Market Trends of USA Dental Equipment Industry
The Crowns and Bridges Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
Crowns and bridges are dental restorations that are used to treat problems with broken, missing, or weak teeth. A dental crown, or a dental cap, is a customized dental covering that can be fitted over a damaged or injured tooth. It can help restore the tooth size, shape, and strength, thus promoting its appearance. A dental bridge is a fixed dental treatment that can help replace one or more missing teeth by filling the space between adjacent teeth.
The trend of cosmetic dentistry is rising, where patients opt for procedures like smile makeovers, dental restoration, crowns, and bridges. This trend fuels the demand for dental devices like crowns and bridges as individuals seek aesthetic improvements and dental restorations.
Enhanced insurance coverage for dental procedures, including crowns and bridges, makes these treatments more accessible to a larger population. For instance, according to the Dental Delta, in March 2023, major procedures such as crowns, bridges, inlays, and dentures were covered at 50% of the cost in the United States, leaving the individual responsible for the remaining half. Insurance plans usually cover a portion of the cost of crowns and bridges, with the exact percentage depending on the specific plan. Thus, the availability of insurance coverage for the dental crown and bridge process is expected to contribute to the segment’s growth.
Moreover, the growing demand for cosmetic dentistry is expected to increase the demand for brown and bridges, likely contributing to market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in March 2024, CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER, a prominent healthcare incubator, jointly reported the open application period for the third annual SMILE Health accelerator program. This program seeks to unearth, validate, and advance innovative solutions that promote equity, accessibility, and the seamless integration of oral health with overall well-being. The SMILE Health program attracts people to cosmetic dentistry, contributing to the segment’s growth.
The initiatives taken by market players, such as the expansion of the offering that includes the crown and bridges, are expected to contribute to the segment’s growth over the forecast period. For instance, in January 2024, Dentist 101 of Houston, located in Chinatown, expanded their services to offer a comprehensive range of tooth replacement solutions for patients with damaged or missing teeth. This expansion provides numerous restoration options, including dental crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures.
Thus, the growing demand for cosmetic dentistry, favorable reimbursement, and initiatives by the market players are expected to promote the adoption of crowns and bridges and contribute to segmental growth.
The Periodontic Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
Periodontitis is one of the most common diseases that causes gum infection, which damages gums and can destroy the jawbone. This disease can be cured by professionally cleaning the pockets around teeth to prevent damage to surrounding bone. Sometimes, advanced cases may require surgery, which significantly utilizes various dental devices. Hence, the occurrence of periodontitis will necessitate the demand for devices such as ultrasonic teeth cleaning machines, periodontal curettes, root surface levelers, curettes, probes, gingival separators, periodontal pocket endoscopes, laser therapy instruments, etc. These devices have specific functions and uses that contribute to diagnosing and treating periodontal diseases. Factors such as the high burden of periodontitis, poor oral hygiene that leads to periodontitis, and the rise in product launches associated with periodontal treatment and diagnosis devices in the United States are expected to drive segmental growth.
An increase in the prevalence of periodontitis is expected to drive the segment’s growth over the forecast period. For instance, as per the December 2023 update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women 30 years or older had some level of periodontitis in the United States in their lifetime. Furthermore, periodontitis is more common as people age. About 60% of adults 65 years or older had periodontitis in the country.
As per the January 2024 update by the Population Reference Bureau, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 (a 47% increase), and the 65 and older age group’s share of the total population is projected to rise from 17% to 23%. Hence, owing to the high burden of periodontitis cases and the increasing geriatric population, which is more prone to periodontal diseases, the demand for dental devices is expected to rise, leading to segmental growth over the forecast period.
The benefits offered by periodontal devices in the treatment of periodontitis make them more acceptable in the country. Also, many researchers received funding opportunities for studies related to periodontitis, which is further expected to raise the demand for these dental devices across the country. For instance, in January 2024, Kornberg School of Dentistry received National Institute of Health (NIH) funding of USD 3.6 million to study periodontal disease progression. The research project is a collaboration between Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, the College of Public Health, and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Similarly, there is a significant link between various chronic diseases and periodontitis. Thus, these connections further need to be established to properly identify and elaborate on the treatment regimen. Thus, funding activities related to such research studies are expected to impact the segment’s growth.
Therefore, owing to the above-mentioned factors, such as the adoption of dental devices for periodontic diseases and increasing research funding activities enabling studies related to periodontic diseases, the segment is expected to witness notable growth over the forecast period.
