Restorative dentistry is the study, diagnosis, and treatment of the oral cavity, the teeth, and their supporting structures and to preserve natural teeth as much as possible. It is sometimes also referred to as Prosthodontics Dentistry. It includes replacing missing or damaged teeth with a dental implant, bridge, crown, and full or partial denture. It also helps to avoid future dental cavities in the remaining teeth.
Restorative dentistry is one of the growing markets in the healthcare domain in the U.S.
Factors such as prevalence of dental loss, increased dental procedures, rising adoption of cosmetic dentistry, and developments in dental restorative industry are driving the restorative dentistry market. However, rising cost of restorative materials and uncertain reimbursement for dental procedures is likely to hamper the market growth. Additionally, the future trend, such as increasing adoption of 3D printed materials, is expected to increase in the forecast period.
The federal government initiates several programs to support dental procedures to increase awareness among the North American population. For instance, the Cosmetic Dentistry Grants Program (CDG) was intended by the Oral Aesthetic Advocacy Group, a not-for-profit organization. CDG program provides a grant of up to $1 million every year. Additionally, in 2016, the Santa Fe Group, in collaboration with Oral Health America and Families USA. This collaboration gave dental benefit under Medicare scheme as part of Medicare Part B. The proposal included a basic plan offered at no cost to older adults with incomes below $29,425, which is the federal poverty level. Moreover, according to the Older Americans Act, which provides assistance and benefits to Americans aged 60 years or older.
Also, the growing number of start-up companies are driving innovation in the field of dentistry. In the U.S., there have been multiple start-up companies that are helping to grow the Restorative Dentistry market. California and Florida have several numbers of medical technology start-ups, followed by Minnesota and Massachusetts. For instance, founded in 2008, Neocis Inc. is a Florida based start-up that manufactures “Yomi,” surgical robot for dental treatments and dental surgeries. It is the first and only FDA-cleared robotic device for dental surgery. Yomi has assisted the dental surgeon with physical, visual, and audio guidance to deliver repeatable surgical precision. Moreover, Yomi’s software preplans the dental procedure based on a patient’s C.T. scan.
The European restorative dentistry industry is also growing at a moderate rate. For instance, in the U.K., patients spend around £20.60 -£244.30 based on the type of dental treatment. According to the report published NHS Payments to dentists in England 2016 – 2017, NHS spent about £1,865 million for 8,927 dental contracts. NHS in England spends approximately £3.4 billion per year on all ages for all primary and secondary dental care procedures (with an estimated additional £2.3 billion on private dental care). Whereas in France, the Dental health expenditure was 5.7% of the total health expenditure in 2013. In France, 70% of the treatment procedures are covered under public health system insurance. However, some complementary insurance plans also include non-regulated treatment plans.
According to National Health Services, since 1970s, there is reducing prevalence of dental loss in adults. At the same time, there is trend mismatch in some population groups related to tooth loss and insufficient dental care. Tooth loss is an indicator of dental care access and overall dental health. The majority population of the world, suffer from tooth loss or decay due to factors such as periodontal diseases, injuries, accidents, and others. These problems can now be addressed or solved with the help of new age and advanced restorative dentistry.
According to the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), 178 million Americans are suffering from dental loss. Among which, 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth. The ACP estimates that this number is expected to rise over the next two decades owing to increasing cavity and tooth decay.
Moreover, according to the World Health Organization, Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 estimated that oral diseases affected half of the world’s population (3.58 billion people) with dental caries (tooth decay). The WHO also states that periodontal (gum) disease, which is a prominent cause of tooth loss was estimated to be the 11th most prevalent disease on a global scale. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, in 2016, at least 3.58 billion people worldwide are living with caries of the permanent teeth. According to one of the research study conducted, in 2030, there will be more than 740 million cases of decays, missing, and filled tooth among the German population.
The high prevalence of dental issues leading to tooth loss is likely to propel the growth of the global restorative dentistry market.
