The friendly takeover is Straumann`s largest to date and will position the group as a “one-stop shop” by providing solutions such as bone augmentation as well as implants and prosthetics, the firm said. “Overall it is a positive strategic move. They are copying the strategy of other major competitors, such as Nobel Biocare, by providing both implants and prosthetics,” said Vontobel analyst Christoph Gubler. Straumann has struggled to match Nobel`s presence in the U.S., where fewer dentists have used implants than in Europe, making it one of the fastest-growing markets for dental implants.
Munich-based Etkon is a leader in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), which uses computers to scan models of patients` mouths to provide customized bridges and crowns, using ceramics.