A Morgan Stanley analyst issued a warning to investors Dec. 5 regarding Amazon's move into the dental industry, CNBC reports.
Amazon is purchasing supplies from Dentsply Sirona, a York, Pa.-based dental equipment and supplies manufacturer, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Steve Beuchaw. The agreement could enable Amazon to deliver medical devices directly to dentists and physicians.
"We have new evidence that Amazon is accessing critical products from Dentsply Sirona," Mr. Beuchaw wrote. "While Amazon makes up a small share of average total spending both backward (4 percent) and forward looking (5 percent), it was used by 34 percent of practitioners in our survey in the last year suggesting it is making inroads into many practices."
Shares of competing dental supply distributors dropped Dec. 6. Melville, N.Y.-based Henry Schein shares fell by 5 percent and shares of Saint Paul, Minn.-based Patterson Co. fell by 4.7 percent, according to CNBC.
In a statement issued to CNBC, Amazon responded, "We don't comment on individual relationships, but Amazon Business customers have a choice of products from numerous dental suppliers and manufacturers."