Dental Simulator Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Dental Simulator Market Analysis

The Dental Simulator Market size is estimated at USD 433.90 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 654.20 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8.60% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The dental simulator market is experiencing notable growth owing to various technological advancements. Modern advancements in dentistry have significantly impacted the progress and practice of dentistry. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are becoming increasingly common in modern dentistry because of their impact on changing the patient’s experience. Clinicians can use VR technology to show their patients the expected outcomes before they undergo dental procedures. Additionally, AR and VR can be implemented to overcome dental phobia, which pediatric patients commonly experience. The COVID-19 pandemic forced several dental schools and institutes to change their traditional teaching methods to an alternate teaching mode, which became a significant driving factor for the dental simulator market. It resulted in the development of new techniques that led to product launches. For instance, in October 2023, Dentsply Sirona launched the SureSmile Simulator, an application within DS Core that is designed to support patient conversations about the benefits of SureSmile Aligner Treatment by showing the expected outcome even before the start of the therapy.

The rising technological advancement and increasing number of dental schools and institutes are among the significant factors driving the growth of the dental simulator market. Cutting-edge technology permeates dentistry, and practitioners are increasingly adopting innovative solutions to enhance patient care and treatment outcomes. The commonly used traditional digital technologies use a digital scanner to obtain a digital image. The image is then used to modify the different dental aspects of the patients. Finally, the modifications are transferred to the digital wax-up. However, VR takes laser scans of the patient’s teeth and other required oral and extraoral structures. The scans are fed into a computer that forms a 3D model of the same, which is then loaded into a simulator. The surgeon/students can practice using this simulator and perform evaluations before the procedure is performed on a real patient.

Due to the increasing acceptance of dental simulator products, there is a rise in the development of advanced complementary products as well. For instance, in January 2024, Align Technology Inc. launched the iTero Lumina intraoral scanner, consisting of an approximately three times wider field of capture in a 50% smaller and 45% lighter wand. The new scanner is anticipated to complement the Exocad CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry. Such innovations have not only improved treatment outcomes but have also enhanced the overall patient experience.

The increasing number of dental education programs is a major driving factor for the market's growth. The expansion of such programs creates a parallel demand for advanced training tools and equipment, including dental simulators. Dental simulators play a crucial role in practical training scenarios, allowing students to refine their skills in a controlled environment. According to the Commission on Dental Accreditation dental education program enrollment and graduates trends report, 2023-24, published in March 2024, there was a 9.1% increase in the number of accredited predoctoral dental education programs in the US in 2023 compared to 2019. For advanced programs, the increase was 0.7%. Such growth in accredited programs indicates the rising interest in such programs, which is anticipated to boost the application of these simulators for training the students enrolling in these programs.

Rising technological advancements and an increasing number of dental programs are driving the market's growth. However, the increasing investment cost is restraining the dental simulator market’s growth.

Dental Simulator Market Trends

The Hardware Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period

Dental Simulator Industry Segmentation

As per the scope of the report, a dental simulator is a training tool used in dental education to simulate various aspects of dental procedures, allowing students to practice and develop their skills in a controlled and realistic environment before working on actual patients.

The dental simulator market is segmented by component, application outlook, end user, and geography. The market is segmented by component into hardware and software. The market is segmented by application outlook into dental training & education and treatment planning. Based on end user, the market is segmented into dental schools, hospitals, and dental clinics. By geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also offers the market sizes and forecasts for 13 countries across the regions. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts were made on the basis of value (USD).