Our Developments Overview

With groundbreaking, new developments in all areas of dentistry, Dentsply Sirona has been consistently at the forefront of technological progress since the invention of the first electric dental drill in 1887 and continues to set new standards in dental treatments.

Following the first electric dental drill, important inventions included the invention of the Airotor (1931), the world's first X-ray sphere (1934), the first ultrasonic scaling system (1957, Cavitron), the first CAD/CAM restoration system for dental practices (1985, CEREC), and the first digital panorama X-ray unit (1995, ORTHOPHOS Plus DS).

For more information about our innovative solutions and product development over the years, explore our Company history.

Customer Innovation

Innovation is core to our DNA. In partnership with our customers, we develop quality products that enable them to give their patients the best possible treatment and care.

We have more than 130 years of innovations that have helped transform dentistry and improve oral health globally, and currently employ >650 R&D professionals including scientists, engineers, and software developers. Some of our landmark innovations include introducing the first dental X-ray unit, inventing CEREC over 30 years ago, pioneering ultrasonic scaling, and developing the first electrical dental drill.

As we look to the future, we’ll continue investing in the digitization of our dental solutions across all clinical procedures. Our R&D activities will maintain a focus on innovations that deliver improved clinical outcomes and a better customer experience.

In the last 6 years, we’ve made innovation investments of over $600 million. We continue to innovate our offerings to bring best-in-class products to our customers, including: