Medical Ceramics Market

Market Overview

The global medical ceramics market size was valued at USD 23,873 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 40,954 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.18% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Factors such as increasing number of medical procedures using medical ceramics and rapid influx of novel product varieties and technological advancements, significantly drives the medical ceramics market demand by 2031.

Medical-grade ceramics is a material that is widely used in applications such as the development of prosthetics, implants, medical tools and devices. Medical applications of ceramics include the repair or replace musculoskeletal hard human connective tissues. They also have clinical applications such as orthopedic implants, dental implants, and bone screws. Bioinerts and bioactive are the two leading families of bioceramics. All medical ceramics share the property of time-dependent kinetic alteration of the surface following implantation as one of their common characteristics. Additionally, it naturally develops a coating of biologically functional carbonate hydroxyapatite that acts as a strong bonding agent for living tissue.

Market Dynamics

Global Medical Ceramics Market Drivers

Increasing Number of Medical Procedures Using Medical Ceramics

The increasing number of medical procedures due to rising incidences of chronic diseases is driving the market growth of medical ceramics. Different ceramic implants, such as dental implants, orthopedic implants, and implantable electronic devices, are available globally. Additionally, the increasing number of medical implants is another factor contributing to the market growth. Composite materials such as hydroxy appetite (HAP) and zirconia are the top investment pockets in the medical ceramics market.

Furthermore, the rapid adoption of ceramics as a substitute for metals in hip and joint reconstruction boosts the market growth. The growing number of medical procedures results from factors such as the rising demand for minimally invasive medical procedures and the introduction of innovative products to increase the efficacy of therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures. Thus, the increasing number of medical procedures using medical ceramics is expected to drive the global market for medical ceramics during the forecast period.

Rapid Influx of Novel Product Varieties and Technological Advancements

The increasing adoption of zirconia-based restorations in dental care is a new technological advancement in the ceramic industry. As per the 2019 Current Health Sciences Journal, owing to its biocompatibility and good mechanical properties, zirconia has been successfully used as a dental biomaterial in recent years. Additionally, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology is widely used to manufacture medical ceramic products.

Increasing research activities in medical ceramics for nanotechnology and electronic device applications is further boosting the market growth of medical ceramics. For instance, the Lava ultimate resin nano ceramic blocks manufactured by 3M ESPE showed superior aesthetics, durability, and fracture resistance. Further, nanotechnology has many applications in endodontics, including incorporating bio-ceramic nanoparticles such as bioglass, zirconia, and glass ceramics in endodontic sealers. Therefore, it is anticipated that the quick inflow of new product kinds and technical developments will fuel the expansion of the global market during the study period.

Global Medical Ceramics Market Restraint

Potentially Harmful Effects of Medical Ceramics

Despite being harmless, medical ceramics have occasionally been discovered to be cytotoxic. For instance, a study published in the Mathew Journal of Dentistry in 2016 studied the cytotoxicity of dental ceramics. The investigation concluded that the principal chemicals released from ceramics into the surrounding tissues were silicon, aluminum, and potassium. Few ceramics are cytotoxic in vitro; however, the clinical relevance of these findings remains unclear. Many more in vitro studies, and controlled clinical trials, are needed due to possible exceptions. Therefore, it is anticipated that the adverse impacts of medical ceramics will restrain the market's expansion during the projected period.

Global Medical Ceramics Market Opportunities

Collaborations with Small Market Players

Emerging markets are anticipated to offer potential growth opportunities for medical ceramics companies to grow. The market is developing as a result of the usage of ceramics in medical equipment, the rise in the number of older adults needing implant surgeries, and government incentives to conduct research studies on medical ceramics. Players in the medical ceramics market compete to deliver superior, technologically advanced products and provide well-regulated customer service functions.

Furthermore, many major players in the market are adopting strategies such as acquisitions and mergers to expand their product portfolio by launching new products and collaborating major players with small players in the market. For instance, German-based producer and supplier of ceramic and plastic parts, Friatec GmbH ("Friatec"), acquired the advanced Kyocera medical ceramics business operations of Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH through a newly established subsidiary, according to a May 2019 announcement from Kyocera Corporation.

Regional Analysis

By region, the global medical ceramics market share is divided into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant shareholder and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.12% during the forecast period. The high incidence of tooth decay, rising injuries, and the quick uptake of medical ceramics in the medical device market are all contributing factors to the Americas having the most significant market share. As per the American Dental Association, Health Policy Resources Center, Supply of Dentists, 2017, more than 3,500 practicing prosthodontists and prosthodontic residents are in the US. More than 36 million US residents do not have teeth, while 120 million are missing at least one tooth. These numbers are expected to increase in the next two decades. The region's strong demand for dental services and ample supply of dental experts are anticipated to expand the market.

Additionally, the growing elderly population is also propelling the medical ceramics market growth in the Americas. As per the Administration for Community Living, in the Americas, over the last ten years, the population aged 65 and over grew from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 million in 2016. Thus, factors anticipated to fuel the expansion of the medical ceramics market in the Americas during the study period include a sizable patient pool suffering from dental decay, a quickly expanding medical device market, and an increasingly elderly population.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.70% over the forecast period. Due to an increase in patients and the availability of products in the region, Europe is predicted to have considerable growth over the projection period. Medical ceramics are used for manufacturing surgical implants, prosthetics, and various medical tools and devices. The nations in the region with the most hip and knee replacements in 2017 included Switzerland, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, and Belgium. In most OECD nations, hip and knee replacements have quickly climbed since 2000. Additionally, the average number of hip and knee replacements increased by 30% and 40%, respectively, between 2007 and 2017. This increase in the number of patients undergoing knee replacement is anticipated to boost the regional market's growth. Further, the availability of ceramic implants in the market has increased, especially since established implant companies such as Camlog (Ceralog), Straumann (Pure and Snow), and Nobel Biocare (Nobel Pearl) have each added zirconia implants to their product portfolios.

