Analyst forecast sees dental 3D printing more than doubling to USD 10.08 billion by 2031

MarketsandMarkets projects the dental 3D printing market will grow from USD 4.35 billion in 2026 to USD 10.08 billion in 2031, an annual rate of 18.3%. The report names resin-based vat photopolymerization as the dominant technology and materials as the fastest growing segment. It also lists a series of dental acquisitions since 2024 as evidence of consolidation around hardware, materials and software.

Context Vat photopolymerization is the family of processes, including SLA and DLP, that cure liquid resin with light layer by layer.

What does the forecast say?

MarketsandMarkets expects the dental 3D printing market to rise from USD 4.35 billion in 2026 to USD 10.08 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 18.3%. North America was the largest regional market in 2025, which the report links to a developed healthcare system, early adoption and the presence of many suppliers. Materials are the fastest growing product segment, with a projected rate of 21.3%.

By technology, vat photopolymerization, meaning SLA and DLP, held 61.5% of the market in 2025. The report cites resolution, smooth surfaces and biocompatible resins for crowns, bridges, surgical guides, occlusal splints and aligners. Dental laboratories are the largest end user group, ahead of clinics and academic institutions.

Which drivers and obstacles are named?

Named drivers are rising oral health awareness, a growing population and better printer hardware, software and materials. The report also says printing produces less waste than milling or manual work. Obstacles listed are regulatory hurdles, high upfront and running costs, and a shortage of skilled workers.

What do the deals and revenue models show?

The report lists SprintRay's purchase of the EnvisionTEC/ETEC dental portfolio and Pac-Dent's takeover of Ackuretta in September 2025, and Align Technology's acquisition of Cubicure, completed in January 2024 at about USD 85.8 million. LuxCreo received a strategic investment from Angelalign in October 2025. Stratasys launched its TrueDent-D denture resin in Europe in January 2025, and 3D Systems reported strong sequential dental growth in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The report reads these moves as a shift toward recurring revenue from resins, design services and subscriptions on top of printer sales, with differentiation based on application breadth, material compatibility and printer utilisation.

What it means

The figures are an analyst forecast from a promotional press release, so they indicate direction rather than a planning basis. For European dental labs and clinics, the more useful signals are that resin-based systems dominate and that materials grow fastest, which points to recurring consumable cost as the main long-term budget item. Closed material and software ecosystems from consolidating vendors can limit flexibility. Regulatory effort and skilled staff remain real constraints on timelines.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the dental 3D printing market expected to be in 2031?

MarketsandMarkets projects USD 10.08 billion in 2031, up from USD 4.35 billion in 2026, an annual growth rate of 18.3%.

Which technology leads dental 3D printing?

Vat photopolymerization, which includes SLA and DLP, held the largest share at 61.5% in 2025, according to the report.

What could slow the growth?

The report names regulatory hurdles, high upfront and operating costs, and a shortage of skilled workers.

This summary was written with the help of AI from the linked reports, under the editorial responsibility of Svetozar Kolesar.