The dental 3D printing medical devices market is principally driven by factors such as the increasing incidence of dental caries and other dental diseases, rising demand for cosmetic dentistry, the growing adoption of dental 3D printers in dental hospitals & clinics, and the increasing growth in the geriatric population. On the other hand, the rising number of large dental practices is expected to limit market growth to a certain extent. 

The dental 3D printing market was initially negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as most dental offices, clinics, and laboratories were closed in many parts of the world due to lockdowns and quarantine restrictions in early 2020. This resulted in all non-essential dental procedures being deferred; the volume of outpatient cases reduced considerably in this period. 

In an optimistic scenario, the need for smoother clinical workflows, faster turnaround times, and fewer dental appointments could boost the market growth. Dentists may be more likely to invest in technologies like CAD/CAM and dental 3D printing to reduce the time taken to deliver dental appliances and treatment, and patients may be more likely to opt for these solutions for the same reason. 

Dental caries or tooth decay is a common ailment across all age groups, with the global incidence of decayed and missing teeth (DMT) increasing dramatically in recent years. According to the CDC, in 2019, 64.9% of adults aged above 18 years of age had a dental examination or dental cleaning procedure. 

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐏𝐃𝐅 @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=258228239 

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 36 million Americans are completely edentulous, and around 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. The number of partially edentulous patients is expected to increase to more than 200 million Americans in the next 15 years. 

With increasing disposable incomes, the willingness to undergo expensive cosmetic procedures has also risen, specifically among the aging population. Globally, there is a growing demand for dental restoration solutions and aesthetic treatments such as whitening and polishing. 

According to a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) in 2019, it was found that almost all the respondents had performed crowns, bonding, bridges, whitening, veneers, and dentures. Nonmembers remain less likely than members to do implants (64% to 73%) or recontouring (60% to 74%). However, both specialties increased for non-members by about 10% in 2019 compared to 2017. 

The greatest advantages of dental 3D printing are the speed and accuracy offered by dental 3D printers. An increased level of automation ensures better overall accuracy and far less time consumed than manual model making. 

The lack of a workforce with a full understanding of the design process and production cycle in AM affects the final quality of the product. The lack of such a workforce would restrain the overall adoption of dental 3D printing. 

Small and medium-sized laboratories may find it unfeasible to install dental 3D printing facilities due to financial constraints. Since most dental labs are small or medium-sized, this is a key challenge in the market. The cost of a high-resolution 3D printer is around USD 40,000 to USD 100,000.