Printing Market to Flourish Over Next Decade

A report issued by SmarTech Publishing in January predicts the dental 3D printing market will continue on its 35% two-year annual growth rate to reach a market value of $9.5B by 2027. "3D Printing in Dentistry 2018, an Opportunity, Analysis and Forecast" outlines several factors that will positively impact the rapid adoption and expanding applications of additive technology. The first is the prediction that though additive and subtractive digital systems co-exist side-by-side in the laboratory today, the future ability of 3D printing technology to produce permanent restorations will tip the balance toward the additive side. The second factor will be the introduction of desktop 3D printers costing less than $5,000, which are mainstreaming adoption of the technology to practicing dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons, altering the market landscape over time from the traditional dental laboratory market.