time data helps both patients and doctors identify issues early before they escalate.

Genomics will unlock more personalized medicine through genetic testing services. Identifying predispositions and mutations that influence disease risks, lifespan, and drug compatibility allows treatments tailored to individuals’ genomes. Although costly now, advances will make genomic guidance commonplace.

In dental care, 3D printing of braces, dentures and implants will transform fitting and fabrication processes. CT scans help create custom-fit 3D printed options in hours or days versus weeks traditionally. 3D printing of titanium implants on-site in dental offices also increases placement precision during surgery.

Otherwise, nanotechnology holds immense potential across dentistry and medicine. Ultra-tiny nanobots could patrol our bloodstreams to identify and treat disease rapidly. Meanwhile, nanotech surface coatings of medical devices like stents can attack pathogens and prevent dangerous bacterial accumulation.

Put it together and healthcare’s future in 2024 is brighter due to progress with telehealth consults, AI diagnostics, wearable tracking, genomics testing, 3D printing, and nanotechnology. With costs coming down and access going up, patients worldwide stand to benefit.