Patterson Dental pays $100m for CEREC exclusivity

The future success of CEREC is a bankable asset according to the Patterson Companies in the US who have paid Sirona a US$100 million exclusivity fee to extend its exclusive North American distribution agreement for CEREC 3D for a further 10 years.

Patterson Dental, which will also continue to provide customer support and training for CEREC equipment, has been the exclusive North American distributor since 1998. Patterson Dental's sales of the CEREC 3D system increased 39% in fiscal 2005, reflecting clinical acceptance of this new technology equipment that strengthens dental practice productivity while improving clinical outcomes. The Patterson Companies, Inc. are a value-added distributor serving the dental, companion-pet veterinarian and rehabilitation supply markets. As Patterson's largest business, Patterson Dental provides a virtually complete range of consumable dental products, equipment and software, turnkey digital solutions and value-added services to dentists and dental laboratories throughout North America.