Currently available dental implant technology allows dentists to insert implants through minimally invasive surgeries and incorporate advanced navigation and monitoring technologies with the help of innovative products such as mini-implants, dentures, and other prosthetics.
For instance, in October 2018, Straumann has introduced a new standard line of mini Restorative Dentistry at the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Association for Osseointegration in Vienna. Mini Restorative Dentistry implants are a small diameter monotype dental-implants and offer a cost-effective, minimally invasive and an immediate solution for edentulous patients with reduced horizontal bone. Also, in September 2018, Dentsply Sirona has introduced Azento, single tooth replacement in one box solution which can be customized to meet the needs and timeframes of the patients as well as dentists. In March 2015, at the International Dental Show (IDS), Nobel Biocare, a Danaher company has introduced new NobelProcera FCZ, a new cement-free, full-contour implant crown with angulated screw channel for restoring molar teeth.
However, limited reimbursement and high cost of restorative dental materials and dental implants have restrained the restorative dentistry market in the world. Most of the population from developing nation are worried about the cost of dental restorative materials and dental implant. The dental treatment or procedure varies from patient to patient; thus, the number of appointments, procedures, and cost of restorative dentistry procedures varies depending on the person.
Cost of dental procedures in U.S. (US$ Mn)
| Dental Procedure | Price in U.S. |
| Single Titanium Implant | $1,500 |
| All-on-4 Dental Implants | $20,000 |
| Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crown | $1,100 |
| Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Bridge | $1,200 |
| Full Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | $1,300 |
| Zirconia Crown | $1,700 |
| Porcelain Veneer (per unit) | $2,000 |
| Full Denture, Acrylic Teeth (upper or lower) | $2,000 |
| Full Denture, Composite/Porcelain Teeth (upper or lower) | $2,000 |
| Full Denture, Immediate or Healing (upper or lower) | $1,495 |
| Partial Denture (Flexible Frame) | $1,800 |
| Partial Denture (Metal Frame) | $1,400 |
Source: Med Tourism Co, LLC
For instance, all dental implants require a uniquely designed crown to be placed on top of the titanium or any metal screw. The dentist’s overhead, geographical location, and individual fee structure will all be calculated into the cost of the procedure. Dental implant surgery is one of the most predictable procedures in dentistry. According to the authoritydental.org, a single-tooth dental implant costs between US$ 1,000 to US$ 3,000 in the ..U.S. and in Germany it costs between € 1,000 to € 3,000. Thus, the initial high cost of dental implants is likely to hinder the restorative dentistry market growth as the patients have to bear the cost as out-of-pocket expenses.
Dental restoration procedures and treatments are one most practiced and needed for the U.S. population. However, only part of the dental procedure is covered under Medicaid for lower-income children and adults. The policies for coverage of dental restoration procedures differ from one insurance company to another as well as have different rules.
For instance, in the case of the U.S., low-income children and adults are covered with dental insurance benefits by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In the case of the U.K., there are 3 NHS charge bands range from £22.70 to £269.30. The patient has to pay NHS dental treatment charges within three months of treatment in order to claim a refund. NHS provides free dental treatment for the population under 18 years of age.
Key market players of Restorative Dentistry market are Dentsply Sirona Inc., Danaher Corporation, 3M, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Ultradent Products, Inc. Institut Straumann AG, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., ..G.C. Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Voco Gmbh, Brasseler USA and DiaDent Group International. (Check Research Sample)
The restorative dentistry market is segmented into restorative materials, restorative equipment, implants, and prosthetics. There are four types of restorative materials, direct restorative materials (amalgam, composites, glass ionomers, and others), indirect restorative materials (all-ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, cast-gold and cast-metal), biomaterials (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine), etching, and bonding agents/adhesives and dental impression materials. The restorative equipment includes CAD/CAM Systems, Handpieces, Rotary Instruments, Light-Curing Equipment, Casting Devices, Mixing Devices, Furnaces, and Articulating Equipment.