Mitsui Chemicals is moving to strengthen its position in digital dentistry by integrating its dental 3D printing business in Japan with subsidiary Sun Medical Co, creating a unified platform spanning research, development, manufacturing and sales.
The integration will bring together Mitsui Chemicals’ dental 3D printing operations and selected dental materials businesses in Japan with Sun Medical, which the company has identified as the core organization for its dental 3D printing business going forward.
Kulzer Japan Co will transfer its 3D printer and 3D printing materials business to Sun Medical as part of the restructuring. The move will consolidate Japan-based capabilities across the entire value chain — from the development and production of printing materials to the sales of printers and related products — under a single organization.
Mitsui Chemicals said the integrated structure will allow the company to respond faster to market needs and strengthen collaboration between product development and dental professionals.
Digital dentistry has been rapidly expanding, with 3D printing technology gaining attention as a potential solution to Japan’s growing shortage of dental technicians. The technology is expected to help reduce workloads, shorten manufacturing times and improve consistency in dental production.
The Mitsui Chemicals Group has been advancing the development, manufacturing and sales of dental 3D printers and printing materials globally. In 2017, the group became the first company in the world to receive FDA certification for 3D-printed total denture materials and has continued developing products aligned with evolving market demands.
In Japan, momentum for dental 3D printing accelerated after the first domestically produced 3D-printed full denture fabrication materials were approved for reimbursement under the national public health insurance system in 2025. The applicable range of full dentures was expanded in June 2026, further driving adoption of the technology.
Through the integration, Mitsui Chemicals expects closer collaboration with dental professionals to speed up research and development, accelerate commercialization of market-driven products, and improve outcomes for both patients and dental providers.
The company said the move is part of its broader strategy to build a high-profitability, highly efficient oral care business as the third major pillar of its Life & Healthcare Solutions business.
