Drivers
High prevalence of dental diseases
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bones surrounding and supporting the teeth. According to the WHO, in 2020, severe periodontal (gum) disease affected almost 10% of the global population. The increasing prevalence of such dental issues is accelerating the demand for oral screening and surgeries around the globe, further creating a demand for dental anesthesia. This is driving the global dental anesthesia market.
Increasing trend towards dental health check-up
Growing geriatric population worldwide
Restraints
Dearth of skilled anaesthesiologists
Anesthesia is a vital medical specialty provided by highly skilled professionals such as certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists (ANs). Anesthesiologists evaluate, monitor, and supervise patient care before, during, and after surgery while delivering anesthesia. There is a shortage of skilled anesthesiologists across the globe. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), around 38,000 to 124,000 physicians are expected to be needed by 2034, with roughly 12,500 of them being anesthesiologists.
Moreover, it is estimated that there are billions of people around the globe who lack access to safe surgery for various reasons, including the lack of trained anesthesia providers. People living in developing and developing countries have the fewest specialists who unduly affect their health care. The shortage of anesthesiologists affects dental screening and treatment throughout the globe. Hence, the shortage of skilled anesthesiologists is hampering the global dental anesthesia market.
Opportunity
Introduction of new dental anesthesia products
The introduction of new dental anesthesia products into the market is creating opportunities for players involved in the dental anesthesia market. The new technologically advanced dental products are used for superior patient care as well as to add comfort to professional practice. These advancements in products are making dental procedures faster and easier. For instance, in May 2017, Cetylite Inc. designed a new flavor of one of its flagship products, Cetacaine Topical Anesthetic Gel. Cetacaine aimed to feature a cool mint-flavored gel for oral anesthetic applications. It is primarily used to control pain and ease discomfort at the application site.
Supply Chain Analysis
The global market's supply chain analysis comprises five major components that start with the R&D and designing, manufacturing, distribution, marketing & sales, and post-sales monitoring.
In R&D process, new drug designs are introduced to enhance product quality and mix them with advanced compositions. As there are a variety of products available in the market, many companies are investing in R&D for high-quality drug offerings. R&D is a brainstorming process and requires sound knowledge and skills. After the R&D is over, the developers start manufacturing dental anaesthesia based on the inputs. The stage is characterized by primarily four steps — conceptualization, product designing, product development, and testing to ensure quality standards.
The cost of this process can be reduced by finding substitutes for the raw material or by modifying the conventional manufacturing process.
Manufacturing is a fast process, which is followed by the testing of the product. After this, distribution, marketing & sales is the most crucial part of the supply chain. Distribution includes intermediaries, direct selling, online channels, and others. To increase awareness in the market, the leading players are conducting seminars and sessions, which give dental practitioners an idea about the availability of the new refined products. For this, a company's marketing and sales strategies play a crucial role in understanding the characteristics of the industry in which it is competing.
The companies operating in the market are more inclined toward creating a subsidiary in a new region for better product reach and availability.
And lastly, post-sales monitoring plays a very important role in this market. As the global market is competitive and patient-centric, post-sales monitoring is a must to understand product performance.
The increasing emphasis on patient comfort and safety in dental procedures appears to drive the evolution of innovative anesthesia techniques and products in the dental sector.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)