WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, average selling prices of dental implant fixtures and final abutments have decreased 3.3% and 8.1%, respectively, over the past year. This occurred as dentists attempted to maintain profitability during the economic crisis by demanding greater discounts and increasingly purchasing implants from low-cost manufacturers.

In many European countries, dental implants are an out-of-pocket expense for patients, with little to no reimbursement from health care plans, with the exception of Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and most recently Belgium, which offer partial reimbursement. Dental implant surgeries are considered elective because the loss of a tooth does not typically inhibit the ability to eat or speak.

Because patients became hesitant to undergo dental implant surgery during the economic recession, dentists were forced to shift their focus. In the past, dentists were mainly concerned about product attributes and high quality service. By 2009, however, there was a greater importance placed on price and many switched to low-priced manufacturers, such as MIS Implants Technologies or Implant Direct. Physicians and industry participants also reported that many premium-priced players offered significant discounts in order to compete. The new focus on price has made the European dental implant market a very attractive arena for smaller, lower-priced manufacturers, which are frequently domestic players.

"As the economy improves, the European market will further polarize. Many dentists will be unwilling to return to premium products because procedure prices will have to be increased to protect profit margins," says Emily MacIntosh, Analyst at MRG. "As such, the low-cost competitors will secure a permanent position in the market, particularly in well-established areas."

MRG's European Markets for Dental Implants 2010 report covers Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. This report provides a detailed discussion of procedures; dental implant fixtures by type, shape, and surface; final abutments; and the use of guided surgery technology. It also presents a complete breakdown of unit sales, average selling prices, and market revenues by segment, including five-year forecasts, up-to-date market shares, and in-depth qualitative insights.

About Millennium Research Group

Millennium Research Group (www.MRG.net), a Decision Resources, Inc. company (www.DecisionResourcesInc.com), is the global authority on medical technology market intelligence and the leading provider of strategic information to the healthcare sector. The company provides specialized industry expertise through multiclient market research, ongoing Marketrack(TM) projects, customer behavior tracking, facility-level procedure forecasting, and customized solutions.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information, and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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    For more information, contact:

    Amy Krohn
    Millennium Research Group
    416-364-7776 ext. 101
    akrohn@mrg.net

    Chris Comfort
    Decision Resources, Inc.
    781-296-2597
    ccomfort@dresources.com

SOURCE Millennium Research Group