Geographic reference: World
Year: 2020 and 2027
Market size: $182.0 million and $268.82 million, respectively

Many people reading this blog post may have never heard of gutta-percha but if you’ve had endodontic (root canal) therapy sometime in the past 50 years, there is a good chance you’ve come in contact with this substance. Gutta-percha is a thermoplastic material made from the latex of trees of the Palaquium genus in the Sapotaceae family, especially Palaquium gutta. These trees, which are commonly known as gutta-percha also, are found in Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, and other parts of Asia. This substance has high tensile strength, is biocompatible and bioinert, and has radiopacity. Dentists and endodontists use it to fill a tooth’s root canal after they have removed all the infected tissue when performing root canal therapy. If extra support is needed for the rebuilt tooth, a post is inserted into the gutta-percha-filled root canal. The opening is then sealed with a filling and a crown is cemented onto the rebuilt tooth. Today’s market size shows the global revenues for gutta-percha used in dentistry in 2020 and projected for 2027. The rising incidence of dental caries,¹ a growing awareness of oral hygiene, and an increasing geriatric population needing preventative and surgical dental services will contribute to growth in this market.

By type, surface modified gutta-percha had the highest revenue share, more than 40%, in 2020. This product is resin-coated or glass ionomer coated. The coating allows it to create a strong seal along the dentinal surfaces of the root canal. Revenues for nanoparticle enriched gutta-percha are expected to grow the fastest through 2027. Nanoparticles of diamond and silver are embedded in the gutta-percha to both improve the mechanical properties of the substance and to reduce the likelihood of reinfection. Diamond nanoparticles and silver have antimicrobial properties.

Nearly half of revenues came from dental hospitals in 2020, however, revenue from dental clinics is expected to grow rapidly in the near future as less invasive procedures, including fillings and root canal therapy, are increasingly being done in these locations.

North America garnered a 41% share of the market in 2020, the highest share that year, due to several factors: a high incidence of dental conditions, a well-developed medical infrastructure with established reimbursement policies, availability of advanced preventative and restorative dental procedures, and several major companies in the industry located in the region. These include Dentsply Sirona, DiaDent Group International, Essential Dental Systems, Kerr Corp., and Premier Dental Products Co. Other leading companies in this industry include Coltène Whaledent GmbH, FRG Dentaire, Micro-Mega, Sure endo, Meta Biomed, and Davis Schottlander & Davis. By 2027, more than 43% of research and development spending is expected to originate from the Asia-Pacific region, with China, Japan, and India spending the most.

¹ According to the FDI World Dental Federation, sugar intake worldwide has tripled over the past 50 years. Ingestion of sugary foods and beverages is one of the main causes of dental caries.

Sources: “Gutta-percha Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product Type (Surface Modified, Medicated, Nanoparticles Enriched), by End-use (Dental Hospitals, Dental Clinics), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2021 – 2027,” Grand View Research Report Summary, December 2020 available online here; “Gutta-percha Market Size Worth $268.82 Million by 2027 | CAGR: 5.77%: Grand View Research, Inc.,” CISION PRNewswire, January 13, 2021 available online here; “Dental Adhesives and Sealants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Adhesives, Sealants), by Region (North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, MEA), and Segment Forecasts, 2020 – 2027,” Grand View Research Report Summary, August 2020 available online here; “Palaquium gutta – (Hook.) Baill.,” Plants for a Future available online here; “Root Canals,” Brook Hollow Family Dentristry available online here.
Image source: StockSnap, “chair-dentist-dental-clinic-teeth-2584260,” Pixabay, August 4, 2017 available online here.

A water flosser is a handheld device that removes food and plaque between teeth using streams of water that are sprayed in steady pulses. According to the American Dental Association, using a water flosser doesn’t replace brushing and manual flossing, it’s a supplement to them, removing the food and plaque that can cause cavities and gum disease, especially for those that find flossing difficult or for those with braces, dental implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers. Today’s market size shows worldwide water flosser revenues for 2018 and projected for 2025.

