Court Decree Takes Bite out of Dentsply Marketing Practices

A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has found that York, PA-based Dentsply International has engaged in a decade of anti-competitive practices and ordered the company to end its requirement that dealers sign exclusive sales agreements, according to the Associated Press.

The court’s decision came on February 28 six years after the U.S. Justice Department filed suit in 1999. The company, which defended its practices, said it was considering a possible appeal.

Dentsply is the largest global manufacturer of false teeth and dental medical devices. It makes about 67% of all false teeth sold in the U.S. and about 75-80% of the market’s revenues, the AP reported.