DENTAL AUTOCLAVE MARKET ANALYSIS

Alternative sterilization methods such as dry heat sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization can hamper the global dental autoclave market growth. These alternative sterilization methods have gained significant traction over the past few years as these offer certain advantages over conventional steam autoclaving. Dry heat sterilization is a chemical-free process that uses hot air to sterilize dental instruments. It has a faster turnaround time as compared to autoclaving and does not require any chemical indicators. Many small dental clinics and practices have adopted dry heat sterilizers as these are more convenient and require less maintenance than autoclaves. However, dry heat cannot be used for heat-sensitive materials. Ethylene oxide gas sterilization is commonly used for heat- and moisture-sensitive medical devices that cannot withstand high temperatures. While it provides unmatched material compatibility, ethylene oxide is a toxic and carcinogenic gas that requires expensive facility ventilation systems.

Market Opportunity: Increasing Adoption of Fully Automatic Autoclaves

Global dental autoclave market has traditionally relied on tabletop or gravity autoclaves that require more hands-on involvement from dental professionals. However, with increasingly busy dental practices and the need for sterilization processes to be more efficient, there is a growing demand for fully automatic autoclaves that provide walk-away sterilization capabilities. Fully automatic autoclaves complete complex sterilization cycles with little to no intervention once started, thus, saving dental teams valuable time that can then be reallocated to treating more patients. As dental professionals are under greater pressure to see more patients due to rising orthodontic and cosmetic dental demand, fully automatic autoclaves allow them to optimize sterilization throughput.