FAQ
How do I send a case to a dental lab?
A straight answer first, then the context behind it, from the technicians who do the work.
THE SHORT ANSWER
To send a case to a dental lab, complete a prescription form with shade, material, and margin notes, then ship physical impressions or upload a digital scan file through the lab's submission portal. Include any photos, models, or opposing casts the case requires. Most labs acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and confirm turnaround before fabrication begins.
THE CONTEXT
What sits behind it
Physical submissions follow a straightforward path: pour and trim models if needed, box the impression securely, enclose a completed prescription slip with shade selection, material preference, and any occlusal notes, then hand off to your courier or lab pickup route. Missing shade documentation or incomplete margin calls are the most common reasons a case stalls on day one. A prescription that takes four extra minutes to fill out completely saves a two-day back-and-forth.
Digital submissions are faster but require the same information in a different form. Export the STL or native scan file from your intraoral scanner, attach the prescription as a PDF or enter it directly into the lab's case portal, and upload. Dani Dental accepts files from iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, and Medit, and case acknowledgment comes within one business day. Clinicians sending their first digital case get a direct technician contact so scan-quality questions resolve in hours, not voicemails.
For implant and full-arch cases, the submission should also include CBCT data, implant system and component details, and any pre-op photos that inform emergence profile or vertical dimension decisions. Sending complete records at submission keeps the case on schedule. Labs that receive partial records on complex cases routinely push start dates by three to five days while waiting for the missing files.
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How do I send a case to a dental lab?
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Read the full guide on all procedures
This question is one piece of a larger workflow. The pillar page covers materials, turnaround, and how we build the case to your specification.
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