Dental Caries Detectors Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Laser Fluorescent Caries Detector, Fiber Optic Trans-illumination Caries Detector), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global dental caries detectors market size was valued at USD 228.2 million in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2021 to 2028. Dental caries detectors are devices used for an early examination of any oral ailments, such as dental caries, which enables dentists to provide an effective treatment plan for the patient. Factors such as the increasing geriatric population suffering from oral diseases, evolving medical tourism pertaining to dental treatment, and the introduction of multiple government initiatives for public oral health care are few growth factors for the market. However, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the overall dental and oral hygiene market. Routine dental care was largely unavailable during the pandemic as many dental practices were forced to close as they were deemed elective procedures. While the market is expected to see positive changes in the safe delivery of dental care, an increase in the cost of availing care is imminent.

Growing technological advancements in dental caries detection are another factor fueling the growth of the market. For instance, the advent of Near-Infrared (NIR) Trans-illumination and Digital Imaging Fiber Optic Trans-illumination (DIFOT) provides a highly transparent and precise reading of images of interproximal lesions. These techniques are also said to effectively assess the scale of demineralization on a tooth and provide better initial screening, as stated in the 2017 IEEE 17th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering.

According to FDI World Dental Federation, oral diseases impact 3.9 billion people worldwide, with untreated tooth decay (dental caries) impacting more than half of the global population (44%), making it the most prevalent of all the 291 conditions included in the Global Burden of Disease Study. As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 84.9% of children from 2-17 years of age, 64.0% of adults from 18 to 64 years of age, and 65.6% of adults aged 65 and above have had at least one visit with a dentist in 2017.

Change in lifestyle due to urbanization, high consumption of tobacco, alcohol, an unhealthy diet, and a high intake of sugar are the leading causes of dental caries, which is the most common type of chronic disease experienced globally. With the growing geriatric population, the demand for dental services has observed a surge. According to World Population Prospects, by 2050, 1 in 6 people in the world will be over the age of 65 globally, up from 1 in 11 in 2019, providing a population pool of about 1.5 billion people above the age of 65 years by 2050.

According to the North American Dental Group survey, nearly 71% of the participants were unwilling to visit their dentist for non-emergency care due to the COVID-19 concerns. Many countries had declared a halt to elective procedures like dental treatments. According to an article published by CBC News, the cost of reopening dental clinics amidst the COVID-19 outbreak is very high as the practices would have to adhere to stricter guidelines and protocols, which may, in turn, lead to a fee increase.

Product Insights

Laser fluorescent caries detector held the largest share of 53.4% in 2020 owing to the high precision offered. The use of laser fluorescence has been widely accepted as an early caries detection method as it provides an accuracy of more than 90% and is minimally invasive as compared to x-rays. Laser prevention systems like Diagnodent effectively report measurements of bone density.

Teeth with high bone density reflect less light as compared to those with lower bone density. The teeth with lower density levels are more likely to decay and the dentist can then provide fluoride treatments or at-home oral hygiene products to prevent decay.

However, the fiber optic trans-illumination caries detector segment is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period. This is because fiber optic trans-illumination is a relatively newer technique in dental caries detection. Advancement in this technique like the succession of Near-Infrared Trans-illumination and Digital Imaging Fiber Optic Trans-illumination has proved to be a propelling factor for the segment growth.

Products like DIAGNOcam and CariVu have proved to be an effective replacement for bitewing x-ray technique for caries diagnosis in everyday clinical practice according to the NCBI. These novel techniques not only precisely diagnose the onset of decay but also reveal macro- and micro-fractures in the tooth and allow quick capture and e-storage of the results.

End-use Insights

The dental clinics segment held the largest revenue share of 43.2% in 2020 and is anticipated to grow lucratively over the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing number of dental clinics and professionals in many developing and developed countries. These clinics are now getting well equipped with advanced dental technologies to carry out effective treatment. Moreover, they offer quick appointment booking and lower waiting times as compared to hospitals.

Dental manufacturing companies have a wide delivery network and target dental clinics primarily through direct sales as multiple smaller clinics tend to collectively bring in more customers than a single hospital. The dental clinics segment is expected to witness rapid growth owing to the establishment of a large number of dental colleges and clinics and high enrollment in dental courses in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 85% of the dental practitioners in the U.S. are affiliated with dental clinics, which is expected to boost the segment growth.

The hospitals segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period as hospitals are the primary centers for the evaluation and diagnosis of a disease and they offer more advanced treatment techniques. Emergency hospital visits for preventable oral health conditions have risen dramatically over the past decade and most of these visits were by young and low-income adults. These factors are expected to boost the segment growth.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market with a share of nearly 38.0% in 2020 and is expected to expand at a significant CAGR in the forecast period. This is attributed to the rising geriatric population, strong medical infrastructure, well-established reimbursement policies, the existence of key market players, and advancements in preventive and restorative dental treatments. Moreover, according to the American Dental Association, 85% of individuals in the United States truly value dental health and consider oral health an essential aspect of overall care. The combination of all these factors will make North America emerge as the most promising, high-growth market in the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 10.2% over the forecast period. Asian countries such as China, Japan, and India are emerging economies with well-developed healthcare infrastructure and facilities and are now more focused on leading based on R&D activities. Attributes like favorable government policies, the rising geriatric population, the presence of key market players, and the rise in the demand for dental procedures are paving way for the growth of the market in the Asia Pacific region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

A prominent number of players are rapidly opting for geographical expansion, strategic collaborations, and partnerships through mergers and acquisitions in emerging and economically favorable regions. For instance, in June 2021, Dentsply Sirona, Inc. announced the acquisition of Propel Orthodontics for USD 131 million. This acquisition is expected to strengthen its position in the orthodontics market. Some prominent players in the global dental caries detector market include:

• Dentsply Sirona

• Kavo Dental

• Quantum Dental Technologies, Inc.

• Acteon Group

• Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co.

• AdDent, Inc.

• DentLight, Inc.

• Air Techniques, Inc.

Dental Caries Detectors Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global dental caries detectors market report on the basis of product, end-use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Laser Fluorescent Caries Detector

  • Fiber Optic Trans-illumination Caries Detector

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Hospitals

  • Dental Clinics

  • Ambulatory Surgical Centers

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Spain

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • Japan

    • China

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE