Dentsply Sirona

About Dentsply Sirona

The story of Dentsply Sirona begins not as one, but as two separate companies, born continents apart in the late 19th century. In 1877, in a university town in Germany, what would eventually become Sirona Dental Systems was founded. This early enterprise focused on the mechanical side of dentistry, developing the first electric dental drill in 1887. Twelve years later, in 1899, the Dentists' Supply Company, or 'Dentsply', was established in New York City by four businessmen: Dr. Jacob Frick Franz, John Sheppard, Dean Osborne, and the ceramicist George H. Whiteley. Their initial business centered on producing high-quality artificial teeth. For over a century, the two companies grew on parallel tracks. Dentsply focused on dental consumables—the everyday materials dentists use—and expanded its global footprint. Sirona, which was spun off from Siemens in 1997, became a leader in dental technology and equipment, pioneering innovations like chairside CAD/CAM systems. While Dentsply was a leader in consumables, Sirona's strength was in high-tech dental equipment. A pivotal moment arrived in 2016 when these two industry leaders came together. Dentsply International and Sirona Dental Systems announced a merger of equals, a $14.5 billion transaction that created the world's largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies. The strategic logic was clear: combine Dentsply’s strength in consumables with Sirona’s dominance in equipment and technology. The newly formed entity, Dentsply Sirona, now offers a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for dental professionals, covering everything from anesthetics and artificial teeth to advanced digital imaging and restoration systems.