Straumann Group Highlights Low Implant Penetration in China and Unveils Open Digital Solutions to Empower Clinicians

Straumann Group Global CEO Marco Gadola

Digital dentistry in implantology is increasingly being adopted in clinical practice. To better serve patients and assist clinicians in achieving precise dental restorations, Straumann has launched the Straumann® CARES® comprehensive digital solution, designed to provide dentists and technicians with a streamlined and accurate approach to fully digital oral diagnosis and treatment.

Straumann implants began to be sold in the Chinese market in 1999. In 2007, Straumann established an office in Beijing, China.

Since 2014, the Straumann Group has made substantial investments in the Chinese market, building a team of 200 employees that continues to expand. As a global leader in aesthetic dental solutions, Straumann has been committed to collaborating with private clinics. The officially authorized and certified etkon China Milling Center was established in Shenzhen.

Recently, at the launch event for Straumann® CARES® Integrated Digital Solutions and the 2nd Straumann Group Private Practice Partner Accreditation Ceremony held in Shenzhen under the theme “Joining Hands for the Future, Winning Together Worldwide,” Group CEO Mr. Marco Gadola shared insights on how the CARES® Integrated Digital Solutions differ from other digital solutions, and why Straumann Group places such high importance on its collaboration with private dental partners in China.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Straumann Group is a global leader in aesthetic dentistry solutions.

In 1954, Dr. Reinhard Straumann founded the Dr. Ing. R. Straumann Research Institute in Waldenburg, dedicated to innovation and research and development in modern technology. In 1974, the launch of the first titanium vacuum cylindrical implant marked the beginning of the development journey for the Straumann Dental Implant System.

In 1980, Dr. h.c. Fritz Straumann, Prof. Andre Schroeder, and others founded the International Team for Implantology (ITI), an organization dedicated to advancing the science of dental implantology through evidence-based education and training. Straumann is the sole partner of ITI.

Straumann currently collaborates with globally leading academic clinics, research institutions, and universities to develop and manufacture dental implants, surgical instruments, restorative solutions, and tissue regeneration products for dental restoration and the prevention of tooth loss.

The 2017 financial report showed that the group’s annual revenue reached CHF 1.112 billion, a 21% increase, with operating profit margin expanding to 26%, and net profit rising 20% to CHF 276 million.

Since 2003, Straumann has expanded its product portfolio, which now includes products for oral tissue regeneration, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), guided implant surgery, and intraoral scanning.

In 2017, the Straumann Group initiated a series of mergers and acquisitions. To further penetrate the mid- to low-end dental implant market, the Group acquired a controlling interest in Medentika and increased its stake in Dental Wings to 100%, thereby accelerating the development of digital platforms and equipment.

Straumann Group entered the orthodontics sector by acquiring ClearCorrect and purchasing a 38% equity stake in Geniova, acquired a 35% stake in Rapid Shape to secure 3D printing technology, and partnered with 3Shape to begin distributing the CADENT iTero premium intraoral scanning solutions.

In 2017, Straumann also acquired Loop Digital Solutions, a U.S.-based software startup that developed an online platform for specialists and dentists to facilitate patient referrals. The platform assists clinicians by enhancing communication, thereby improving transparency and security.

Digital dentistry has emerged as a key trend in recent years and is now widely applied in clinical practice. Straumann has also launched its CARES® digital solutions, with digital enablement serving as a primary driver of its sales growth.

As a global leader in aesthetic dentistry solutions, Marco Gadola stated, “Digital solutions play a pivotal role in the Straumann Group’s strategy. CARES® is a customizable, comprehensive digital solution that offers users a highly integrated, open, and modular combination of hardware and software. Users can view the Straumann Group as a one-stop provider capable of meeting all digital needs for dental laboratories and dentists, thereby effortlessly achieving professional excellence in digital dentistry.”

CARES® comprehensive digital solution represents a complete dental workflow, from digital intraoral scanning to computerized production and processing of restorations using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology. Each step is seamlessly linked to the next, specifically designed for high-quality digital workflows.

Customers enjoy a high degree of flexibility. For digital data acquisition, digital tools such as intraoral scanners are provided. If milling restorations is desired, temporary crowns, inlays, onlays, and other restorations can be milled in-house using the equipment. Should customers choose to collaborate with dental laboratories, Straumann offers laboratory workflows compatible with scanners for fabrication of restorations.

