Acquisitions Are Shaping the Dental Implant Market, Creating a Top-Heavy Competitive Landscape

BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that the global dental implant market is becoming increasingly top-heavy as a result of a number of recent acquisitions. DENTSPLY International started this trend with the acquisition of Astra Tech, which was later combined with its own dental implant unit and rebranded as DENTSPLY Implants. Now, Zimmer has announced its intention to acquire Biomet, resulting in the potential combination of their two dental portfolios. This will result in a competitive landscape defined by four very large competitors -- Straumann, Nobel Biocare, DENTSPLY Implants and Zimmer/Biomet -- and a large number of much smaller players.

Other key findings from Decision Resources Group's coverage of the top ten competitors in the dental implant market:

• OSSTEM IMPLANT: OSSTEM IMPLANT, a low-cost South Korean competitor, is increasingly emerging as a notable player in the dental implant market. The company has earned a strong lead in its home market and is frequently mentioned as an up-and-coming competitor in North America and Europe.
• Value players: In general, low-cost manufacturers are becoming increasingly influential in the dental implant sphere. In addition to OSSTEM IMPLANT, Neodent and Implant Direct Sybron International are also value players that are within the top ten global dental implant manufacturers.
• Stagnating European market: Although Europe has traditionally been a stronghold for dental implant manufacturers, this market is stagnating amid lingering economic concerns. As a result, having a strong foothold in other faster-growing markets, particularly North America, will be important for companies going forward.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Principal Analyst Karen Gierszewski:

• "In addition to Zimmer's acquisition of Biomet, there have been a large number of interesting deals in the dental implant space lately. Henry Schein recently invested in BioHorizons and already has a longstanding partnership with CAMLOG Biotechnologies. Danaher also recently announced that it will publish a tender offer for all of Nobel Biocare's shares, adding to its dental portfolio, which already includes Implant Direct Sybron International. Although in both cases the companies will continue to operate separately, this may allow for future cross-selling and consolidation opportunities."
• "In response to pressure from low-cost manufacturers, some premium manufacturers have been reevaluating their strategies. For example, Straumann has begun actively investing in value brands, including Neodent, Medentika, Biodenta and Mega'Gen. Not all companies are pursuing this strategy though—Nobel Biocare continues to focus on the premium segment, and Danaher has also expressed its commitment to the premium implant space."

Additional Resources:

• Karen Gierszewski has written a Medtech 360 report on this subject entitled Global Competitor Insights for Dental Implants 2015.

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on critical issues within the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Find out more at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

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Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort
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SOURCE Decision Resources Group