Show l rail t PROSPECTS FAVORABLE FOR FOn DENTAL INDUSTRY Good growth for the dental equipment supply equipment supply Industry seems assured because of a sizable number number of plus factors Perhaps foremost is the rapid progress being made by dental insurance Not many years ago only about 45 million people inthe in inthe inthe the US U.S. were covered by such insurance But by the end of 1974 the figure had risen to about 25 million and by 1980 Itis it itis itis is expected that 60 50 million will have some form of dental insurance In large part the rapid expansion can be attributed attributed at at- to the increasing number of important labor contracts that include it as a fringe benefit Even if such rapid growth does occur by 1980 however there would still be about three- three quarters of the population not covered by dental insurance Hence there is r obviously an impressive potential for further extension in this field OTHER POSITIVE FACTORS The gain in dental insurance is not the only plus as far as tl this s industry is concerned Other factors that signal further good progress include Rising personal incomes j new product developments j increased education furthering awareneSs awareness of the need for proper dental care and a mounting international international international in in- market which is expected to expand at a rate of at least 15 percent each year Up to this point most of the domestic dental equipment equipment- supply firms have not made any any important inroads into foreign areas Another Mother important favorable factor for this industrial group could be the passage of a national health insurance ins ins' i n program at some future date With Jimmy Carter soon to become the new Chief of State the chance that such a program will be adopted has considerably considerably considerably con con- brightened Un J-Un-f Undoubtedly Un- Un any such health plan plan- a if it becomes a reality will incorporate dental benefits 3 A GROWING INDUSTRY jj Over the past decade dental 1 equipment sales ha have ve increased by an estimated 12 10 percent annually while sales of dental supplies have moved ahead at atan atan atan an even more rapid rate It is generally expected that in incoming incoming incoming coming years annual domestic shipments sl of dental equipment and supplies will grow a at tara a rate te of some 15 12 percent per year wl while le the advance overseas should be even more pronounced There are currently about practicing dentists in the US U.S. but several thousand of these are engaged in teaching research and administration rather than in treating patients Graduate schools however are are turning ng out approximately dentists annually so the need for dental equipment and and supplies for setting up a practice is growing steadily Much of future demand will center on new products with time saving features and or those designed to reduce pain generally associated with dental work I TilE THE COMPANIES There are only a few publicly owned firms with major interests in in the dental equipment field In this group are Dent Dent- Den Tal Den Tal-Ez Tal and But there are also many well-known well companies producing dental equipment though their major interests are in other lines Among them are American Hospital Supply Esmark Hospital Supply Johnson Johnson Litton Narco Scientific and some leading pharmaceutical companies Although the Research Department of Babson's Reports regards both Esmark and Narco Scientific as attractively at priced for purchase those wishing ng to buy the stock of ofa a company with a substantial interest in the dental field could consider Corp This firm which produces a wide line of dental equipment and supplies appears to have a very bright future For a free copy of a report on this attractive company readers of this column may write to Babson's Reports Inc Wellesley Hills mils |