Do you have a 3-D printer for your practice yet? If you don’t, you probably will soon. According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global market for dental 3-D printing totaled $903 million in 2016 and will reach $3.427 billion by the end of 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5%.
TMR also reports that Stratasys Ltd, 3D Systems Inc, EnvisionTEC Inc, and Concept Laser GmbH held about 40% of 2016’s market. Of the various technologies available, TMR expects selective laser sintering to have the highest CAGR at 17.5% through 2025. Geographically speaking, North America will dominate the global market, accounting for 41.9% of its total.
The research company attributes this growth to rapid technological advances, which will result in more efficient printers that produce higher quality products. These devices also will reduce material waste and labor costs. Plus, greater patient awareness of oral healthcare, an increased focus on aesthetics, and more elderly patients retaining their teeth all will drive the market too.
Digital dentistry has played a key role in shaping the dental 3-D printing market as well. Its increased use in making implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and surgical guides will drive the dental 3-D printing market, TMR says. The reduction in the development costs of dental parts and in the time required to make them also has improved the uptake of dental 3-D printing.
Furthermore, 3-D printing has enabled greater customization in treatment, and TMR calls this development “game-changing” for the global market. Finally, TMR expects increased healthcare expenditures to be yet another factor propelling the growth of the overall dental 3-D printing market.
Conversely, dental 3-D printers require top-end technologies, and their high costs will be a key restraint in the global market. The development of these technologies often requires significant capital investment in terms of registering patents and seeking regulatory approvals. The lack of skilled labor required to use 3-D printing technology also will hamper market growth.
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