Jan 13 2011
According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, all-ceramic crown and bridge restorations fabricated with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology will grow from 40% of overall ceramic unit share to almost 70% in 2015, experiencing robust growth of approximately 18%. Of the materials used to fabricate CAD/CAM restorations, high growth over the next five years in all-ceramic restorations will mainly stem from the segment of newer and alternative materials such as lithium disilicate.
Lithium disilicate, a glass-based ceramic, is gaining popularity due to its proven durability by monolithic structure, withstanding greater force than zirconia restorations with similar high aesthetic properties.
Although the costs of acquiring CAD/CAM technology is too exorbitant for many dental labs in the US, endorsement by KOLs and access to central manufacturing facilities from companies such as DENTSPLY, Nobel Biocare, and Ivoclar Vivadent will make adopting the fabrication of CAD/CAM restorations easier because they allow small dental labs the ability to provide CAD/CAM crown and bridges without the investment of CAD/CAM systems. Furthermore, KOL endorsement will continue to increase clinical confidence and promote the additional benefits of CAD/CAM restorations, specifically increased productivity from the lab; the system is boasted to have capabilities equivalent to up to 7 dental lab technicians working with even greater precision. Finally, CAD/CAM restorations allow for custom-milled restorations that provide a closer fit to provide better aesthetic solutions for the dentist and patient. Industry experts and KOLs are also increasingly discussing the use of lithium disilicate, specifically Ivoclar Vivadent’s IPS e.max.
“The IPS e.max combines lithium disilicate glass-ceramic with zirconium-based bridges, which increases the strength and durability of zirconia while maintaining aesthetics,” says Carmen Chan, Analyst at MRG. “Innovations such as these will improve ease-of-use and in turn, dentists’ productivity; factors that are important to dentists when choosing one type of ceramic over another. Continued research and development investments from companies will continue to drive prices over the next five years as companies release new products at a premium to make up for investment costs, and as dentists adopt these products as they better meet their needs.”
MRG’s US Markets for Crowns and Bridges 2011 report includes unit, average selling price, and revenue information on the crown and bridge markets by segmentation of material, which consists of the porcelain-fused-to-metal (high-noble, seminoble, and nonprecious) and all-ceramic (pressable and CAD/CAM) markets.
Source: http://www.mrg.net/