Follow the Money

If you want to attempt to decipher where the dental and dental technology industries are headed in the next few years, then heeding the advice that the mysterious Deep Throat imparted to Bob Woodward during his investigation of the 1970s Watergate scandal might help provide that clue: “Follow the money.” Although there is no parallel being drawn here between dentistry and political scandals, there is no doubt that the principle of following a money trail can offer a fascinating glimpse into future industry directions, especially when one is trying to understand and analyze what is happening. Who is buying or investing in whom or what? Who is merging or partnering with whom? What new strategic financial relationships are being formed? Who may, or may not, benefit, from all the spending or strategic alliances? Of course, the results of this approach may not produce such as dramatic a result as that of Woodward and Bernstein’s, because the pieces of the puzzle in the dental industry are not static but always evolving. However, the clues and signals, whether blatant or subtle, are there for those wanting to stay ahead of the game. By analyzing industry players’ most recent moves and then projecting what the next maneuver would most likely be, or would logically have to be, one can gain some strategic insights on what the maneuvering might mean and the impact it might have on the future structure of the industry 1, 5, or 10 years down the road.