General Dental

Trend Towards Better Hygiene Driving The Market For Dental Implants
America's obsession with the endless pursuit of beauty has had quite a positive effect on oral hygiene. This obsession, combined with improvements in the standard of care for oral hygiene, has resulted in a declining prevalence of edentulism in the United States and abroad. As a result, the demand for dental implants has been rising annually, according to a new report by Millennium Research Group (MRG). The market for dental implants and abutments (the posts to which a prosthetic tooth is attached) in the US was valued at almost $270 million in 2003 and will experience strong growth through 2008.Dental implants represent an exciting solution to the problem of missing teeth. In Europe, the first dental implant was placed in the 1960s.

Since then, dental implants have grown in popularity throughout the world due to their numerous advantages over traditional treatments, such as dentures, crowns, and bridges. Advantages of dental implants include improved aesthetics and function, prevention of bone resorption, a longer life cycle, increased comfort, and less damage to healthy teeth.In response to the growing popularity of dental implants, an increasing number of dental practitioners are attending training seminars and education courses in the placement and restoration of dental implants. Although attendance does not

always translate into involvement in implantology, it significantly increases the likelihood that a practitioner will educate patients and provide referrals. A lack of patient education is one of the most significant factors limiting demand for dental implants, and stems from insufficient awareness among dentists. Manufacturers' continued efforts to provide various forms of continuing education opportunities to dentists will fuel growth in demand over the next several years.

By 2008, the market is forecast to reach in excess of $675 million in revenues.MRG's US Markets for Dental Implants and Final Abutments 2004 report is part of its global series, which includes analysis on Europe, Japan, and key industry competitors. The global report series covers over 25 competitors including Nobel Biocare, Straumann, 3i (BMET), Zimmer Dental (ZMH), Astra Tech, BioHorizons, Lifecore Biomedical, Dentsply Friadent, Bicon, and others.A leading source of competitive intelligence, MRG is now the largest provider of medical device market research in the world. Located in Toronto, Canada, MRG covers global markets and has pioneered reporting of numerous emerging products.Contact Information:Nilesh PatelMillennium Research Group Inc.,(416) 364-7776 ext. 121www.mrg.net.