What Dental Direkt does

Dental Direkt GmbH is a German manufacturer of dental CAD/CAM materials, founded in 1997 by Gerhard de Boer and headquartered in Spenge, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company began as a dental product trading firm, began in-house zirconia production in 2008, and now self-describes as Europe's No. 1 zirconia manufacturer with 160 dental specialists, 23+ million placed elements, and distribution across 80 countries. Its product portfolio centers on zirconium oxide blanks (DD cubeX² ML, DD cube ONE ML, DD Bio Z, DD cubeY HL), with adjunct offerings in polymers (DD Bio Splint P HI Class IIa PMMA), coloring liquids (DD Shade Concept, DD contrast, DD Art Elements), and a DD Solid Connect implant prosthetics system including Ti-Base 2CUT and Scanbody 2.0 with 100% KMG inspection and the DD Solid Protect guarantee (up to EUR 1,500 per implant).

The business operates a vertically integrated production model in Germany, including an in-house Technology Center (Technologiezentrum/Fräszentrum) in Melle opened in 2014 that provides CNC milling and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) services. Manufacturing relies on Multi Additive Technology for VITA shade reproduction, the DD Shade Concept liquid infiltration system, and DD Smart CAM 2.0 proprietary software, with 100% coordinate-measuring-machine inspection on implant components. Equipment resale (Medit i900 and T710 scanners, vhf milling machines, Asiga Max UV 3D printers) and Exocad-based DD Designer CAD software extend the offering across the digital dental workflow.

Revenue is generated through B2B direct e-commerce via the DD Webshop (commercial customers only, ex-VAT pricing, promotional discounts up to 45%), partner channels through the CUBE Partner program (cube-dental.com), milling services from the Melle facility, the DD Academy education business, and the warranty-tied DD Solid Protect program attached to implant component sales. Customers are primarily dental laboratories, independent milling centers, and increasingly dental practices adopting digital intraoral workflows, with documented international references in Germany, Japan, and Colombia. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors.

Name

Dental Direkt

Legal name

Dental Direkt GmbH

Website

https://dentaldirekt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dental Direkt is a German manufacturer of dental CAD/CAM materials, principally zirconia blanks plus implant prosthetics, serving dental laboratories, milling centers, and dentists across 80 countries through direct B2B e-commerce and an in-house milling center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental CAD/CAM Materials and Implant Prosthetics

NAICS

Dental Laboratories (339116), Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (339114), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

CAD/CAM Digital Design & Milling Centers (HLABAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing for Dental Prosthetics (HLABAJAF), Dental Implants & Prosthodontic Components (Implants/Abutments/Prosthetics) (HLAHAEAE), Implant Prosthetics & Abutment Fabrication (HLABAJAC), Medical & Dental 3D Printing Services (patient-specific devices, dental labs) (IMAAADAG), Ceramic & Zirconia Esthetics (Veneers/Inlays/Onlays) Fabrication (HLABAJAG)

Keywords

• Dental zirconia manufacturing
• CAD/CAM dental materials
• Implant prosthetics components
• Dental milling services
• Dental laboratory supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Spenge

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CAD/CAM Materials Sales (E-commerce): Primary revenue stream from selling zirconia blanks, polymers, 3D printing resins, coloring liquids, and dental accessories through the Dental Direkt Webshop (shop.dentaldirekt.de). The shop is the main commercial channel with stated discounts up to 45%. Prices are listed exclusive of VAT, targeting commercial customers only (dental laboratories, milling centers, dentists).
2. Milling Services (Fräszentrum): In-house milling center in Melle provides milling services for dental laboratories and milling centers across Germany and internationally. Customers send CAD designs and receive precision-milled prosthetics.
3. Dental Technologies (Equipment Resale): Resale of dental technologies including Medit intraoral scanners (i900), lab scanners (T710), furnaces, milling machines, 3D printers, and extraction systems. Offered as complete packages including hardware, software (DD Designer by Exocad), service, support, and training.
4. Implant Components (DD Solid Connect®): Sale of implant prosthetics components including Prefab abutments, Ti-Base, Ti-Base 2CUT, scanbodies, analogs, and screws compatible with multiple implant systems. Includes the DD Solid Protect® guarantee program.
5. DD Academy (Workshops and Training): Educational workshops and courses provided through DD Academy, targeting dental technicians and laboratory professionals on zirconia processing, digital workflows, and Dental Direkt product usage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Dental Direkt manufactures and sells multilayer zirconium oxide (zirconia) blanks, high-impact PMMA splint materials, and DD Solid Connect® implant prosthetics components for dental laboratories, milling centers, and dentists through its own DD Webshop. The company also resells and bundles dental technologies (Medit scanners, vhf milling machines, Asiga 3D printers, furnaces, DD Designer by Exocad software), and provides in-house milling and SLM services from its Technology Center in Melle, Germany.

