Around the world, over 3.5 billion people suffer from some kind of oral disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency further says that caries of permanent teeth affect 2.3 billion people, and over 530 million children have caries in their primary teeth. Earlier overlooked, dental health is now garnering increasing attention from people. Not only can dental problems be painful, but misformed or badly arranged teeth are considered aesthetically appealing. Both these factors are leading to a rising footfall at dentists, which is, in turn, increasing the demand for various associated products and instruments.
Therefore, with the increasing awareness on oral health, the orthodontic supplies market is on path to substantial growth in the coming years. An orthodontist is a medical specialist, who looks after the alignment of the teeth, and they are the ones who put braces on the teeth. The different supplies these healthcare providers require are anchorage appliances, fixed braces, removable braces, ligatures, and orthodontic adhesives. Among these, fixed braces are procured in the highest amounts, as such products are better able to correct the alignment of the teeth.
With time, these supplies have become technically advanced, which is another reason for their growing usage. For instance, Align Inc. has developed Invisalign, which is a brand name for its invisible clear aligners. These products align the teeth properly without the use of mini-implants, mini-screws, and braces, which people are apprehensive about, due to aesthetic reasons. For similar reasons, the demand for lingual braces, which are fixed behind the teeth; hence, are invisible, is increasing.
Around the world, a number of workshops and conferences are being organized to make people realize the importance of oral health. With such moves, people are becoming aware of the advancements taking place in the currently available treatments as well as the new treatments. Among the organizations undertaking such initiatives for educating people about dental diseases are the European Federation of Orthodontic Specialists Associations (EFOSA), American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), and Asian-Pacific Orthodontic Society (APOS).
Further, the disposable income of people has also risen in recent years, which have enabled them to spend on dental treatments. According to the AAO, between 2010 and 2012, the number of people using braces jumped by 14%, and in 2012, there were 1,225,850 people in Canada and the U.S. with braces. Because of the same reason, people in the developing countries are expected to rapidly go for dental procedures in the coming years. Compared to developed countries, the demand for dental supplies in emerging economies is quite low. Additionally, people from developed countries are traveling to emerging economies for low-cost dental surgeries.
On a geographical basis, North America currently witnesses the highest demand for dental supplies, owing to the high number of people suffering oral diseases and increasing desire among them to look good, for which having aesthetically appealing teeth is considered important. For instance, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) says that of all those who undergo dental surgery, over 80% go for them with the aim to look better. Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to observe the fastest dental supplies market growth, as a result of the surging awareness about the treatments available and rising spending power.
Thus, as people realize the importance of keeping their teeth in a good shape, the demand for dental supplies will keep growing.
