Business
Innovation and Disruption Accelerated in Dentistry Maggie Augustyn, FAAIP, FICOI
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s I was growing up, I was advised to find a job that would be relevant and needed, one with significant security of provider-ship for my future family. My upbringing, though not uncommon is not that of an average American. I moved to this country with my mom, dad, and sister at the age of 14, with nothing more than a suitcase or two. And so, in capitalizing on the sacrifices and efforts that my parents made, that we made, I was taught to be safe in my pursuits. I did well in science and loved the subject, and thus I chose healthcare. I loved working with my hands and had a knack for art, thus I chose dentistry. I had convinced myself, as had my advisors, that there is not going to be a time in the near future where first world countries will not need a human dentist. The job of a dentist was not going to be taken over by robots nor was it going to be moved overseas. My choice of career was conservative, realistic, and held certainty. But not everyone thought like me. I saw people who took risks, who were innovators, individuals who caused a disruption; they left me in awe. Their courage, for me, was unfathomably uncomfortable.
22 Spring 2024 Dental Entrepreneur
Picturing myself in the position of an entrepreneur has me uneasy, distressed, disquieted, and most of all–unsettled. I like my comfort and routine, I like my safety and security. Starting a company that has never existed before, one that interferes with the status quo, and also improves systems, rid of inefficiencies, leverages new technology, and lives in the future is something that I left to other people. And I watched, and I learned from those incredibly brave people. One of these people, one to watch, and learn from is Yasin Abbak, an eternal entrepreneur who had recently started a company called GroupUps. Their mission? To ‘help dentists save more, together.’ The company specializes in price transparency for practice owners. It negotiates the cost of equipment including, but not limited to, CBCTs and panoramic machines, sterilizers and autoclaves, dental chairs, cabinetry, x-ray machines and sensors, 3D printers, and lasers. What also makes the company unique is its brand neutrality. It doesn’t have agreements with select manufacturers. They work with distributors who continue giving commissions to their team. The sales force and distributors aim to attract customers they’d never met before, ones who might become a loyal folDentalEntrepreneur.com