What Kilgore International does

Kilgore International, Inc. is a privately held dental and medical simulation products company headquartered in Coldwater, Michigan, founded in 1955 by Charles R. Kilgore and now led by President and CEO Mike Gregory. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes lifelike typodonts, simulation teeth, manikin systems, and anatomical models used in dental education and patient consultation, serving dental schools, dental hygiene programs, dental assisting programs, dental professionals, and licensure examination candidates across the United States and Canada.

The core technology centers on multi-material composite typodonts with bi-layer tooth structures that mimic the tactile difference between enamel and dentin, a patent-pending tooth-locking mechanism ensuring precise interproximal and occlusal contacts, and a Quick Release articulator enabling protrusive and lateral movements. Flagship product lines include the 700 Series and 200 Series typodonts (priced roughly $51.50-$1,221 per system), the Darwin series of simulation manikins, in-house custom dental implant training models, and a broad catalog of replacement teeth. The company holds exclusive North American distribution rights for Nissin Dental Products (Kyoto, Japan), giving access to over 8,000 SKUs, and distributes Somso (Coburg, Germany) anatomical models.

Revenue is generated through one-time product sales via a sales-led go-to-market combining direct sales representatives, regional account managers (notably a Southeast representative), e-commerce for individual buyers, and convention presence at major dental events such as Chicago Mid-Winter, Hinman, ADEA, Yankee Dental, and AAOMS. Schools place bulk orders through a dedicated Orders email and fax channel. Following a 2015 facility expansion to a 25,000 SQ FT building with CNC capability and the 2017 acquisition of Dental Models & Designs, Kilgore now manufactures its own implant and surgical models in-house, though the broader portfolio continues to rely on distribution partnerships for typodont and anatomical products.

Name

Kilgore International

Legal name

Kilgore International, Inc.

Website

https://kilgoreinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Simulation Equipment

NAICS

Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (339114)

SIC

Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical & Dental Prototyping (Models, Guides, Pre-Op Planning) (IMAAAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dental Schools (EDAHAGAF)

Keywords

• Dental simulation models
• Typodont training systems
• Medical anatomical models
• Patient education models
• Dental curriculum products

Headquarters

HQ city

Coldwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dental and Medical Simulation Products: One-time product sales of typodonts, simulation teeth, anatomical models, manikin heads, and dental education materials to educational institutions and dental professionals. Products include 200 Series and 700 Series typodonts, replacement teeth, surgical models, and patient education models.
2. Custom Implant Models: Custom manufacturing of dental implant training models and surgical models for patient and student education, with specialization in custom implant models for patient education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kilgore International manufactures and distributes lifelike dental typodonts, replacement teeth, simulation manikins, dental implant training models, patient education models, and medical anatomical models for dental and medical schools, dental hygiene and assisting programs, and dental professionals across the United States and Canada. The company combines in-house manufacturing (including CNC capability since 2015) with the exclusive North American distribution of Nissin Dental Products, offering over 8,000 specialized dental education items.

