Thanks @madamswer for your recent detailed analyses of SDI. Your...

Thanks @madamswer for your recent detailed analyses of SDI.

Your latest post struck a chord with me when you reference the quality of the product offering itself.  Those same products where significant amounts of our R&D dollars have been spent.  This is the one area where I have somewhat nagging questions in the back of my mind.  (Perhaps only a symptom of my investing paranoia).  

In my limited attempts at product research when I initially took a position in SDI some time ago, I read through several "research" papers investigating the benefits of different branded dental products in the ceramics, ionomer space.  From a lay-persons PoV the studies came across almost as pseudo-marketing material.  I.e. Different studies seemed to tout the benefits of their own products, with each stating statistical advantages for that product in question on different aspects.  (E.g. Longevity, cracking, etc).  So no real confidence either way as to the product itself.   I like @Fire Bull 's approach of looking at industry awards as a novel approach I didn't think of.

The next step in my limited product research was to consult my own dentist, part of a large dental group in The Sydney CBD.  Anecdotal evidence not to be relied upon but  my initial thoughts were that an Australan practice would no doubt be fertile ground for SDI-use.  Unfortunately he stated the practice used a Japanese group's products (sorry my memory escapes me which one) and his initial thoughts on SDI were "oh they're mostly amalgam".  On my latest visit his impression was SDI ionomer a were really only for a subset of dental uses "and anyway we're very happy with our current provider".  My kids dentist (suburban dental practice) also doesn't use SDI although I couldn't really get into a discussion with him in the waiting room.  So 0/2 in Australian practices but take with a grain of salt, anecdotal evidence has no statistical power.

So the question for me is to try to assign probabilities as to whether SDI really has a superior product or whether our R&D dollars are being spent in order to stand still vs our competitors and compare that to the current "what looks like cheap" price being offered by Mr. Market.

Just my 2c worth.