Product overview

Dental Direkt is Europe's No. 1 zirconia manufacturer offering a comprehensive dental CAD/CAM product portfolio. The company operates as a complete supplier for dental laboratories, milling centers, and dentists with three main product pillars: (1) CAD/CAM Materials including multilayer zirconia (DD cubeX² ML, DD cube ONE ML, DD Bio Z, DD cubeY HL), coloring liquids (DD Shade Concept, DD Art Elements, DD contrast), and polymers (DD Bio Splint P HI); (2) Implant Components featuring the DD Solid Connect system with Ti-Base 2CUT and DD Scanbody 2.0; and (3) Dental Technologies including Medit scanners (i900, T710), DD Designer by exocad, and 3D printing solutions. The company also provides milling services through its own Technology Center in Melle, Germany, and DD Academy workshops. Key brands include DD Solid Protect warranty program and the cube partner program. Made in Germany with 25+ years in the market, 160 dental specialists, and presence in 80 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CUBE: Partner program of Dental Direkt - 'cube – Zahn der Zukunft' (cube – tooth for tomorrow). The DD partner program for dental technicians and laboratories.
• DD Journal
• DD Academy

Products and services

• DD cubeX² ML Zirconia Pre-colored multilayer zirconium oxide blank with super high translucency, designed for monolithic anterior restorations; five coordinated layers imitate dentin/enamel opacity, color, and translucency, eliminating the need for veneering. Sold to dental laboratories and milling centers via the DD Webshop.
• DD cube ONE ML Zirconia Pre-colored multilayer zirconia blank classified as high translucency plus (HT+), enabling monolithic restorations with natural color gradient from cervical to incisal. For dental laboratories and milling centers producing CAD/CAM crowns and bridges.
• DD Bio Z 3Y-TZP Zirconia Classic opaque 3Y-TZP zirconium oxide with high-strength tetragonal microstructure; now available in 8 VITA classical shades via Multi Additive Technology. Intended for maximum-strength indications, masking metal abutments (hybrid crowns), and aesthetic base for full veneer restorations. Sold to dental laboratories via the DD Webshop.
• DD cubeY HL Zirconia (Hybrid Layer) Hybrid layer zirconia combining properties of multiple zirconia types for versatile CAD/CAM applications, packed in new 100% recyclable paper-based Paperfoam packaging. Sold to dental laboratories and milling centers via the DD Webshop.
• DD Shade Concept Coloring Liquids Coloring liquid system of dentin liquids plus DD Art Elements incisal/effect liquids, optimized for DD zirconium oxides and using capillary action in pre-sintered blanks for both brush and dip techniques. Sold to dental laboratories.
• DD contrast Stain and Texture Paste System Paint color and texture paste system for efficient and aesthetic individualization of monolithic zirconia restorations, developed by Andreas Nolte (enamelum et dentinum). Sold to dental laboratories via the DD Webshop.
• DD Art Elements Effect Liquids Effect liquid color palette using a single highly pure color additive per liquid for pre-sintering characterization of fissures, gingival areas, incisal, and cervical zones; biologically harmless. Sold to dental laboratories.
• DD Bio Splint P HI PMMA Splint Blank High-impact PMMA milling blank manufactured via thermoplastic injection and embossing of medical-grade fully polymerized granules; Class IIa medical device with modulus of elasticity 2,022 MPa, fracture resistance 2,178 J/m², residual monomer content below 0.7%, bisphenol-free, and near-zero water absorption. Sold to dental laboratories for digital splint therapy.
• DD Solid Connect Implant Prosthetics System Complete implant prosthetics system (Prefabs, Ti-Base, Ti-Base 2CUT, Scanbody 2.0, Analogs, and screws) platform-cross-compatible with multiple implant systems, with all components undergoing 100% inspection via coordinate measuring machines (KMG) and optical measurement technology. Sold to dental laboratories and dentists via the DD Webshop.
• DD Scanbody 2.0 Titanium scanbody with anti-reflective surface treatment reducing scan artifacts and slim slanted-face design improving Z-axis accuracy in crowded-teeth cases; part of the DD Solid Connect system. Sold to dental laboratories.
• Dental Direkt Milling Services (Fräszentrum / Technologiezentrum) In-house milling center at the Melle Technology Center providing CNC milling, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of CoCr crowns and bridges, and 3D model printing services for dental laboratories, milling centers, and dentists who submit CAD designs and receive precision-milled prosthetics.
• DD Academy Workshops and Training Courses Workshops and courses offered by DD Academy covering zirconia processing, digital workflows (including DD Designer by Exocad), layering and aesthetic techniques (e.g., with Andreas Nolte). Open to dental technicians, laboratory professionals, and dentists at the Technology Center and partner locations.
• Medit i900 Intraoral Scanner Intraoral scanner offering superior scanning technology for dental practices, distributed as a partner product via Dental Direkt's Webshop.
• Medit T710 Lab Scanner Desktop laboratory scanner distributed via Dental Direkt's Webshop; complete-jaw scan in 8 seconds, four 5.0MP cameras, 4 μm accuracy per ISO-12836, automatic height adjustment, and open STL system; bundled with DD Designer by Exocad.
