Dental laboratories have the technology and skills required to fabricate custom appliances and prosthetics used in restorations. They also offer professional insight on impressions, material selection, and color matching. Partnering with dental labs allows you to provide your patients with high-quality appliances and adjustments. Here’s how dental laboratories contribute to aesthetic restorations:
Custom Fabrication
You can partner with dental labs to fabricate prosthetics like crowns, bridges, veneers, and dentures. Labs also manufacture custom abutments, inlays, mouthguards, splints, and more. They use high-quality materials and precise techniques to create detailed restorations. Each appliance is customized to your patient’s needs using the specifications you provide. The labs can match your patient’s tooth color, shape, and alignment, resulting in natural-looking prosthetics. Material options include porcelain, zirconia, composite resin, and metal.
The labs have experienced dental technicians to help you select the right material for your patient. High-quality materials offer the strength, color matching, and translucency required for natural aesthetics. Labs work closely with your dental office to achieve precise restorations that blend seamlessly with your patient’s natural teeth. They can help you take accurate impressions and scans for high-quality, comfortable prosthetics that fit your patient’s oral anatomy.
Digital Manufacturing
Dental laboratories use advanced technology like computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). CAD and CAM systems involve high-precision, three-dimensional scanners that provide high-quality images of your patient’s oral anatomy. Detailed scanning shows precise contours, fits, and shades, resulting in accurate restorations. Labs can also use traditional mold impressions, but digital scanners offer high precision without triggering the patient’s gag reflex. The results are stored digitally, so they won’t get chipped or damaged by heat or accidental drops. Digital impressions are sent and received instantly via email, eliminating the need to send physical models.
You can mail the lab all the instructions and digital scans they need to start working on fabrications and adjustments. Computer-aided design and manufacturing also minimize human error because scanning and printing follow precise instructions. Manufacturing involves technologies like 3D printing, which is used for rapid prototyping and fast turnarounds. Three-dimensional printing also allows labs to produce highly detailed dental models. Digital smile design also enables you to design and visualize the smile before prosthetics are fabricated. Changes can be made digitally to achieve the desired aesthetics.
Prosthetic Adjustments
Dental restorations may involve modifying or repairing partials, dentures, bridges, crowns, and other prosthetic devices. Such adjustments help to enhance comfort, functionality, and fit, which require a short turnaround. Partnering with a lab allows you to correct minor issues like loose dentures, discomfort, and bite alignment problems. The labs offer various adjustments, including smoothing pressure points and sharp edges and fine-tuning bite alignment. They also reline dentures for an improved fit. Timely prosthetic adjustments help contribute to enhanced patient satisfaction.
Labs also provide repairs for cracked, chipped, or broken prosthetics. They repair cracked dentures, replace broken teeth, or add extra teeth if necessary. You can send them crowns and bridges with loose pieces or chipped porcelain. Other repairs include fixing broken frameworks or clasps in partial dentures. The labs follow a strict quality protocol to provide safe, durable, and comfortable prosthetics. Prosthetics are subjected to thorough evaluation to meet the requirements for strength, durability, comfort, and aesthetics. Labs are also available throughout the treatment process, making necessary adjustments and refining restorations to help your patients achieve their desired outcomes.
Find Reliable Dental Labs Today
Collaborating with a dental laboratory gives you access to a state-of-the-art facility and experienced technicians. The lab can handle all fabrications, adjustments, and repairs for prosthetics, allowing you to focus on treating your patients. Contact reputable dental labs today to find out more about their services and processes.