Post-COVID recovery fuels success of cost-conscious dental implant solutions and digital dentistry

The most prominent difference between premium, value and discount implant solutions is the cost, premium brands costing several times more than value or discount brands. These price differences not only reflect research and development and quality assurance expenses, but also include additional costs such as the inclusion of training programmes, dental practice support and extended service from the manufacturer. Owing to the high cost of dental treatment and limited coverage, cost-effectiveness has been always at the forefront of the dental industry, and the permanent crisis era of post-COVID recovery has only fuelled the need for lower-cost implants. Dental insurance coverage remains limited and is usually provided under an employment benefits package. While the overall market growth will continue to be constrained by reimbursement and unemployment rates, the lack of it, to some extent, will drive the need for cost-sensitive and affordable treatment.

Historically, premium dental implant companies have dominated the competitive landscape in Europe, but they have recently faced increased competition from value and discount brands. In addition, the premium segment market is mainly shared by four main companies: Dentsply Sirona, Envista Holdings Corp., the Straumann Group and ZimVie. The growing prevalence of local manufacturers and an increasingly cost-sensitive consumer demographic have contributed to overall price depreciation in the total dental implant market that has been fuelled by a growing share of the value and discount segments in the total dental implant market value. The combined market share of the value and discount segments is projected to be over half of the total dental implant market value by the end of the forecast period.

Similar to the dominance of premium implants, stock abutments have historically prevailed as the predominant segment of the final abutment market. Recent improvements in manufacturing capability and product affordability have resulted in the rapid growth of the CAD/CAM abutment segment relative to the stock abutment and custom-cast abutment segments. CAD/CAM abutments offer significant improvement in aesthetics and clinical outcomes. The segment became the largest segment in the total final abutment market in 2022, closely followed by the stock abutment segment.

Digital dentistry

Further development and adoption of digital dentistry will continue to drive the growth in the dental implant and bone grafting material markets. Driving the CBCT scanner market is the development of computer-guided surgery software for treatment planning and implant placement. Based on the treatment plan, the dentist also has the option of using a surgical guide to assist in placement of the implants. CAD/CAM technology is increasingly being used to manufacture customised final abutments as well, thereby creating a more stable and aesthetic restoration.

Dental manufacturers invest in the digital dentistry transformation via collaborations with start-ups, education centres and other companies globally to expand technological capabilities, outreach and local experience. The Straumann Group, for example, has invested in China to establish a Straumann manufacturing, innovation and education centre by 2029. The company also founded a new technological and innovation centre in Switzerland.

Open-architecture systems enable integration with other components, even those from different manufacturers. Companies producing CAD/CAM abutments are opening their systems to make the process of sending a scan easier for dental professionals. Nobel Biocare’s system, for example, can now receive CAD files from 3Shape scanners too. Dentsply Sirona too has opened its CEREC software to support compatibility and a smooth workflow.

Closed systems used to be the only option in the early days of CAD/CAM development, limiting the dentist’s choice of components to a single manufacturer. The shift towards open CAD/CAM systems makes the process of ordering CAD/CAM abutments more accessible to the market and is therefore expected to increase the demand in volume for CAD/CAM products. In addition, it allows for cross-promotion of a broader range of products from different manufacturers.

Recent significant events relating to digital dentistry market

In May 2023, Henry Schein announced the acquisition of Brazilian company S.I.N. Implant System. The company specialises in value dental implant solutions and has been expanding into the US market. Henry Schein is planning to integrate S.I.N. into its Global Oral Reconstruction Group. The combined forces of the two companies are set to form a global supply of dental implant and bone regeneration materials to address the growing demand in both emerging and developed markets. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

In April 2023, ZimVie announced the launch of RegenerOss CC Allograft Particulate and RegenerOss Bone Graft Plug, extending the company’s dental bone grafting portfolio, primarily focusing on the North American market. Both products are processed by RTI Surgical and marketed by ZimVie

In April 2023, Medentika, a member of the Straumann Group since 2016, announced the launch of a brand awareness campaign for its MPS multiplatform portfolio of dental implants and prosthetic components. The campaign is called “This is MEDENTiKA”.

In March 2023, ZimVie introduced the CAD and FULL SUITE modules for its RealGUIDE digital dentistry software platform at the International Dental Show in Germany. The FULL SUITE integration provides a seamless workflow between the CAD module and RealGUIDE’s existing Plan, App and Guide modules, offering a one-stop solution for surgical and restorative treatment.

In February 2023, BEGO and Rapid Shape announced their partnership allowing Rapid Shape customers to process BEGO’s Varseo materials on Rapid Shape’s D20+, D30+ and D50+ printers. This allows users of those 3D printers to produce a broad range of restorative solutions with BEGO’s VarseoSmile and VarseoWax materials.

In January 2023, Nobel Biocare announced its acquisition of Mimetis Biomaterials, a spin-off from the Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering group of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain. Nobel and Mimetis have partnered in the development of materials since 2016, the newest product of which is creos syntogain, the latest-generation synthetic bone grafting material developed by Mimetis. Through its partnership with Mimetis, Nobel has been able to expand its portfolio of regenerative solutions.

In its annual report for 2022, the Straumann Group announced 2023 additions to its portfolio, including value dental implant systems, abutments, grafting materials and growth factor. This included an Anthogyr line extension with the Axiom X3 tissue-level implant, the extension of the BLX and TLX implant family lines, an addition to the Variobase abutment family and the Zygoma-S implant designed for the zygoma anatomy-guided approach. The company also announced the continuous global roll-out of cerabone plus, a bovine bone grafting material with sodium hyaluronate, starting with Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordic countries. The company also announced the global release of the Medentika multiplatform and implant system. Other new products are the fully tapered TLX tissue-level implant system for immediate protocols, the Neodent two-piece screw-retained zirconia–zirconia connection implant with a tapered design and the Neodent Helix GM Narrow implant, also for immediate protocols. The company is planning a continuous global roll-out of its Emdogain growth factor, featuring the latest extension of its indications to flapless surgery and peri-implant therapy.