Product overview

Kilgore International offers a comprehensive portfolio of dental and medical simulation products centered around their typodont systems. The core product lines include the 700 Series (flagship with QR articulator and enhanced realism) and 200 Series (classic) typodonts, both compatible with extensive replacement teeth catalogs including pre-prepared, bi-layer, endodontic, and caries teeth. Supporting products include Darwin Series simulation manikins, patient education models, custom implant training models (manufactured in-house since 2017), medical anatomical models from Somso, licensure exam preparation products, and typodont accessories. The company serves dental schools, dental hygiene and assisting programs, and dental professionals across the United States and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 700 Series Typodonts Flagship typodont product line featuring 32 realistic teeth with 6mm subgingival root anatomy, quick-release (QR) articulator, patented slant locking design for contact points, and compatibility with 850+ prepared teeth, caries teeth, bi-layer, endodontic, and sealant options for dental school curriculum use.
• 200 Series Typodonts Classic typodont product line with anatomical crown shapes, straight block-style roots, and compatibility with various replacement teeth options for dental education and practice.
• Replacement Teeth Extensive catalog of replacement teeth including individual teeth, pre-prepared teeth, bi-layer teeth with caries, endodontic teeth with pulp chambers, sealant practice teeth, and root plugs compatible with 200 and 700 series typodonts.
• Simulation Manikins (Darwin Series) Complete manikin systems including Darwin Sim 1 and 2, CPH System, and AM series manikin kits for dental simulation training with head mounts and articulators.
• Patient Education Models Educational models for patient consultation including cracked teeth, periodontal disease, implants, crown and bridges, orthodontic and endodontic procedure models for case presentations and dental staff training.
• Dental Implant Training Models Custom implant models manufactured in-house since 2017 acquisition of Dental Models & Designs, for patient education and student training in implant procedures, specializing in custom implant models for patient education.
• Medical Anatomical Models Medical training models including skulls, skeletons, orthopedic, ear, nose and throat, brain, heart, digestive organs, eye, extremities and joints products sourced from Somso (Coburg, Germany).
• Licensure Exam Preparation Models Products for dental board examination preparation including SRTA (Southern Regional Testing Agency) compatible teeth and models, NDEB (National Examining Board of Canada) products, and dental hygiene board examination models.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lifelike tooth simulation with hard enamel texture and authentic preparation feel
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nissin Dental ProductscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1987Partnership established in 1987 when Nissin Dental Products (Kyoto, Japan) approached Kilgore to introduce their line of dental models into North America. Nissin is described as the most advanced dental plastic manufacturer in the world offering more than 8,000 items including dental curriculum models, dental hygiene models, manikin systems, and patient educational models. The partnership transformed Kilgore from an osteological products company to a comprehensive dental simulation provider.
• Canadian Dealers (Candent, Knurling Dental)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNDEB/ACS products distributed through Canadian dealers Candent and Knurling Dental for the Canadian market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dentsply Sirona: Global dental equipment and consumables giant with a wide portfolio including dental education and simulation solutions. As a broad incumbent in dental schools, competes for share-of-wallet on curriculum equipment budgets.
• Nissin Dental Products: Kyoto, Japan-based dental simulation manufacturer offering 8,000+ items and Kilgore's exclusive North American distribution partner. Functions as both supplier and a broader incumbent whose direct global presence competes for institutional contracts outside North America.
• KaVo Kerr: Major dental equipment manufacturer (Envista) supplying simulation and training equipment to dental institutions globally. Broad incumbent offering overlapping educational products as part of a wider dental portfolio.

Regional players

• Anatomy Warehouse: U.S.-based distributor of anatomical models, skeletons, and medical/dental training tools. Regional reseller competing with Kilgore's medical anatomical model offering to educational institutions.

Others

• School Health Corporation: Supplier of health and medical supplies to schools and health professionals. Adjacent player in the institutional education supply channel that occasionally intersects with dental training supply contracts.

Direct peers

• Frasaco: German manufacturer of typodonts and dental simulation models (e.g., Frasaco Phantom Heads). Direct competitor to Kilgore's 700/200 Series typodonts, serving the same dental school and dental hygiene program market across Europe and globally.
• Columbia Dentoform: Long-established U.S. manufacturer of dental teaching models, typodonts, and patient simulation products. Direct peer serving dental schools, hygiene programs, and assisting programs with a comparable physical simulation product line.
• Anatomical Concepts: Supplier of anatomical and dental training models to medical and dental education markets. Comparable niche player competing for the same medical and dental school simulation budgets.

Emerging players

• Simodont (by Moog / Nissin): Virtual reality haptic dental trainer that represents the digital evolution of dental simulation. Already linked from Kilgore's website as a partner; competes for the same dental school curriculum budget as physical typodonts.
• True Phantom Solutions: Specialized manufacturer of anatomical and dental simulation/training models using advanced materials. Emerging competitor in the niche of lifelike training models for dental and medical education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2qQBMPWRfX8RS9Yayvp4xg
• Facebookfacebook.com/KilgoreInt
• Instagraminstagram.com/kilgoreinternational
• Xx.com/KilgoreInt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kilgore-international-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Kilgore International