The global dental CAD/CAM system market is expected to reach $540 million by 2016, according to a new report from the Millennium Research Group.
This market will see particularly strong growth in its chairside segment, particularly in Japan, according to the company.
As a result of demand from dentists for chairside systems, a number of new competitors will be entering the market through 2016, which will lead to greater competition and a downward pressure on selling prices. In the U.S., for example, 3Shape's Trios scanner will capitalize on dentists' interest in replacing traditional impression-taking methods with digital techniques. The marketing of this intraoral scanner, along with new devices from Laserdenta, MHT (to be rebranded by Zfx and Clon 3D), Dimensional Photonics International, and a.tron3d, will dramatically expand the market, according to Millennium.
The underpenetrated Japanese market will see the most growth, due in part to a large number of technologically savvy dentists who are seeking a marketable advantage in their practice, according to Brady Baker, an analyst with Millennium. The ceramic dental restorations associated with CAD/CAM technology are not reimbursed by national health insurance, so reimbursement cuts to competing traditional metal restorations will actually improve the relative cost of ceramics, he added.
