Strategic management in dentistry: a comprehensive framework for dental healthcare organizations
Authors
Alessandro Quaranta, Orlando D'Isidoro, Nishith Bhargava, Elisabetta Polizzi, Wang Lai Hui
Abstract
Aim: Strategic management is increasingly recognized as a critical discipline within contemporary dental healthcare organizations. Historically, many dental practices and specialist centers evolved through clinically driven models characterized by technical expertise, referral reputation, and incremental operational growth. However, the modern dental environment has become substantially more complex due to technological disruption, changing patient expectations, workforce pressures, digital transformation, increased competition, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the emergence of corporate and integrated healthcare systems.
Despite these changes, strategic management within dentistry remains underdeveloped in the scientific literature. Most publications focus predominantly on clinical excellence, leadership, marketing, or operational efficiency in isolation. At the same time, relatively few studies provide a comprehensive strategic framework that integrates environmental analysis, organizational assessment, value creation, governance, implementation, and strategic renewal.
Methods: This paper proposes a comprehensive strategic management framework specifically adapted for dental healthcare organizations. The framework integrates established business and management theories including PESTEL analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT analysis, the VRIO framework, strategic alignment models, Porter’s Value Chain, governance theory, Balanced Results: Scorecard principles, and continuous strategic renewal models. Particular emphasis is placed on the unique characteristics of dental healthcare systems, including multidisciplinary care delivery, specialist referral ecosystems, digital workflows, patient-centered value creation, supportive periodontal and maintenance care models, and healthcare innovation.
Conclusions: The manuscript aims to provide clinicians, practice owners, healthcare leaders, academics, and policymakers with a structured, strategic approach to support sustainable growth, organizational resilience, innovation, patient value, and long-term competitive advantage in modern dental healthcare.
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