US Digital Denture Market Size, Growth, Share & Trends Analysis

The rising prevalence of oral health disorders in the US is significantly contributing to the expansion of the digital dentures market. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), nearly 69% of adults aged 35–44 have lost at least one permanent tooth in the past year due to decay, gum disease, or trauma, underscoring the early onset of tooth loss in the working-age population. Additionally, figures from the American College of Prosthodontists show that more than 36 million people in the USA are entirely without teeth, while around 120 million have lost at least one tooth, with the number of partially edentulous individuals expected to exceed 200 million in the next 15 years. This growing patient population is further supported by high levels of dental service utilization, as 64.1% of US adults had a dental examination or cleaning in 2022, according to the CDC, enabling timely diagnosis and prosthetic treatment. Together, these factors are likely to sustain demand for digitally fabricated dentures, as dental providers increasingly adopt digital workflows to address rising case volumes with better fit, efficiency, and clinical predictability.

The two major factors that limit the implementation of advanced technologies to a large extent are the cost of the system and the lack of reimbursement for dental procedures. Advanced dental technologies, such as CAD/CAM, 3D scanners, and cone-beam CT, require a high initial investment, which is a major cost barrier that excludes small clinics or practices with limited budgets. High overhead also includes maintenance and training, which add to the total cost the dentist pays. Other dental procedures, like digital dentures, are covered by very few standard insurance schemes, and when they are, reimbursement is very low. The high costs, mainly of advanced dental imaging systems, and less-than-adequate reimbursement policies for many dental procedures are significant restraining factors behind the growth of the digital denture market. Dental imaging systems that include intraoral scanners and 3D printers contribute greatly to the accuracy and time-saving of digital dentures, but their hefty upfront costs make them out of reach for many smaller dental practices, thus limiting the widespread adoption of the technologies. Also, insurance does not cover quite a few of the dental procedures, which also involve digital dentures. It is to such an extent that there would have to be a huge out-of-pocket cost. With inadequate reimbursement, dental professionals will not be willing to invest in digital denture technology. Also, it would discourage the patients from taking up these advanced solutions, thus lessening market growth. Besides, such financial obstacles with lower payments usually related to dental procedures in several regions, especially those with very low dental insurance coverage, are still a big barrier to the full realization of the digital denture market.

The rise of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) in the US dental market is a significant growth opportunity for the US digital dentures market. A report by the Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) indicates that DSO-affiliated practices are primarily composed of general dentists. Almost 90% of the organizations surveyed reported that 61-100% of their dentists are general practitioners, enabling these practices to deliver high-volume restorative care. Moreover, the DSO model is improving clinical productivity. In the United States, solo practitioners are reported to spend almost 40% of their time on administrative tasks, while dentists in DSO-affiliated organizations use only 10% of their time for these tasks, allowing them to focus on patient care for close to 90% of their time. Due to this patient care-centric model, there is a growing demand for fast, simple, standardized solutions that save time, such as digitally fabricated dentures. In addition, DSO growth is being facilitated by finite but robust private equity resources. Most of the top 30 US DSOs, or 27 to be exact, are backed by private equity firms. Among them, Heartland Dental has been able to expand to over 400 practices in only one year. In sum, the size, consolidation, and operational prioritization of DSOs will likely lead to quicker implementation of digital denture workflows throughout the US. S

The insufficient number of skilled dental professionals remains a major obstacle to the widespread use of digital dentures in the United States. Transitioning from traditional denture-making to fully digital workflows requires significant investment in advanced technologies such as CAD/CAM systems, 3D printers, and intraoral scanners. These devices also require skilled personnel to operate them effectively. The high cost of purchasing and maintaining these machines, along with the need for specialized training, is increasing operational costs for dental clinics and laboratories, especially for small clinics that may be on a tight budget. Moreover, digital denture technologies involve a steep learning curve, meaning considerable time and resources are needed to train clinicians and technicians on complex software and equipment. Resistance to changing established workflows and hesitation to commit to an extensive training program have further slowed adoption, so the pace at which digital dentures are being integrated into routine clinical practice has been limited.