Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market Analysis

Market Overview

Digital impression is the special technology designed to create a three-dimensional (3D) replica of soft and hard tissues in the mouth for dental treatments namely restoration. Digital impression scanners capture highly accurate and clear impressions and eliminate the tedious traditional impression process. The scanned images are then transmitted to the dental laboratory for further fabrication of dentures and bridges using Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software solutions. Using intraoral scanners helps in accelerating dental processes such as bridges, dentures, and other orthodontic treatments.

The global Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market was accounted for US$ 152.4 Mn in terms of value in 2019 and is expected to grow at CAGR of 15.7% for the period 2020-2027.

Market Dynamics- Drivers

1. Increasing adoption of digital impression technique is expected to drive growth of the global digital impression standalone scanners market during the forecast period

Dental industry is the major end-use industry for digital impression scanners. Key players in the market are involved in R&D activities to provide novel products in the market. Digital impression allows a dentist to capture an accurate digital record of the visible intraoral soft and hard tissue components independent of a labor-intensive electronic impression. Digital impressions both patient and dentist to reduce the loss of time and money. Digital impression standalone scanners offer intraoral digital impression capabilities, producing an augmented against a virtual reality image of teeth. Therefore, these factors are expected to drive growth of the global digital impression standalone scanners market during the forecast period.

2. Growing emphasis on treatment efficacy for accuracy and patient comfort is expected to propel the global digital impression standalone scanners market growth over the forecast period

Digital impression has reduced the time required for taking teeth impression. With the introduction of digital impression standalone scanners, the time taken for this task has further reduced compared to the chair-side scanning systems. Digital impression standalone scanners ensure that the scanning procedure is completed in around five minutes depending on the patient's anatomy, operator’s level of expertise, patient compliance, and whether the targeted scan is a quadrant or full arch. Hence, these factors are expected to propel the global digital impression of standalone market growth over the forecast period.

Statistics:

Europe held dominant position in the global Digital Impression Standalone Scanners market in 2019, accounting for 43.7% share in terms of value, followed by North America and Asia Pacific respectively

Figure 1: Global Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market Share (%) in terms of Value, By Region, 2019

Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market - Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic have adversely affected the Digital Impression Scanners industry. The Digital Impression Scanners are widely used in the Dentist industry to create a three-dimensional (3D) replica of soft and hard tissues in the mouth for dental treatments namely restoration. Dentist organizations are also recommending to postpone the elective procedures for few months. For instance, In March 2020, American Dental Association recommended to postpone the elective procedures for few weeks. Dental surgeons are also at high risk due to the COVID-19.

Market Dynamics- Restraints

1. Significant capital investment is expected to restrain growth of the global digital impression standalone scanners during the forecast period

A number of materials are used for dental applications such as impression materials, dental cement, core-building materials, dental local anesthetics, etc. However, cost-sensitive regions such as Asia Pacific and RoW are still at the early stage of adopting these products. Large numbers of privately held dental clinics in these regions are reluctant to adopt this technique due to high initial investment involved. Hence, these factors are expected to restrain growth of the global digital impression standalone scanners market during the forecast period.

2. Technical challenges associated with scanners and software solutions are expected to hamper the global digital impression standalone scanners market growth over the forecast period

Majority of digital impression standalone scanners are based on software architecture. It allows the dentist to scan the teeth impression in the form of a scanned image and provide their data in .stl format. However, this facility offered by dentist requires additional cost of around US$ 20 for each transfer. Furthermore, some of these new technologies include scanned images in the .stl format from a scanner, which may not effectively link its data to a range of lab-based milling units. Hence, these factors are expected to hamper the market growth in the near future.

Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage	Details
Base Year:	2019	Market Size in 2019:	USD 152.4 Mn
Historical Data for:	2016 to 2019	Forecast Period:	2020 to 2027
Forecast Period 2020 to 2027 CAGR:	15.7%	2027 Value Projection:	USD 461.0 Mn
Geographies covered:	North America: U.S., Canada Europe: Germany, U.K., Spain, France, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe Asia Pacific: China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, ASEAN, Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the World: South Africa, North Africa, Central Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico
Segments covered:	By Technology -(Confocal Microscopic Imaging and Optical Wand Technology)
Companies covered:	Sirona Dental Systems, Inc., Hint-Els GmbH, 3M ESPE (3M Company), Carestream Health, Inc., 3Shape A/S, Ormco Corporation (Dimensional Photonics International, Inc.), Align Technology, Inc. Planmeca Oy, Glidewell Laboratories (IOS Technologies, Inc.), and Densys3D Ltd.
Growth Drivers:	Increasing adoption of digital impression technique. Growing emphasis on treatment efficacy for accuracy and patient comfort
Restraints & Challenges:	Significant capital investment

Market Opportunities

1. Growing adoption by oral surgeons and orthodontists can provide excellent opportunities

Orthodontists focus on straightening teeth, while oral surgeons are concerned about the dental diagnosis. Previously, digital impression standalone scanners were used by dentists. However, both oral surgeons and orthodontists have started adopting digital impression scanners for diagnosis. For instance, in September 2014, Carestream Dental’s CS 3500 intraoral scanner was introduced at the American Association of Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Annual Meeting held for oral surgeons.

2. Untapped market potential in the Asia Pacific can present significant business opportunities

Digital impression technology increases clinical accuracy and reduces overall process time. The traditional method leads to inaccuracies and imperfections and is generally painful for patients. Although North America and Europe have adopted advanced technology, it is still in nascent stage in emerging regions such as Asia Pacific. Dentists/practitioners are reluctant to adopt this technology owing to its high initial investment. However, there has been a fall in prices for recently launched standalone scanners and the trend is likely to continue in future, making them more affordable.

Figure 2: Global Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market Value (US$ Mn), 2017 - 2027

The global Digital Impression Standalone Scanners market was valued at US$ 152.4 Mn in 2019 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 461.0 Mn by 2027 at a CAGR of 15.7% between 2020 and 2027.

Market Trends

1. Development of low cost and lightweight digital impression standalone scanners

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems are increasingly becoming popular for the production of inlays, onlays, bridges, and crowns. Three-dimensional (3D) intraoral scanning systems integrated with CAD/CAM systems helps in efficient restoration process. Thus, CAD/CAM systems are strongly supported by intraoral scanners and enable faster creation of dentures and crowns. The digital impression scanner manufacturers are focused on offering advanced software version in their scanners to enhance and accelerate the scanning process.

2. Growing focus on market penetration through wide distribution networks

Market players of digital impression standalone scanners market are focusing on building strong distribution channels in order to fuel scanners sales across different geographies. Major companies such as Sirona Dental Systems, Inc., Align Technology, Inc., 3Shape A/S, Planmeca Oy, and 3M ESPE have developed extensive distribution network across the world to enhance their product sales. This is due to the fact that distributors have regular contact with end customers (dentists) and hence have better understanding regarding equipment sales opportunities. Improvement in after-sales service and marketing of products are some of the most important factors supporting strong sales growth.

Value Chain Analysis

Raw Material Suppliers

The value chain of digital impression standalone scanners market is original equipment manufacturer (OEM) centric. It is initiated by raw material suppliers, which encompasses all activities related to supplying raw materials and integrated circuits and chips. Raw materials such as silicon, steel, plastics, among others are vital for manufacturing semiconductor products. The components may include but are not limited to sensors, processors, electrical and other electronic parts. Different hardware components required for manufacturing digital impression standalone scanners include resistors, power supplies, PCB’s (Printed Circuit Boards), ICs, switches, and wires. Manufacturers of component and parts are the major suppliers to the digital impression standalone scanners market.

Competitive Section

Key players operating in the global digital impression standalone scanners market are Sirona Dental Systems, Inc., Hint-Els GmbH, 3M ESPE (3M Company), Carestream Health, Inc., 3Shape A/S, Ormco Corporation (Dimensional Photonics International, Inc.), Align Technology, Inc. Planmeca Oy, Glidewell Laboratories (IOS Technologies, Inc.), and Densys3D Ltd.