12 TRENDS & APPLICATIONS Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 7/2017 European dental imaging equipment market in a state of change By Sasha Stephanian & Jeffrey Wong, Canada The market for dental imaging equipment in Europe is quite satu- rated and has not experienced any significant growth over the past sev- eral years. However, in recent years cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners have increasingly begun incorporating 2-D capabilities into their systems, as well as offering a broad range of fields of view to pro- vide greater flexibility. Clinical appli- cations of CBCT systems include im- plant planning, root configuration, sinus augmentation, root-canal pro- cedures and bony defect detection. As several of these applications are expected to increase in number, the demand and need for CBCT scanners will continue to grow considerably throughout Europe over the next decade. Intraoral X-ray imaging device market in transition Analogue technology is a thing of the past and while it is still declin- ing, the transition away from these types of systems has already taken place, resulting in a more stable market situation. Companies now offer two digital alternatives: pho- tostimulable phosphor (PSP) sys- tems and digital sensors. Larger clinics with several rooms, espe- cially those who only recently made the switch to digital technology, typically opt for PSP systems due to the affordability of PSP plates and the similarity in equipment han- dling compared to conventional an- alogue film. In countries such as France and Italy, which are largely dominated by smaller clinics with only a single examination room, dentists often opt to use digital sen- sors instead. Although the split between PSP systems and digital sensors is quite even, the PSP market has shown strong signs of growth, particularly in countries that were traditionally dominated by sensors, such as Spain, and will continue to be one of the main drivers in a rather stag- nant market for imaging equip- ment as a whole. Part of this trend can be attributed to the fact that the thickness and rigidity of sensors are a greater nuisance when it comes to patient comfort, as well as the frail- ness of these sensors compared to PSP scanners. Furthermore, digital sensors are much more expensive than PSP scanners, and include parts that are prone to wear, such as cords that can be easily damaged, which further argues the case to switch to PSP systems. 2-D extraoral X-ray imaging vs 3-D CBCT scanners Extraoral X-ray imaging sys- tems are predominantly used for viewing a patient’s teeth relative to his or her jaw and skull. They aid in monitoring impacted teeth, tempo- romandibular joint disorder, and possible tumours in and around the intraoral cavity. These specific uses of extraoral X-ray systems are lim- ited to procedures performed by or- thodontists, prosthodontists and oral surgeons, resulting in a rela- tively small market. Most profes- sionals prefer working with a CBCT scanner, which has 3-D imaging ca- pabilities and can perform at a much greater capacity than tradi- tional 2-D extraoral imaging sys- tems, but are limited by the high ac- quisition cost of these systems. Re- cently, however, not only have prices of CBCT scanners dropped significantly, but it is now standard for these systems to also incorpo- rate both panoramic and cephalo- metric capabilities, resulting in so- called ‘combo-units’, which has re- sulted in a drastic change in the market. The popularity of these CBCT ‘combo-units’ has increased significantly in recent years and is Fig. 1: Intraoral X-ray system market breakdown, Europe, 2023. Fig. 2: Cone beam computed tomography scanner market breakdown, Europe, 2023. expected to continue outpacing all other market segments in terms of growth. Consequently, the outlook of the extraoral X-ray system market in Europe is negative. Already being a replacement market without much innovation, the demand for traditional 2-D systems is on the de- cline as consumers continue to opt for technologically superior CBCT scanners. Manufacturers have also recognised this, and as such have shifted their focus to capitalise on this trend, investing in producing combo 2-D and 3-D units with the option for future upgrades, greatly improving the marketability of these systems. Analysis of the current situation of CBCT scanners CBCT scanners are extremely efficient machines that are capable of performing a quick and non- invasive scan, resulting in a high level of patient comfort. It is also possible to instantly show the pa- tients a 3-D image of their jaw and teeth structure, making it easier for dental professionals using these scanners to convince patients re- garding necessary treatments. However, the biggest advantage of CBCT scanners is their low cost rela- tive to traditional CT systems found in hospitals. While CBCT scanners are quite a bit more expensive than other dental imaging equipment, they are a much more affordable al- ternative for capturing 3-D images of a patient’s jaw compared to past methods. In the European market, sales of CBCT systems have increased con- siderably, with growth rates sur- passing that of nearly all other den- tal imaging devices. This will most likely continue to be the case throughout the next several years as the technology is constantly im- proving and prices are dropping. Al- though most units now offer a vari- ety of field of views (FOVs), the most popular choice continues to be 8 cm x 8 cm, as this size is sufficient to capture the complete maxilla or mandible in one image. Anything above this size has a much more niche usage and typically comes at a greater cost, thus dentists opting to purchase a CBCT scanner are less likely to be persuaded by anything larger, as it is more of a luxury than a necessity. As such, all of the major competitors, including Carestream, Planmeca, Sirona, Danaher Group, Vatech, and Cefla Group, have mul- tiple systems with this size already incorporated into their product line. Today, smaller FOV (sizes smaller than 8 x 8) scanners have es- sentially all been consolidated with medium FOV scanners, and large FOV scanners are extremely expen- sive and represent only a very mi- nor percentage of the market. Final thoughts All in all, the market for dental imaging equipment in Europe is relatively static in terms of growth, but it is in a state of transition. Com- panies are continuously improving the technology in their products, and the stiff competition is placing intense pressures on prices. Conse- quently, a growing demand for CBCT scanners is neutered by these falling prices, and in the end, the companies that will be the most successful are the ones who provide the greatest value with their prod- ucts. The intraoral X-ray imaging sector has almost completely tran- sitioned into a digital market, but is now split between digital sensors and PSP scanners. With new en- trants in various segments of the market, the future of this market seems promising and exciting, with many new opportunities on the ho- rizon. Sasha Stephanian is a research analyst at iData Research and was the lead re- searcher for the 2016 European Dental Operatory Equipment and CAD/CAM Materials, U.S. Medical and Dental Imaging Equipment, 2017 European Robotics and Surgical Navigation, U.S. and European Dental Lasers, and Euro- pean Dental Imaging Devices Market Report Suites. His current work in- cludes the 2017 U.S. Soft Tissue Regen- eration Market Report Suite. Jeffrey Wong is the strategic analyst manager at iData Research and has been heavily involved with the com- pany’s dental division throughout his tenure. As a research analyst, he led several research projects on the global dental markets, including dental pros- thetics, digital dentistry, CAD/CAM materials, dental implants, bone graft substitutes, hygiene, dental imaging and dental lasers.