The United Nations projects that over the next 50 years, the proportion of persons 65 and older will significantly increase throughout Asia. For the region, the population in this age group will increase by 314% from 207 million in 2000 to 857 million in 2050. Many adults residing in the area are expected to suffer from dental avulsion, tooth decay, and gum disease, resulting in loss of teeth. A systematic review of all-ceramic crowns based on the databases of Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure reported that all-ceramic tooth-supported single crowns have acceptable five-year survival rates. Furthermore, osteoporosis affects almost 70 million Chinese over 50 and causes some 687,000 hip fractures yearly in China. Thus, the factors mentioned earlier contribute to regional market growth.

The market for medical ceramics is growing in the Middle East and Africa due to the increasing number of regional companies and subsidiaries offering medical ceramics. For instance, Nobel Biocare, a part of Envista Holdings (US), has a presence in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other regional countries, thus driving regional market growth.

Segmental Analysis

The global medical ceramics market is segmented into type, application, and end-user.

Based on type, the global market is divided into bioinert ceramics, bioactive ceramics, bioabsorbable ceramics, and piezoceramics.

The bioinert ceramics segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.95% during the forecast period. The bioinert ceramics include alumina, zirconia, and others. The rising demand for zirconia ceramics in the dental and medical fields drives the need for bioinert ceramics in the global market. Bioinert ceramics cause an initial 'fibrous tissue' reaction that coats the ceramic. Zirconia alumina composite and carbon segments are gaining popularity for medical implants. In addition, demand for ceramics in the healthcare market is growing significantly due to a significant upsurge in medical implants, propelling this segment's growth in the medical ceramics industry.

Bioactive ceramics help tissue bonding and final assimilation into the body. The rising penetration of zirconia-based restorations in dental care and the increasing use of advanced technology drive the demand for bioactive ceramics. Moreover, the development of new products in the medical sector, such as zirconia toughened alumina and calcium phosphate coatings, further fuels the growth of this segment in the medical ceramics market. Rapid advancements in these medical ceramics also contribute to the market's growth. For instance, in June 2020, Admatec announced that medical and dental professionals will now be able to use CAM Bioceramics medical-grade ceramic materials with Admaflex DLP 3D printing systems. This ceramic was ISO 13485:2016 certified and includes the commercially available hydroxyapatite slurry 3D printing material.

Based on application, the global market is divided into dental, orthopedic, cardiovascular, medical device, plastic surgery, and others.

The dental applications segment owns the highest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.27% during the forecast period. The increasing number of individuals suffering from oral diseases that require dental restoration is propelling the expansion of this segment in the global market. The technological evolution of medical ceramics for dental applications has been remarkable as new materials and processing techniques are steadily being introduced. In addition, factors such as the rising number of periodontal disorders, the shifting trend of minimally invasive procedures, and the aesthetic appeal offered by dental ceramics compared to metal ceramics are driving the market growth of this segment.

CAD/CAM dental ceramics are widely used as indirect restorative materials in dentistry due to their high biocompatibility and pleasing aesthetics. Furthermore, various medical ceramics applications include dental implants, crowns and bridges, braces, bone grafts, and substitutes. Therefore, the increasing demand for aesthetic restorations and the encouraging performance of all-ceramic restorations in permanent dentition have led to significant advances in dental ceramics, which in turn has propelled the market growth of this segment.

Cardiovascular applications of medical ceramics have been shown to enhance the quality of life. Cardiovascular applications for medical ceramics have grown significantly over the past few years and are predicted to continue to be the key drivers of demand for medical ceramics globally in the near future. Medical ceramics include a bioresorbable ceramic material, which is being used for manufacturing heart valves and pacemaker electrodes. The bioresorbable ceramic “metal” material is more advantageous in cardiovascular applications over polymers due to various remarkable properties, including impact strength and high strain energy. Such advantages offered by ceramics in cardiovascular applications are expected to bolster the demand for medical ceramics in this segment during the forecast period.

Based on end-user, the global market is divided into hospitals and clinics, specialty centers, and others.

The hospitals and clinics segment is the highest contributor to the market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.17% over the forecast period. This share can be attributed to the increasing number of dental and orthopedic surgical operations being performed across the globe. Additionally, the presence of significant players and developed healthcare infrastructure support the growth of the segment in the global market during the study period. Hospitals and clinics are the primary locations for patients receiving consulting and treatment for various diseases.

In addition, physicians check the condition of the patients and prescribe the best medicines for correspondence patients. The high prevalence of hip replacement surgeries performed in hospitals boosts the demand for medical ceramics in this segment. Further, many hospitals in the US are likely to support market growth. The US has over 7,200 active hospitals and a well-established healthcare sector, which is expected to indirectly boost the demand for medical ceramics during the forecast period.

Recent Developments

• December 2022- Lithoz, based in Vienna, Austria, announced LithaBone HA 480. The human bone-like ceramic material was developed via cooperation with users of earlier bone substitute materials for ceramic Additive Manufacturing.
• September 2022- Kyocera decided to consolidate its European fine ceramics business. By doing so, the fine ceramics units and production facilities in Mannheim and Selb will be merged into a separate entity under KYOCERA Europe GmbH.