Additionally, Straumann offers CAD/CAM-based technologies; if chairside scanning is not feasible, the models or data can be transmitted to partner dental laboratories for fabrication.

Straumann offers customers a wide range of options. “The CARES® integrated digital solution is a workflow for exchanging and transferring data among dentists, dental laboratories, and milling centers, providing a comprehensive solution that integrates all steps. Our key differentiator is that the workflow is open and flexible, rather than closed,” said Marco Gadola.

Mr. Marco Gadola stated, “In the field of implantology, Pro Arch is our treatment concept for the provisional restoration of edentulous patients with limited bone availability. Regarding digital solutions, we have a software called coDiagnostiX™, which assists in designing implant positions. It allows direct import of CBCT data to formulate treatment plans, such as full-arch implant protocols.”

According to available information, Straumann launched the BLT implant in China in October 2017. This implant is specifically designed to provide sufficient primary stability and mechanical stability for edentulous patients.

BLT has become the best-selling implant for the Straumann Group in several markets, particularly the small-diameter (2.9 mm) version. Made from high-strength Roxolid—a novel high-performance material for dental implants that is stronger than titanium and offers excellent osseointegration—it features a smaller size than its main competitors and holds a significant share in the narrow-diameter implant segment.

Straumann implants began to be sold in the Chinese market in 1999. In 2007, Straumann established an office in Beijing, China.

Since 2014, Straumann has made significant investments in the Chinese market, building a team of 200 employees that continues to expand.

On March 27, 2018, the etkon China Authorized Milling Service Center, officially authorized and certified by the Straumann Group, was inaugurated in Shenzhen, underscoring the importance of the Chinese market.

This authorized milling center features world-leading milling technology and is capable of producing CAD/CAM restorations, addressing the previous absence of such services from the Straumann Group in the Chinese market. Additionally, the etkon China Authorized Milling Center collaborates with premier dental laboratories in China to deliver high-quality restorations to customers.

Marco Gadola stated, “The Chinese market is of paramount importance to the Straumann Group. It is the most promising and dynamic market in the field of dentistry, with substantial demand for the restoration of dentition defects and edentulism, as well as for cosmetic dentistry. The penetration rate is a key indicator for assessing the potential of an emerging dental implant market. China’s dental implant penetration rate remains low; notably, South Korea’s implant penetration rate is approximately 70 times that of China. Therefore, we are highly confident in the prospects of the Chinese market.”

In recent years, China’s private dental sector has experienced rapid growth, while also encountering several challenges in its development, such as the training of medical professionals, patient market education, and internal process management and control.

Straumann subsequently launched its Private Partner Program, aiming to collaborate with these private clinics by leveraging its own resource advantages. Starting from the specific challenges the clinics seek to address, the program jointly develops solutions and works collaboratively to help clinics better assist consumers in resolving their oral health issues.

Marco Gadola stated, “We provide comprehensive aesthetic dentistry solutions, such as Pro Arch designs and CARES® integrated digital solutions, which help clinics better meet patient needs. Furthermore, in response to the industry-wide challenge of scarce medical talent, we have proactively adjusted our strategy by leveraging Straumann’s training resources to offer a variety of training programs for partner dentists, including both online and offline courses such as ITI, BITC, and CITC. We have expanded our professional sales and training teams and strengthened academic collaborations with these clinics, providing the SAC Classification and Smart Curriculum systems to support the development of skilled dentists, implant nurses, and consultants.”

On the other hand, private dental care remains an emerging market that requires the penetration of health awareness to drive growth; patient education continues to be key to supporting and propelling the expansion of this nascent sector.

Straumann will also deepen patient education and strengthen online and media outreach, enabling more patients to understand oral health, the advantages of dental implants, as well as Straumann’s reputation for quality and safety assurances.

“The launch of this project also signifies Straumann’s proactive adjustment of its collaboration strategy with private-sector clients. Straumann is not merely a provider of high-quality products, but increasingly a strategic partner committed to mutual growth. By shifting from supplying premium clinical products and technical support to embracing a win-win strategic philosophy, we aim to deliver greater added value to our private-sector partners, ultimately benefiting consumers at large,” said Marco Gadola.

References: China Medical Tribune – Today's Dentistry, Straumann Group Annual Report