DENTAL FILLING MATERIAL MARKET ANALYSIS

Dental filling is a type of healing dental treatment used to repair minimal to moderate tooth fractures, tooth decay, and other damaged surfaces of the teeth. Dental filling materials can also be used to even out tooth surfaces for better biting or chewing.  Enamel loss is a common component in tooth decay that results in discomfort as well as tooth sensitivity. Sensitivity caused by enamel loss can be significantly improved or completely eliminated once an appropriate dental filling material is used to smoothen the dental surface. Depending on the level of tooth decay or damage, the affected or damaged tooth can require additional or alternative procedures such as dental crowns, root canal treatment, dental implants, and dental bridges. Dental crowns are used to provide additional support to the teeth, especially in cases where the teeth is damaged considerably and is unstable. The infected, abscessed, or nerve damaged teeth may require a root canal procedure for the treatment. Dental implants and dental bridges are used for irreparable tooth damage, which requires tooth removal and replacement.

Growing prevalence of the dental disorders is the major factor driving the demand for dental filling products. According WHO, worldwide, around 60% to 90% of children and 100% of adults are suffering from dental cavities, and this number is expected to increase in near future. In addition, rising demand for cosmetic dentistry as well as product advancements in tooth filling products is projected to drive the dental filling material market.  

Dental Filling Material Market:

On the basis of type of dental fillings, the global dental fillings market is classified into:

• Direct filling
• Indirect filling

On the basis of type of material, the global dental fillings market is classified into:

• Gold fillings
• Amalgam/silver fillings
• Composite (plastic/glass) resins
• Porcelain/ceramics fillings
• Glass ionomer

According to National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, more than 50% of 5- to 9-year-old teenagers have minimum one cavity or filling, and this proportion is around 78% among 17 year-olds in the U.S.  The well-developed healthcare infrastructure and high per capita income in the U.S propels the demand for dental filling material for cosmetic and therapeutic application. The Asia pacific dental filling material market is projected grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period due to large geriatric population and increasing disposable income in this region.

Increasing occurrence of the dental disease especially in the Asian countries including China and India will drive growth of the dental filling material market

Dental filling material market size is one of the largest in the dental industry and shows high potential for further growth. Demand for dental filling products is expected to increase in near future, owing to rising awareness regarding oral hygiene and improving personal aesthetic appeal. The economic downturn impacted the dental filling material markets and resulted in fewer patients visiting the dentist between 2008 and 2011; however, the market is gaining traction on the back of economic revival worldwide.

Increasing healthcare expenditure, escalating demand for cosmetic dentistry, and rising awareness for dental care will boost the demand for dental filling materials. The glass ionomer segment is projected to grow at lucrative CAGR during the forecast period (2016–2024).  The amalgam/silver fillings segment is also expected to grow at significant rate during the forecast period, owing to its robust nature and its wide application in the cosmetic dentistry.

 Ceramic material segment accounted for major revenue share in the market, due to its high durability and its extensive use for the treatment of dental cavities. There is a growing demand for bonding agents, owing to its rising application for aesthetic procedures.

The dental filling materials market is fragmented with many global and local   vendors, thus there is high competition amongst companies to gain maximum revenue share in the industry.. Players such as Coltene Whaledent Dentsply, DMG Chemisch-Pharmazeutische Fabrik, GC America, SDI Limited, Kerr Corporation, Pentron Clinical Technologies, DenMat Holdings, Kuraray Noritake Dental, and Kettenbach engage in advanced technology to manufacture sophisticated, performance-driven, and aesthetic dental filling.

Key Developments

Research and development to assess the efficacy of dental restoration materials is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for market players. For instance, in August 2019, researchers from University of Economics and Innovations in Lublin assessed the impact of thermocycling on surface layer properties of dental materials such as light cured polymer matrix ceramic composites used in sliding friction pair.

Similarly, in August 2019, researchers from Dental Life Science Research Institute & Clinical Translational Research Center for Dental Science reported effects of toxicity of zero and one-dimensional carbon nanomaterials in different cell lines and animal models. Such nanomaterials can be used as potential dental filling materials.

In August 2019, Brazilian team of researchers reported effects of the hydroxyethyl-methacrylate concentration and solvent content of dental adhesives on cell viability and cytokine release by human dental pulp cells, in the paper ‘Solvent and HEMA Increase Adhesive Toxicity and Cytokine Release from Dental Pulp Cells’ published in the journal MDPI Materials.