According to the World Health Organization, untreated tooth decay is the most common health condition in the world. An estimated 2.3 billion people have dental cavities in their permanent teeth and 530 million children have them in their primary teeth. Ten percent of the population has severe periodontal disease. 

Dental cavities result when plaque forms on the surface of a tooth and converts sugars from food into acid that destroys the tooth over time. Several social conditions contribute to the rising prevalence of dental cavities, periodontal disease, and other oral diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The lack of fluoride in water and in oral hygiene products, poor access to oral health care services, the marketing of food and beverages high in sugar content and tobacco and alcohol use all contribute to poor oral health.

An aging population, an expanding medical tourism sector and the increasing urbanization of the population in many parts of the world along with growing awareness of oral health as an aspect of overall health is expected to contribute to this product’s revenue growth. As well, increasing demand for professional dental care due to the effects of diabetes worldwide and increasing tobacco consumption in places such as India and China will lead to growth in this market. North America was the largest market in 2018 and is expected to continue to be so through 2025. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market over this time period.

In 2018, dental clinics accounted for more than 55% of revenues, followed by hospitals. Water flossers for in-home use comprised only about one-eighth of total revenues. But, with the increasing cost of professional dental treatments, in-home water flosser revenue is expected to grow the fastest through 2025, at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%. Leading manufacturers of water flossers include Shenzhen Relish Technology Co., Ltd.; Hydro Floss; Water Pik, Inc.; ToiletTree Products, Inc.; Ginsey Home Solutions; Oral Breeze; Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Procter & Gamble; Aquapick; and S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2018 and 2025
Market size: $806.52 million and $1.11 billion
Sources: “Water Flosser Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Application (Home Care, Dental Clinic, Hospitals), by Product (Countertop, Cordless), by Region (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America), and Segment Forecasts, 2019 – 2025,” Grand View Research Report Summary, July 2019 available online here; “Water Flosser Market Size Worth $1.11 Billion By 2025 | CAGR: 4.7%,” Grand View Research Press Release, July 2019 available online here; “Oral Health,” World Health Organization, March 25, 2020 available online here; “Water Flossing,” Mouth Healthy, Amerian Dental Association available online here.
Image source: Waterpikinc, “File:Water Flosser.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, March 23. 2011 available online here. Use of photo does not constitute an endorsement.

According to a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), worldwide, 95% of people said that their smile is a vital social asset and 84% report feeling pressure to perfect their smile. In the United States, 74% of people surveyed feel that an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chance for career success. In a consumer study conducted by Beall Research & Training for the AACD, respondents who were asked to quickly judge a person based on a photograph were more likely to describe a person with a more perfect smile as intelligent, attractive, popular with the opposite sex, wealthy, and successful in their career among many other positive traits. When asked what makes a smile unattractive, “missing teeth” was second among responses behind “discolored, yellow or stained teeth.”

One way to fix the problem of missing teeth is with dental implants.¹ With a dental implant, a screw-like device is implanted into a patient’s jawbone. This acts as an anchor for an artificial tooth, called a crown. A device called an abutment attaches to the anchor on one end and the crown on the other. The crown is custom made to fit the person’s mouth and to match the color of the existing teeth. Newer implants are made as one-piece systems. There are two types of dental implants: titanium and zirconia. The majority of dental implants are made of titanium due to their durability and cost-effectiveness. Titanium has been used in medical applications since the 1950s. Zirconia is nonmetallic but strong and durable. It’s also hypoallergenic. Zirconia is an option for people who are allergic to titanium. Patients may choose zirconia implants for several other reasons also. Zirconia implants are white. Those with receding gums may prefer an implant that offers a more natural look as opposed to titanium implants which can make the gums appear gray. Zirconia implants can be placed immediately following a tooth extraction, which results in shorter recovery time and less pain following the procedure. The one-piece design also eliminates the problem of bacteria possibly getting in between the anchor and abutment in two-piece titanium implants and zirconia is more resistant to corrosion than titanium. Zirconia implants are expected to be the fastest-growing segment through at least 2027.

Today’s market size shows global dental implant revenues for 2019 and 2027. Data for 2027 are projected. In 2019, Europe had the highest share of revenues, followed by North America and the Asia-Pacific region. In 2018, the European Union had 101.1 million people aged 65 and older. This number is projected to reach nearly 150 million by 2050, or 28.5% of the population. Older adults are more likely to experience tooth decay and tooth loss. As a result, the market for dental implants in Europe is expected to continue to grow over this time period. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market through 2027 due to an aging population that is experiencing an increased incidence of osteoporosis and calcium deficiency leading to tooth loss. In addition, increasing economic stability and disposable income allowing people to afford the procedures will contribute to this growth. In the United States, nearly 5 million implants are placed yearly according to the American Dental Association. An estimated 69% of Americans between the ages of 35 and 44, the average age range when tooth loss begins, have at least one missing tooth. Twenty-four percent of those 74 years and older are completely edentulous. High demand coupled with a growing subset of the population able to afford dental implants will contribute to growth in the United States. Worldwide, an increasing number of dental injuries due to traffic accidents and sports injuries will also contribute to industry growth over this time period.

Leading dental implant manufacturers include BioHorizons IPH, Inc.; Nobel Biocare Services AG; Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.; OSSTEM IMPLANT; Institut Straumann AG; Bicon, LLC; Leader Italy; Anthogyr SAS; DENTIS; DENTSPLY Sirona; DENTIUM Co., Ltd.; T-Plus Implant Tech. Co.; and KYOCERA Medical Corporation.

¹ As with all surgical procedures, there are risks of complications. Also, not all people with missing teeth are candidates for dental implants. A person’s overall health and health of the bone and tissue at the implant site are factors dental surgeons take into consideration before performing dental implant surgery.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2019 and 2027
Market size: $4.6 billion and $9.0 billion, respectively
Sources: “Dental Implants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Type (Titanium, Zirconia), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, MEA), and Segment Forecasts, 2020 – 2027,” Grand View Research Report Summary, March 2020 available online here; “Dental Implants Market Size Worth $9.0 Billion by 2027 | CAGR: 9.0%: Grand View Research, Inc.,” CISION PR Newswire, March 18, 2020 available online here; “Can a New Smile Make You Appear More Successful and Intelligent?” Consumer Studies available online here; “What to Know About Dental Implants,” Medical News Today available online here; Bill Smye, “Everything About Titanium for Orthopedic Applications,” Matmatch, October 12, 2017 available online here; “7 Reasons You Might Choose Metal-Free Zirconia Dental Implants,” Friedman Dental Group, May 14, 2017 available online here; “Ageing Europe: Looking at the Lives of Older People in the EU 2019 Edition,” Eurostat, September 2019 available online here.
Image source: Peter Kasprzyk, “Dental Implants,” Unsplash, July 14, 2016 available online here.

Dental floss was invented in the early 19th century by dentist Levi Spear Parmly and patented in 1874. For decades parents in the United States have taught their children to floss their teeth daily. The Federal government has recommended daily flossing since 1979 as part of a surgeon general’s report. Later, the recommendation was part of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are updated every five years. The American Dental Association, which has recommended flossing since 1908, states on its website that “flossing may … help prevent gum disease and cavities”. A Department of Health and Human Services statement reiterates that flossing is “an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums.”

Things changed a bit in 2015 when the Dietary Guidelines for Americans omitted daily flossing as a recommendation due to inconsistent and unreliable evidence that flossing provided any benefit. According to the source, most existing studies on the efficacy of flossing used outdated methods and tested few people for short periods of time. By law, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans must be based on scientific evidence.

Today’s market size represents the estimated global market for dental floss in 2017, half of that market is in the United States.

Geographic reference: World
Year: 2017
Market size: $2 billion
Sources: “Little Proof Flossing Really Helps, Study Shows,” Lansing State Journal, August 8, 2016 available online here. “Flossing,” Mouth Healthy, 2016 available online here. Manchir, Michelle, “Government, ADA Recognize Importance of Flossing,” ADA News, August 2, 2016 available online here.
Original source: MarketSizeInfo.com