Sirona Dental Systems

Dentsply Sirona Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Dental equipment and consumables
Founded	1993
Founder	Gendex Corporation and Dentsply International Inc. (merger)
Headquarters	Charlotte, North Carolina , United States
Area served	Worldwide (over 120 countries)
Key people	Daniel Scavilla (President and CEO, effective August 1, 2025)
Products	Dental laboratory and specialty equipment, dental consumables (anesthetics, plaque and gum disease prevention products, tooth polishing devices, artificial teeth), intra-oral flat panel sensors

Dentsply Sirona Inc. stands as a prominent American manufacturer specializing in dental equipment and consumable products, distributing its offerings across more than 120 countries and operating manufacturing plants in 21 nations. The company's foundation was laid in 1993 following a merger in which Gendex Corporation acquired Dentsply International Inc. for $590 million.

The firm develops and manufactures a broad range of dental laboratory and specialty equipment, with a particular emphasis on consumables such as anesthetics, products aimed at preventing plaque and gum disease, tooth polishing devices, and artificial teeth. It holds a significant position within the intra-oral flat panel sensor sector. Variations in product demand across regions are influenced by income levels, shaping the strategic direction of its subsidiaries.

On August 28, 2022, Simon D. Campion was named CEO and joined the board; he previously served as EVP and President of BD’s Interventional segment. In 2018, Dentsply earned the “Top Employer” certification from an organization based in the Netherlands.

The company partners with the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) to co-sponsor the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA), fostering dental research initiatives among students. Forbes ranked Dentsply Sirona #56 on its list of America's Best Midsize Employers in 2019.

Name

The name Dentsply Sirona International reflects the 2016 merger between two dental technology firms: Dentsply and Sirona Dental Systems.

Sirona Dental Systems

Sirona Dental Systems traces its origins back to 1877 in Erlangen, Germany, establishing a longstanding heritage in dental technology innovation.

1899–2000

Dentsply Incorporated originated as the Dentist's Supply Company in New York City in 1889, founded by Dr. Jacob Frick Franz, John Sheppard, and Dean Osborne with an initial capital of $10,000. Early growth included acquiring a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of porcelain teeth. Among the founders was ceramicist George H. Whiteley, whose patented platinum ring technique significantly reduced tooth breakage. The company’s research team, including Dr. James Williams, advanced denture fitting techniques, developed teeth with varied sizes, and introduced color variations tailored to different age groups.

During the 1920s, European distributor E. de Trey & Sons expanded its operations into the U.S., facilitating Dentsply’s market presence there. Competition with Ash Company resulted in merging their distribution networks into Amalgamated Dental Company Limited. By 1925, Dentists' Supply had acquired substantial shares in Zahnfabrik, a producer of artificial teeth.

To circumvent high tariffs in the United States and grow its international footprint, Dentsply began establishing foreign subsidiaries, starting with acquiring Natudryl Manufacturing in Australia. The company introduced key innovations during the 1950s and 1960s such as the Dentsply Cavitron ultrasonic tooth cleaning device and Neolux plastic teeth finishers. Reflecting its expanding global influence and brand identity, it rebranded as Dentsply International in 1969.

Significant acquisitions included LD Caulk Company (1963), Ransom and Randolph Company (1964), F&F Koenigkramer Company (specializing in chairs and stools), and notably Amalgamated Dental Industrial (1976), which controlled Australia’s largest dental supply network.

Following a reverse takeover of Gendex Corporation in 1993, Dentsply became publicly traded on the NASDAQ. It briefly owned Eureka X-Ray Inc., a medical X-ray tube supplier complementing Gendex’s X-ray system production before divesting it in 1994. That same year saw the bankruptcy of Healthco, its primary distributor within the United States.

2000–present

By 2010, Dentsply's primary revenue sources were distributed across several regions: Europe and the CIS accounted for 40%, the United States contributed 37%, Latin America represented 5%, Asia (excluding CIS and Japan) made up 5%, Canada and Japan each held 4%, the Middle East and Africa combined for 3%, and Australia comprised 2%. The company dominated the dental restorative market, which was valued at $4.0 billion.

In June 2011, Dentsply completed the acquisition of Astra Tech, the third-largest global manufacturer of dental implants, purchasing it from AstraZeneca for $1.8 billion. This strategic move boosted the company’s revenue by 25%, or approximately $535 million, with the transaction finalizing in August 2011. Following the acquisition, long-term debt surged by 147%, total assets increased by 146%, while current assets experienced a decline. Additionally, acquisition-related and restructuring expenses contributed to a 7.4% reduction in net income.

The significance of international markets grew steadily; by 2013, they accounted for 67% of total revenue, maintaining levels seen in 2012 but marking an increase compared to earlier years. In 2012, all sales growth of 16.2% was driven by acquisitions, with regional sales rising by 27.5% in Europe, 13.8% in the United States, and 15.9% in other areas. Dental products represented 88% of net sales, while consumable medical device products made up the remaining 12%.

On February 29, 2016, Dentsply merged with Sirona Dental Systems in a $14.5 billion transaction characterized as a merger of equals, uniting Dentsply’s consumables business with Sirona’s dental equipment operations.

October 2017 saw significant leadership changes when CEO Jeffrey Slovin, executive chairman Bret Wise, and president Christopher Clark all stepped down. Donald Casey Jr., previously CEO of Cardinal Health’s Medical Segment, assumed the role of CEO in February 2018.

In January 2021, Dentsply expanded its orthodontics portfolio by acquiring Byte, a company specializing in dental aligners, for $1.04 billion.

CEO Donald Casey was removed from his position in April 2022; John Groetelaars served as interim CEO until Simon Campion was appointed as permanent CEO in September of that year. Both former CEO Casey and ex-CFO Jorge Gomez are currently subjects of investigations conducted by Dentsply Sirona Inc. alongside the SEC concerning allegations of securities fraud.

In June 2023, a report from Yale School of Management highlighted that Dentsply Sirona maintained its business activities in Russia despite numerous companies withdrawing operations following the invasion of Ukraine—an action that attracted criticism for potentially supporting the Russian economy and raising questions about the firm’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

On July 21, 2025, Daniel Scavilla was announced as President and CEO effective August 1, 2025, taking over leadership from Simon Campion.

See also

• United States v. Dentsply Int'l, Inc.