Dental health crosses into other niche areas with novel treatments
Implications - Wearable technology and the rise in the health wave are responsible for a surge in innovation within dental health. A recent development in this area is extremely niche -- sometimes even odd -- approaches to oral care that converge multiple concerns or introduce new ones altogether. This is a response to the consumer attitude to seek problems regarding health, as opposed to hone in on one singular solution or issue.
Workshop Question - In what ways can you brand adapt your products or services to be more outside-the-box in aesthetics and design without compromising functionality?
Trend Themes
1. Niche Oral Health Innovations - The rise in wearable technology and focus on health has led to innovation within dental health with extremely niche or odd approaches to oral care that converge multiple concerns or introduce new ones altogether.
2. Smart Mouth Guards - Developing mouth guards that utilize embedded technology and sensors to track data and monitor hydration levels or analyze impacts and detect concussions provide disruptive innovation opportunities for athletic wearables.
3. Cavity Detection Technology - Using technology such as the Ortek ECD, which uses an electrical impulse to detect breaks in the enamel, provides dental professionals with more comprehensive data and opportunities to detect early signs of cavities, potentially preventing issues from progressing.
Industry Implications
1. Wearable Technology - Business professionals in wearable technology space have new opportunities in developing niche oral health innovations and smart mouth guards.
2. Sports Equipment - Developing smart mouth guards embedded with technology to monitor hydration and impact levels provides disruptive innovation opportunities for the sports equipment industry.
3. Dental Technology - Cavity detection technology, such as the Ortek ECD, provides an opportunity for the dental technology industry to develop more comprehensive monitoring and detection tools for cavities.
