Dental Laboratories Market (By Product: Restorative, Orthodontic, Endodontic, Oral care, Implants; By Equipment: Dental Lasers, Systems and Parts, Laboratory Machines, Dental Radiology Equipment, 3D Printing Systems, Milling Equipment, Furnaces, Dental Scanners; By Material: Metal-Ceramics, Traditional All-Ceramics, CAD/CAM Materials, Plastics, Metals; By Prosthetic Type)- Global Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Regional Outlook and Forecasts, 2022-2030

The global dental laboratories market size was estimated at USD 30.8 billion in 2022 and it is expected to hit around USD 58.18 billion by 2030, growing at a registered CAGR of 7.80% during the forecast period 2022 to 2030.

This can be attributed to increasing cosmetic dental procedures, the geriatric population, and awareness regarding oral hygiene. In addition, technological advancements are expected to fuel growth. For instance, the digitalization of dental labs and the introduction of Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology have improved the accuracy of dental appliances.  

According to World Population Aging, there were nearly 727 million people aged 65 or over in 2020, globally, and the number of aged people is anticipated to double to 1.5 billion by 2050. The high incidence rate of the elderly population is anticipated to fuel the market growth as the geriatric population is highly susceptible to dental conditions such as xerostomia coronal & root caries and periodontitis. Furthermore, the adverse dental effects due to the frequent use of prescription or OTC drugs by the elderly population are anticipated to boost the market growth.

The market is highly fragmented and is anticipated to witness significant mergers & acquisitions from both large dental service organizations and private equity firms. These mergers and acquisitions are anticipated to lead to market consolidation and enable to leverage advantages of white space acquisition. For instance, in 2022, Henry Schein, Inc. acquired Midway Dental Supply. The Midway company is a dental distributor serving dental laboratories and dental offices across the U.S. This acquisition is anticipated to contribute to the company’s growth through the addition of a new product portfolio.

Report Scope of the Dental Laboratories Market

COVID-19 Impact on the dental laboratories Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global healthcare crisis, resulting in widespread economic impact since January 2020. In Q1 2020, many dental clinics and hospitals were functioning in a limited capacity to contain the spread of the virus. At the same time, most patients deferred visits to dentists, reducing dental practice revenues in the US by up to 80–90%. This has affected the market adversely.

Due to COVID-19, the sales and operating incomes of leading market players dropped. Tight controls over production also resulted in reduced inventory. Dental office activity in many parts of the world resumed in Q3 2020, resulting in gradual demand growth in the indirect restorative material and lab equipment. By August-September 2020, the dental laboratories market in North America and Europe had shown considerable recovery. However, the APAC market was still struggling, especially in China and Korea. However, the market is expected to recover fully in the forecast period as the growth drivers for the dental lab equipment and materials are still intact. The drivers that are expected to boost the market include the establishment of dental distributors, rapid digitalization of dental laboratories, and the increasing adoption of CAD/CAM systems, 3D printers, CAD/CAM milling systems, and advanced CAD/CAM materials.

Dental Laboratories Market Dynamics

Drivers: Growth in geriatric population and edentulism cases

Edentulism (tooth loss) is a major oral health concern among the elderly; according to the WHO (2020), globally, ~19% of individuals aged between 65 and 74 years are edentulous. Periodontal diseases and dental cavities are the major causes of tooth loss. As the elderly are more susceptible to such ailments, the growth of this population segment will increase the number of people suffering from oral health problems globally. According to the UN, the global geriatric population (aged 65 years and above) will increase from 703 million in 2019 to 1.5 billion in 2050. Thus, significant growth in the geriatric population and associated increase in the prevalence of edentulism are expected to propel the dental laboratories market in these regions in the coming years.

According to the WHO, Europe and North America have the largest share of geriatric individuals globally. Although there is a decline in the number of edentulous people, especially in developed nations, due to rising awareness, their number is considerable in rural areas and among the low-income population. While the use of dental implants is on the rise, dental prosthetics, dental regenerative, and dental periodontic treatments are still largely preferred mostly among the elderly. The choice for better dental healthcare and willingness to spend are thus expected to drive demand for CAD/CAM systems, 3D printers, and other lab equipment and advanced materials in the coming years. Population growth will also push the demand for indirect restorative materials for manufacturing end-use products such as crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, onlays, aligners, and dentures. Due to greater oral health spending, developed countries will continue to account for a larger share of this demand than developing countries across the Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Restraints: High cost of dental equipment and materials

Dental equipment, particularly technologically advanced systems such as integrated CAD/CAM systems, high throughput lab 3D printing systems, CAD/CAM milling machines, 3D scanners, and furnaces, are a one-time investment for most dental laboratories and clinics. Advanced CAD/CAM systems are used for high-quality fabrication and manufacturing of products used in dental practices; however, due to their high cost and high maintenance, only a few laboratories can afford these systems. Dentists/dental laboratories in developing countries do not prefer installing such high-cost equipment due to a lack of financial resources; moreover, the high cost of these systems is leading to an increasing preference for second-hand or refurbished instruments. This will be a major factor responsible for the slower growth of the market despite the increasing demand.

Opportunities: Growing demand for cosmetic dental procedures

Cosmetic dentistry is one of the fastest-growing segments in the dental industry. Several studies have estimated that the market for cosmetic dentistry will continue to grow rapidly. The willingness to undergo expensive cosmetic procedures has increased with increasing disposable incomes, especially among the aging population. The adoption of cosmetic dentistry is significantly increasing in both developing and developed countries primarily due to changing lifestyles and a growing focus on dental aesthetics, which is creating a greater demand for cosmetic procedures such as implants, crowns, bonding, bridges, orthodontic treatment, inlays, onlays, and veneers. This rising preference for procedures in cosmetic dentistry, coupled with an increase in disposable incomes, will significantly spur the growth of the dental laboratories market in the coming years.

Challenges: Pricing pressure faced by prominent market players

Pricing pressure is one of the major challenges faced by prominent players in the dental laboratories market, as the reduction in product price impacts the cost of production borne by the companies. The major players have successfully established their position in the global market; however, entering local markets is a major challenge. This is because products in the local markets are priced lower than in international markets. In developed countries such as the US and the UK, the cost of dental prosthetics is around USD 300–1,400, whereas in countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and India, the cost is nearly 60–70% lower. Companies such as Shandong Huge Dental Material Corporation (China), Jilin Sino-dentex Co., Ltd. (China), VIPI Produtos Odontológicos (Brazil), and Prevest Denpro Limited (India) offer discounted and low-value dental restorative materials and equipment to dental laboratories and dental professionals.

Product Insights

Oral care dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of over 25.0% in 2021. It is also anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period owing to an increase in awareness regarding oral hygiene and the growing adoption of dentures. The restorative segment followed the oral care segment in terms of revenue share. Technological advancements in areas such as CAD/CAM implant dentistry, digital radiography, intraoral imaging, and caries diagnosis have led to improvement in the accuracy of restorations, thus fueling market growth. Based on product, the global market has been further categorized into restorative, orthodontic, endodontic, oral care, and implant.

The restorative segment followed the oral care segment, in terms of revenue share. Technological advancements in areas such as CAD/CAM implant dentistry, digital radiography, intraoral imaging, and caries diagnosis have improved the accuracy of restorations, thus fueling market growth.

Equipment Type Insights

The systems and parts segment dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of over 40.0% in 2021. Dental systems and parts are the supporting equipment required to carry out dental laboratory procedures. It includes milling equipment, scanners, furnaces, and articulators. Systems and parts are essential equipment, especially for traditional dental technicians. Based on equipment type, the global market has been divided into dental radiology equipment, dental lasers, systems and parts, laboratory machines, hygiene maintenance devices, and others.

The dental lasers segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period. Growing adoption of computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided design, laser welding, and laser sintering is expected to augment segment growth. Dental lasers have a wide range of applications in diagnostic and surgical procedures. Key advantages associated with these devices include regeneration of bones and ligament tissues, minimal bleeding, and reduced surgery discomforts. Hence, these lasers are expected to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and held a revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021, owing to well-established healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure, an increase in the prevalence of dental diseases, a surge in the number of dental procedures in the region, and high awareness regarding oral health. The rise in the number of dental practitioners also fuels the growth of the market. For instance, according to the American Dental Association, nearly 201,927 registered dentists were practicing in the U.S. in 2021.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to the lower cost of dental laboratory work, growing dental tourism, and improving awareness regarding oral health in the region. In Asia Pacific, the market is anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. A progressive economy, a large number of elderly populations, increasing disposable income, increasing awareness regarding oral healthcare among the population, larger untapped opportunities, and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure are factors driving the market in the region.

Some of the prominent players in the Dental Laboratories Market include: Dentsply Sirona, Inc. (US), Envista Holdings Corporation (US), 3M Company (US), GC Corporation (Japan), Mitsui Chemicals (Japan), Planmeca Group (Finland), BEGO GmbH & Co, KG (Germany), Ivoclar Vivadent (Liechtenstein), VOCO GmbH (Germany), Shofu Dental Corporation (Japan), VITA Zahnfabrik H. Rauter GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. (Japan), Amann Girrbach AG (Austria), Schütz Dental GmbH (Germany), Nakanishi Inc. (Japan), COLTENE Holding AG (Switzerland), Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland), A-dec Inc. (US). Stratasys (US and Israel), 3D Systems (US), Formlabs (US), Roland DG Corporation (Japan), SHINING 3D (US), and Zirkonzahn (US).

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Nova one advisor, Inc. has segmented the global Dental Laboratories market

By Product

• Restorative
• Orthodontic
• Endodontic
• Oral care
• Implants

By Equipment

• Dental Lasers
• Systems and Parts
• Laboratory Machines
• Dental Radiology Equipment
• 3D Printing Systems
• Milling Equipment
• Furnaces
• Dental Scanners

By Material

• Metal-Ceramics
• Traditional All-Ceramics
• CAD/CAM Materials
• Plastics
• Metals 

By Prosthetic Type

• Bridges
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Dentures
• Clear Aligners

By Geography

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• France
• United Kingdom
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Southeast Asia
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

• GCC
• North Africa
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

Key Points Covered in Dental Laboratories Market Study:

• Growth of Dental Laboratories in 2022
• Market Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2030)
•  Brand Share and Market Share Analysis
•  Key Drivers and Restraints Shaping Market Growth
•  Segment-wise, Country-wise, and Region-wise Analysis
•  Competition Mapping and Benchmarking
•  Recommendation on Key Winning Strategies
•  COVID-19 Impact on Demand for Dental Laboratories and How to Navigate
•  Key Product Innovations and Regulatory Climate
•  Dental Laboratories Consumption Analysis
•  Dental Laboratories Production Analysis
•  Dental Laboratories and Management