Dental Sterilization Market: Insights into Key Strategic Developments It is crucial for dental materials to be disinfected and subsequently sterilized in order to avoid the transmission of infectious diseases in dental procedures. Since sterilization is one of the most important processes carried out in a dental clinic, the staff must also be well-versed in these decontamination concepts, while maintaining a comprehensive protocol of action. Accordingly, Inkwood Research estimates that the global dental sterilization market is projected to grow with a CAGR of 6.23% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2032. The market is set to record a revenue of $2138.27 million by 2032.
A Clean Bill of Dental Health – Importance of Sterilization in Modern Dentistry In dental procedures, dental instruments often come into contact with bodily fluids like blood, saliva, and other biological discharges. Besides, blood-borne infections, such as HCV, HIV/AIDS, and HBV, represent significant risks for infection transmissions, as well. However, microorganisms in the blood and saliva of patients ailing from these diseases may be transferable to other patients when sterilization is not prioritized. Cross-infection may also occur through various pathogenic organisms found in the respiratory tract as well as the oral cavity. Therefore, sterilization is highly essential, as the process prevents dentists from inadvertently spreading viral and bacterial infections when treating patients. Moreover, transmission rates of infectious agents are reduced substantially when adequate infection control measures for dental instruments are in place. Accordingly, the instruments
segment, under the product category, is set to capture the highest revenue share of 71.83% by 2032 (Source: Inkwood Research).
Dental Sterilization Market: Prominent Strategic Developments According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral diseases, while largely preventable, pose a significant health burden for several nations. These conditions affect people throughout their lifetime, causing discomfort, pain, disfigurement, and in severe cases, even death. Besides, while oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people, untreated dental caries (tooth decay) in permanent teeth is the most common health condition, as per the Global Burden of Disease 2019. The prevalence of major oral diseases continues to increase across the world, predominantly with the rising urbanization and changes in living conditions. Subsequently, the need for dental sterilization is also on the rise due to the growing number of dental treatments required. As a result, key players, manufacturers, dental facilities, and dental professionals are establishing notable efforts to ensure that patient safety is prioritized and that the highest standards of quality are maintained. Accordingly, below are some of the prominent strategic developments & product launches in the global dental sterilization market –
In March 2023, Getinge (Sweden), a global medical technology company, announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Ultra Clean Systems Inc. The latter is a leading US manufacturer of ultrasonic cleaning technologies used in hospitals as well as surgery centers to decontaminate surgical instruments. Steelco Group (Italy), in January 2023, launched the New DS 610 G2 Series. The sterilizer, with a 12-DIN-tray capacity, was developed to limit water as well as energy consumption while delivering high productivity and process efficiency. In January 2023, W&H (Austria) announced that the company is expanding its hygiene portfolio with the addition of a new Lexa Plus Class B Sterilizer and a new, technologically advanced Assistina One maintenance device. The expansion is primarily aimed at infection prevention for an efficient dental practice workflow. Applied Medical (The Netherlands), which develops innovative products for minimally invasive surgery, finalized Getinge’s GEE Ethylene Oxide Sterilization System for their new sterilization facility in Amersfoort in 2022. The Series S100 Steam Sterilizers by Matachana (Italy) incorporates the latest advances in safety and efficacy in their technical design. They are specially designed for health centers, dental clinics, and emergency centers, where quick sterilization of medical devices is required. In October 2021, Orotol® Plus was launched by Dürr Dental (Germany) as a disinfectant. The concentrate is used for simultaneous disinfection, deodorization, cleaning and care of all dental suction systems, amalgam separators, and spittoons. With one of the largest R&D platforms with over 600 scientists and engineers, Dentsply Sirona (United States) spends over $125 million every year toward dentistry advancements. Moreover, the investment enables them to innovate and advance new technologies in the avenue of dental sterilization, as well. In September 2020, Midmark Corporation (United States), a leading dental solutions provider, announced the launch of its new Sterilizer Data Logger and the release of the updated Midmark M3 Steam Sterilizer. Since sterilization must be thorough and fast, the
updated Midmark M3 Steam Sterilizer rapidly processes tools as well as handpieces, thus simplifying instrument sterilization.
How are Governments Encouraging A Safe Dental Environment? The dental environment is associated with a high risk of exposure to various microorganisms. Hence, infection control is essential for effective oral hygiene practices. Aligning with this, the dental sterilization market complies with various government regulations, both at national and international levels. These regulations ensure that dental sterilization products and services are safe, effective, and meet optimum standards of quality. For example, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dental sterilization products and equipment. The FDA requires that manufacturers meet certain standards for effectiveness as well as safety. It also ensures that dental facilities follow specific guidelines for infection control, including disinfection, protocols for cleaning, and sterilization of surfaces and equipment. Likewise, in Europe, dental sterilization equipment and products must comply with the European Union’s Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), which establishes mandates for performance, safety, and quality. Besides, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic also played a critical role in heightening the emphasis on maintaining high disinfection and hygiene standards of dental equipment. Moreover, healthy spending on public healthcare following the novel coronavirus outbreak facilitated the growth of dentistry. This was mainly accredited to the fact that more people were willing to scan for dental problems and associated conditions, thereby accelerating the sale of dental sterilization devices. These factors, in turn, are expected to continue raising the demand for dental sterilization over the upcoming years, thus boosting the global dental sterilization market growth during the forecast period. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – 1. What is the difference between disinfection and sterilization? A: While disinfection entails the method by which pathogens are killed or eradicated, sterilization is the physical and chemical process that aims to eliminate all m microorganisms present in an object. 2. What are the different elements involved in the protocol of sterilization in dentistry? A: Initial bath with disinfectant ultrasound, autoclave, chemical & biological control of sterilization, and bagging are the different elements involved in the dental sterilization protocol.