Dental Tribune Indian Edition

3Dental Tribune Indian Edition - July 2013 by Dr. Kamran Zamanian and Kathryn Mashevich, iData Research Despite recovering from a formally recessed US market, many patients continue to opt away from expensi- ve, elective dental procedures. The market for dental prosthetics, en- compassing crowns, bridges, inlays/ onlays, veneers, and dentures has remained relatively stable over the past couple of years. However, eco- nomy products such as monolithic restorations produced with CAD/ CAM technology are driving unit sales. Digital manufacturing allows la- boratories to increase output while decreasing labor costs, permitting them to lower the cost of the final restoration and gain a competiti- ve advantage. A monolithic Zirco- nia crown is priced at around $100, which is $50 less than a zirconia crown fabricated through traditional methods. Patients are choosing the most affordable dental prosthetics, which means monolithic restoration sales will continue to rise. Conse- quentially, laboratories and dental offices continue to go digital. In re- sponse, manufacturers of CAD/CAM technology are continuously innova- ting and releasing new products. How significant is the trend toward all-ceramic and monolithic resto- rations in driving the CAD/CAM market? Crowns and bridges total nearly 80 percent of the market of all dental prosthetics in the US Since 2010, the unit share of all ceramic restorations of crowns and bridges has increased by 20 percent. The most popular cera- mic materials today include zirconia, specifically Glidewells bruxZir, and lithium disilocate e-max by  Ivoclar Vivadent. Fortunately for patients, ceramic materials are consistently improving in strength and aesthetic quality, while decreasing in price. Today, zir- conia is available in up to 16 diffe- rent shades. The shift to all ceramic restorations is cannibalizing the por- celain fused to medal market (PFM), as gold and precious medals, such as palladium and platinum, continually undergo steep price increases. It’s estimated that by 2019, the majori- ty of restorations will be fabricated from zirconia and glass ceramics, and the dominant share of the resto- rations will be monolithic. What is new and exciting? In response to the demand for mono- lithic restorations, 2012 demonstra- ted a number of new developments in digital dentistry. Intra-oral digital scanners are improving quickly to capture the eye of doctors who pre- viously hesitated about working with new technologies. When intra-oral digital impression scanners first en- tered the market, they presented an opportunity to increase efficiency drastically in dental offices, how- ever, they also came with a steep le- arning curve for dentists and dental assistants. The dentists needed to spend time learning how to use the technology correctly before increases in effi- ciency and productivity would be evi- dent. Recent developments have ad- dressed this inhibiter. The new iTero scanner from Cadent has been relea- sed, as well as 3Shapes new Trios sy- stem in Europe, and the Sirona Om- nicam. These scanners are a lot less technical, simplifying the scanning process. Marketing user-friendly scanners is the current strategy within intra- oral digital impression taking. Sirona is advertising the CEREC Omnicam as “scanning simplicity,” and 3Sha- pe ensures to inform consumers that “scanning has never been easier,” when advertising their new Trios scanner. The Trios scanner is cur- rently only available in Europe, but is expected to enter the North Ame- rican market soon. Finally, even the new IOS FastScan from Glidewell laboratories, which recently pur- chased IOS Technologies, describes the “four easy steps” for using the scanner. Not only are scanners becoming simpler to use, but they are more advanced overall. The scan no longer needs to be processed overseas before it can be sent to a U.S. dental labo- ratory. In addition, the click fee per scan has disappeared. The scanning process is faster, more efficient, and less expensive. Furthermore, newer models are equipped with the ability to record video clips to present to the patient when prescribing treatments. Currently, unit volume for intra- oral digital impression-taking is ex- pected to grow at a CAGR of almost 20 percent. As intra-oral digital impression taking becomes more popular with dentists, laboratories will see a grea- ter volume of digital files and will be more likely to invest in a CAD/CAM full in-laboratory system or scanning unit. Therefore, an increasing popu- larity of intra-oral digital impression scanners will help drive the entire CAD/CAM system market and also the market for rapid prototyping systems. What is the fastest growing market segment? CAD/CAM technology has moved into dentures. Global Dental Scien- ces LLC has developed AvaDent Digital Dentures, a complete CAD/ CAM system used to produce remo- vable dentures. Currently, Avadent is the only firm using the new techno- logy and laboratories have already expressed interest in buying should the device receive FDA approval. The denture market is expected to be the fastest growing segment in dental pro- sthetics over the next ten years. The combination of an aging population and an economic recession is leading patients toward removable dentures, which are more affordable than full implant solutions. Over the next few years, dentures will enter the digital world and be designed and milled with CAD/CAM technology. The ma- nufacturing process will become fa- ster and more accurate, similar to the way CAD/CAM has transformed the market for fixed prosthetics. Patients will be able to receive their dentures in only two appointments. Further- more, with a permanent digital record of the denture, a broken denture can be fixed quickly. Conclusion Ceramic and monolithic restorations will significantly drive the CAD/ CAM market over the long term as patients choose more affordable op- tions. Within this $12 billion market, numbers of intra-oral digital scanners will grow as dentists incorporate new user-friendly equipment into their practices. Dentures will prove to be the fastest growing market as baby boomers age. Over the past century, the per- centage of the U.S. population over the age of 65 has more than tripled. In general, mature markets, such as the one for dental prosthetics, tend to grow at a similar rate to the ove- rall economy. Although CAD/CAM technology has been used in the den- tal industry for over twenty years, recent developments are making the technology much more efficient and cost-effective, promising overall market growth. Additional information The information contained in this article is taken from a detailed and comprehensive global report series published by iData Research, titled “U.S. Markets for Dental Prosthetics and CAD/CAM Devices.” iData Re- search is an international market re- search and consulting firm focused on providing market intelligence for the medical device, dental and pharma- ceutical industries. DT Business Americas (DTI/Graphic provided by iData Research Digital dentistry in dental prosthetics is growing rapidly in the US Published by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., India © 2013, Dental Tribune International GmbH. All rights reserved. Dental Tribune India makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune International. 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