Implanting Innovation the Israeli Way

The 1982 movie Annie gave us the memorable takeaway, “you’re never fully dressed without a smile.” A simple gesture that wields considerable power on our mind, body and social relationships. Yet, the upkeep of those pearly whites is cause of immense anxiety for millions. A DentaVox market survey reveals 60% of the population, across geographies, experience some form of “dental anxiety” and 4% have never been to a dentist. Thirty-nine percent were afraid of the pain, 24% did not like the smell of chemicals and 21% feared the sound of the drill. About 7% were afraid of being stuck in the dental chair, while 5% feared having to keep their mouth open for a long time. We can all identify with one or more of these response groups.

The concerns, some of which are seemingly trivial, translate to significantly large numbers neglecting their oral health. In addition, oral health is a window to our general well-being. Studies suggest oral bacteria and inflammation might play a role in cardiovascular disease, birth complications, and respiratory disease and may offer clues to underlying health conditions like diabetes and HIV, among others.

Israeli ingenuity at innovation – their uncanny ability to recognize an unmet need or spot opportunity where others may not see potential, coupled with a highly evolved tech ecosystem – has given rise to a significant 120 companies offering a wide gamut of dental solutions that harness AI and integrate digitally enabled technology. Diagnostics and treatments using 3D imaging, platforms that facilitate the seamless integration of clinics and labs, intraoral scanners, 3D printing and tele-dentistry – savvy solutions that increase efficiency and assist with tailored treatment plans, offering a compelling value proposition. They address the very problems consumers articulate by enhancing clinical performance, reducing chair time and providing marked improvements in patient experience.

Take for instance ForumTec’s one-of-a-kind Implant Spotter, which accurately detects dental implants covered by the gum. It eliminates the need for complex and painful procedures, such as cutting away gum tissue during two-stage implantology treatments. This innovative detector minimizes pain, reduces healing time and chair time and maximizes treatment efficiency. Their many years of experience in endodontics and implantology has given Forumtec a leading edge in these areas of specialization and they offer proven and reliable apex and implant locators for faster, more accurate dental procedures with ease in treatment for both patient and dentist.    

Dental market research suggests that the biggest drivers of growth in 2023 will be cosmetic surgery, implants and new technology. Having a finger on the pulse of industry trends, the following companies devised products that cater to these same predicted market demands.  

Image Guided Implantology (IGI) is the world’s first image-guided implant dentistry system that utilizes 3D imaging and motion tracking. With the help of a CT scan and a computerized navigation system, the IGI facilitates the ideal dental implant placement. This system helps  the surgeon place implants precisely, according to pre-surgical planning, helps minimize postoperative dental morbidity and reduces surgical treatment time. 

Magdent offers another ingenious product for improved dental implant procedures: aA Miniaturized Electromagnetic Device (MED) that utilizes electromagnetic fields to stimulate bone formation and bone quality in a shorter time following an implant procedure. On average, dental implants require three to four dental visits and it may take anywhere between three to six months for the bone to heal and grow around the implant (osseointegration). This may extend to nine months if a bone graft is necessary to increase the amount of bone (osteogenesis). Besides being a lengthy process, the failure rate of implantation increases significantly in patients with poor bone quality or insufficient bone. With MED, dentists can actively shorten and improve the osseointegration process as well as bone quality in dental implant procedures.

And then there is IVENEER – the answer to how to get that beautiful smile. Dental veneers conceal cracks, chips, stains and other cosmetic imperfections and IVENEER boasts the only injectable and closed veneer system. Clinicians can achieve a refined, high-gloss restoration in a fraction of the time it takes to complete a freehand restoration, making it the fastest and most effective technology on the market.

The global dental market is projected to grow from US$38.84 billion in 2022 to US$ 63.93 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period. Several factors are accelerating this expansion – the increasing prevalence of tooth disorders, high demand for cosmetic dental procedures and treatments, rising awareness about oral health and a raft of business-friendly measures introduced by countries like UAE, Turkey, Thailand, Mexico and Hungary to position themselves as attractive dental tourism destinations.

Dental clinics have also realized the need to improve the customer journey and have undergone a radical transformation. Gone are the days of interminable waits at the clinic, thumbing through dog-eared back issues of magazines. With plush, visually pleasing interiors that inspire relaxation and comfort, luxury upholstered dental chairs, electronic health records for seamless integration of information and referrals, vibrantly themed children’s clinics and mounted television screens so kids can flip channels and stay suitably distracted, patients now almost look forward to their next dental appointment.

Along with the aesthetic uplift, dentists are embracing emerging technologies and innovation to provide a superior experience and maintain a competitive advantage. The opportunity that this presents for collaboration with innovative Israeli manufacturers is immense. Notable acquisitions in the recent past include Israel-based Alpha-Bio Tec by world leader Nobel Biocare and MIS Implants as well as Datum Dental by global giant Dentsply Sirona. 

Partner with us through the integration of sophisticated Israeli tech services and products for your organization.