By Genni Burkhart
The demand for cosmetic dental procedures is expected to rise by nearly 7% in the coming years, significantly impacting growth and direction in the industry.
Cosmetic procedures have seen a boom over the past year, a trend that’s expected to grow due to the rapid increase of virtual meetings and remote conferencing during the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 has unequivocally pushed millions of people to now live out their daily lives of work, school, and social connections through the lens of low-resolution cameras and inadequate, unprofessional lighting.
Remote living and working means thousands of people are now partaking in daily video calls for a variety of reasons—which also means people are spending much more time gazing at their own image than they had pre-pandemic. With all this time spent staring at low quality, poorly light video self-imagery, the current patient-driven demand for cosmetic procedures has been dubbed the “Zoom Boom.”
THE ESTHETIC BOOM
The “Zoom Boom” is driving renewed growth in cosmetic dentistry as well. In fact, the global cosmetic dentistry market is expected to scale at a 6.9% rate by 2025.
Behaviorally, there’s always been a strong connection between our external appearance and our internal sense of well-being. Going as far back as the Great Depression and across times of economic downturn since then, the beauty industry has consistently yielded gains, even as consumers tighten budgets and curtail spending.
With the current “Zoom Boom” a majority of patients are seeking out facial esthetic improvements that are simple and non-invasive. Patients want treatments that provide immediate results for a reasonable price. According to a recent report by KD Market Insights this includes dental procedures such as dental whitening, resin veneers, and single-tooth implants. Smile makeovers are also on the rise including porcelain veneers, dental bonding, straightening, reshaping, full mouth reconstruction, gum lifts, and contouring.
MARKET DRIVERS
It’s important to note the growth of esthetics in the dental profession isn’t solely reliant on the pandemic boom for cosmetic makeovers. In fact, a large contributing factor in growth includes the rising global geriatric population. Other market drivers include:
- A rise in oral health disorders across the globe.
- Increased awareness for the importance of dental health.
- Rising demand for procedures such as dental implants and orthodontic appliances.
- The evolution of cosmetic dental procedures becoming less and less invasive.
- Growth of products, services, and technology in the dental profession.
According to the same study as noted above, technological advancements in cosmetic dentistry such as CAD/CAM systems (Computer-Aided Design And Computer-Aided Manufacturing) are opening new doors for cosmetic dentistry through the use of 3-dimensional technology that’s able to significantly enhance the design and creation of dental restorations and dental prosthetics. This study notes advancements in specific technologies such as 3D tooth printing, digital smile design, and 3D dental imaging as contributing factors to the growth of cosmetic dentistry.
Another market driver to consider is the increased desire in this profession to educate and inform patients about the many benefits associated with oral care, including esthetics. This same study shows the dental profession is now increasing marketing tactics aimed at patient awareness programs, thus furthering demand for cosmetic dental procedures nationally.
Overall, research and studies show contributing factors such as increasing patient awareness, advancing technologies, and a growing population demanding these procedures will drive growth in this market past the current “Zoom Boom” and into the year 2025.
However, there are restraints to the growth in demand for cosmetic dentistry to consider such as the large expense of dental imaging, CAD/CAM systems and a continued lack of insurance reimbursement for cosmetic procedures.
THE “ZOOM BOOM” LESSON
If one were to consider the recent data and research on the driving factors behind the current boom in cosmetic dentistry, perhaps it shows that now is the time to invest in the professional skills that patients are demanding. Expanding into or learning new dental cosmetic procedures, as well as sourcing updated technology or employing specific marketing tactics aimed at educating one’s own patients and community about the many benefits of dental aesthetics could be a gateway to more comprehensive dental care as the post-COVID rebound continues.
About the Author: With over 10 years as a published journalist, editor, and writer Genni Burkhart’s career has spanned across politics, healthcare, law, business finance, and news. She resides on the western shores of the Puget Sound where she works as the Editor in Chief at DOCS Education out of Seattle, WA.