If you are a dentist, you can partner with a dental laboratory to create custom dental devices for your patients. These appliances allow your patients to improve their oral health and smile. Here is more information about the relationship between dentists and a dental lab:
Working Closely to Create Dental Appliances
As a team, dentists and dental labs work together to create dental appliances, such as crowns, implants, veneers, and dentures. To begin the process, a dentist examines a patient’s mouth and diagnoses the issue, whether it’s broken or missing teeth. The dentist takes an impression or a digital scan of the patient’s mouth and jaw to determine a suitable treatment.
The dentist sends the impression or scan to the dental laboratory along with information about the:
- Type of restoration needed
- Material to use
- Bite
- Tooth color
Once the lab receives these details, technicians create removable, fixed, and orthodontic appliances. When making these devices, labs match the required specifications so patients can get the right products. They also customize product material to suit the patient’s lifestyle or allergy restrictions.
Communicating Clearly Throughout the Process
From start to finish, a dentist and a lab communicate to avoid mistakes, reduce errors, and save time. For better results, dentists provide instructions about the design their patients prefer and how the restoration should function in the mouth. Labs can support dental specialists by advising them on which materials are used to make the devices strong and appealing.
If there’s an issue with the impression or scan, the lab informs the dentist through different channels, such as calls or case management software. Throughout the process, dentists and dental lab technicians discuss the turnaround dates for the appliances, depending on when the project started. This helps dental professionals know when to expect the product and schedule patients for fittings without delays.
Using Technology to Simplify the Process
With secure cloud platforms, both parties can share files, such as digital scans, case details, and images, for review. Using intraoral scanners, dentists take digital impressions of a patient’s mouth and send the files to the lab. To improve cosmetic matching and design accuracy, a dental expert uses digital photography to capture smile esthetics, shade matching, and soft tissue details. Qualified technicians use computer-aided design systems to create the restoration on a computer screen for better fitting results. With 3D printing, labs develop models of the patient’s teeth and print temporary products to support a patient’s oral health while the final product is being made. To repair metal components in prosthetics, laboratories use laser welding technology, which joins materials directly.
Sharing Responsibility for Quality Results
Dentists and laboratories are responsible for creating quality products that suit patients’ oral needs. To provide accurate impressions or digital scans, a dental professional evaluates the patient’s oral health, bite issues, and aesthetic goals. They also send the lab pre-treatment records or images to help them know how to create quality dental devices. Technicians use high-quality materials, such as zirconia and porcelain, to create appliances that last long and withstand regular use. Using fabrication techniques, labs verify that restorations match in terms of fit, shape, and color to function properly. Some laboratories use software tools to simulate bite and contact points digitally to prevent high spots or bite issues.
Fine-Tuning and Fit
In the final stage, the lab sends the dental devices to a dentist who checks them for high spots, mismatched shades, and incorrect margins. They also review bite, patient comfort, and stability to identify any problems that affect how restorations function. If these issues need to be changed, dentists send photos or notes to the lab.
The lab will refine or remake the devices based on the digital scans. Skilled technicians use 3D printers to rectify the restoration and use the right materials to create well-fitting products. If color was the issue, the appliances are stained or glazed to match the surrounding teeth.
Work With a Qualified Dental Lab
Dentists and dental labs collaborate to create quality and well-fitting oral appliances for patients. If you have custom orders, you can talk to qualified technicians to discuss design needs, material options, and shade matching. To learn more about sending cases, call an experienced dental laboratory today.
