A Word with Dr. John Hisel, general dentist, American Dental Association trustee

Dr. John Hisel is a Boise native and general dentist. He and his wife Terri Hisel set up their private practice, Paramount Family Dentistry, in 1989 after Hisel attended dental school and completed his General Practice Residency Training as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He is active in a number of different dental organizations including the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association (ADA). In October 2022, Hisel was elected to serve as national trustee for the 11th District of the ADA. 

In this Q&A, Idaho Business Review spoke with Hisel about his recent installation as a national trustee and what the current state of the dental industry looks like.

This content has been edited for clarity and length.

First off, could you describe your work and some of your history as a dentist? Was dentistry a field you were always interested in going into?

I decided to be a dentist when I was in junior high school. All of my immediate family were in the construction field, including my father. My dad encouraged me to  go to college and become a “professional.”  With great encouragement from my parents, I focused on academics and after graduating from Boise High School in 1978 and  I attended the College of Idaho, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in zoology in 1982. 

In the fall of 1982, I entered dental school as part of the inaugural class of the Idaho Dental Education Program. This is a cooperative program between the State of Idaho and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Upon dental school graduation, I entered the Air Force. My first year was a general practice residency at the Air Force Hospital associated with Offutt Air Force Base (AFB). Following residency, I was a general dentist at Fairchild AFB in Spokane where my primary responsibility was taking care of the flyers. 

Since moving home to Boise I have had the pleasure of operating a private practice for the past 33-plus years.

As a newly installed national trustee for the 11th District, what kind of future do you expect to see for the district in terms of the dental industry? 

The future of dentistry around the Northwest, as well as nationally, is bright. I represent Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Alaska on the ADA board of trustees, which are very diverse, not only in geography, but in practice type as well as those who work in our dental practices. I base my optimism on the ever-expanding opportunities for dental professionals to impact the health of our nation by providing excellent oral health care for all.

What does being named a national trustee mean to you?

Throughout my career, I have been involved in organized dentistry. Early on, my assignments were on the local and state level. More recently, I have had the opportunity to serve at the regional as well as the national level. Being elected to the ADA board of trustees will allow me to serve the profession at its highest point. The ADA is the most recognized and respected dental organization worldwide, so being on the board is a tremendous honor and a great responsibility. 

How would you define the current status of the dental industry, especially in comparison to previous years?

The dental industry is changing rapidly. When I began my practice, there were only a handful of practice modalities available in which to work. Today, there are over 30. With this growth come many opportunities as well as many challenges. 

For instance, the cost of dental education and the cost of running a dental practice have a dramatic impact on the industry. These facts have a direct impact on a dentist’s decision making in many areas, one of which is participation in Dental Medicaid. Dental Medicaid is chronically underfunded, not just here in Idaho but around the country. Dentists in general are very generous and have a heart to serve the public, but as fixed costs increase and margins shrink, it becomes difficult to shoulder the costs of participation. 

Idaho has a very young dental workforce, so there is extra pressure when the reimbursements are low. In spite of challenges like these, I still don’t hesitate to encourage young people to pursue careers in dentistry.

And does the current state of the industry impact how you approach your work — both in your own practice and your work with dental organizations?

As a leader in the ADA, I am always looking at current and future trends to assess how best to approach market trends and legislative challenges. The ADA has tremendous resources (most notably, the Health Policy Institute) to aid us in these areas. In my personal practice, being a member of the ADA provides a wealth of information to help guide my practice decisions.

Have there been any notable changes or trends you’ve noticed within the dental industry over the last few years? Has the pandemic changed the dental industry or how you yourself conduct your work?

In terms of recent trends, the growth of Dental Support Organizations ( DSOs) is probably the most significant current trend. Across the nation, DSOs are rapidly becoming one of the primary players in the dental industry. There are currently over 600 DSOs in the U.S. 

When the pandemic hit, the world (including the CDC) looked to the ADA for a response. Through some very inspired leadership, the response from the ADA was rapid and very effective. The ADA led the way in how to practice during the pandemic and beyond. From advice on how to conduct appropriate care to how to access PPP the ADA led the way. 

Since the end of the pandemic, some clear changes have been seen. The most significant is a decrease in workforce. This decrease has led to an overall 20% reduction in dental productivity (Health Policy Institute says this is our new normal).

And what do you think those changes mean for the future of the industry? Do you see them as more positive or negative?

I see the dental industry as being very adaptable to change and therefore positioned for positive growth. One of the primary trends is the focus on dentistry being essential health care. While this may seem obvious to many, we have a long way to go to educate the public and to deliver in this space. The impact of oral health on overall health is clearly important and we need to get the message out.

According to IBISWorld, the dental industry is expected to see steady growth over the next five years. Does this expectation align with your take on the industry currently? And in all your time working, have you seen this sort of expectation before?

The forecast of steady growth certainly aligns with my expectations. For many years the status quo dominated dentistry; today, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Do you have any guidance for other dentists, such as how to weather the current state of the industry in your area?

My advice to my colleagues would be to get involved (or stay involved) with the ADA. The opportunities for education on the current state of the profession as well as how to weather the rapidly evolving landscape can best be found with an active participation in our fantastic organization.