• DD Designer by Exocad (CAD Software) Branded version of Exocad's CAD software (DD Designer by Exocad), including implant module, virtual articulator, Bite Splint module, and In-CAD Nesting Module for multilayer blanks. Sold as a standalone license or as part of complete scanner-software packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23+ million zirconia elements placed in patients over the product lifetime
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MeditcoreTechnology or IntegrationDental Direkt resells Medit intraoral scanners (i900) and lab scanners (T710) as part of its dental technologies portfolio. The Medit i900 is prominently featured on the Dental Direkt website with a dedicated product page. The Medit T710 lab scanner is offered as a complete package with DD Designer by Exocad, PC, service, support, and training. Both scanner lines are integrated into Dental Direkt's digital workflow ecosystem.
• Exocad (DD Designer by Exocad)coreTechnology or IntegrationExocad's dental CAD software is offered as 'DD Designer by Exocad' — a branded version of Exocad's software integrated into Dental Direkt's technology packages. The software includes key modules such as the Bite Splint module for digital splint design and the In-CAD Nesting Module for multilayer blank positioning. Dental Direkt also offers Exocad implant libraries and virtual articulator modules.
• Komet DentalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial meets Tool: Dental Direkt and Komet Dental combine expertise in a collaboration that pairs Dental Direkt's zirconia materials with Komet Dental's precision dental tools. Referenced in the 'cube Guide' and DD journal article 'Werkstoff trifft Werkzeug: Dental Direkt und Komet Dental bündeln Kompetenzen'.
• PaperfoamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDental Direkt partnered with Paperfoam to develop 100% recyclable, paper-based packaging for its DD cubeY HL hybrid layer zirconia. The packaging is compostable and eliminates plastic waste, supporting Dental Direkt's sustainability initiative and cubiQ program.
• Andreas Nolte / enamelum et dentinumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndreas Nolte, master dental technician and founder of enamelum et dentinum (Münster), is the developer of the DD contrast® stain and texture paste system and DD Art Elements effect liquids for Dental Direkt. He is an ongoing collaborator providing workshops and courses (DD Academy) on layering and aesthetic techniques. He also serves as a product development advisor.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zirkonzahn: Italian manufacturer of zirconia blanks, milling machines, and CAD/CAM solutions for dental laboratories. Closely comparable to Dental Direkt as a vertically integrated zirconia specialist serving dental labs with materials + equipment + software + training.
• Kuraray Noritake Dental: Japanese multinational manufacturer of dental ceramics including multilayer zirconia (Katana zirconia) plus bonding agents and prosthetics. Direct overlap in zirconia blanks and CAD/CAM materials for laboratories and milling centers.
• VITA Zahnfabrik: German manufacturer of dental ceramics, VITA classical shade standards, and CAD/CAM materials. Direct competitor in zirconia and ceramic materials; also a referenced technology integration partner for Dental Direkt's shade system alignment.
• Aidite Technology: Chinese manufacturer of multilayer zirconia blocks and dental CAD/CAM materials with strong international distribution. Closely comparable in product portfolio (multilayer zirconia, coloring liquids, milling services) and a key price-disciplining competitor to Dental Direkt.
• Amann Girrbach: Austrian manufacturer of dental CAD/CAM equipment, zirconia, and digital workflow solutions for dental laboratories. Directly comparable as a zirconia-plus-milling-ecosystem supplier serving dental labs in Europe and internationally.
• vhf camfacture: German manufacturer of dental milling machines referenced as a partner of Dental Direkt. Closely comparable in dental CAM equipment market and serves many of the same dental laboratory customers with overlapping milling-machine-and-material bundles.

Broad incumbents

• Ivoclar Vivadent: Liechtenstein-headquartered broad-line dental materials and equipment manufacturer (zirconia, ceramics, prosthetics, furnaces, CAD/CAM). Competes across Dental Direkt's portfolio with much larger scale and broader product breadth; Dental Direkt resells Ivoclar furnaces as part of its ecosystem.
• Dentsply Sirona: Global dental equipment and materials conglomerate spanning implants, prosthetics, CAD/CAM, and imaging. Competes broadly with Dental Direkt across materials and equipment, and is an entrenched competitor in the implant components category Dental Direkt is expanding into.
• Straumann Group: Swiss global leader in dental implants and prosthetics. Competes directly with Dental Direkt's DD Solid Connect implant component line, though at far greater scale and with established clinical relationships.

Emerging players

• Upcera Dental: Chinese manufacturer of multilayer zirconia blocks and dental ceramics. Direct overlap with Dental Direkt's multilayer zirconia portfolio, with a similar broad product range and increasingly active international expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dental Direkt