FAQ
How to communicate restorative cases to a dental lab?
A straight answer first, then the context behind it, from the technicians who do the work.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Submit a written prescription with shade, material, occlusal scheme, and margin detail alongside diagnostic photos, a bite registration, and either a PVS impression or an intraoral scan file. For implant or complex full-arch cases, include the CBCT and a brief case narrative. Most labs confirm receipt within 24 hours; turnaround starts the moment complete records arrive.
THE CONTEXT
What sits behind it
For general dentists, the fastest path to zero remakes is a standardized case submission checklist. A prescription that specifies material (monolithic zirconia vs. layered PFM vs. pressed ceramic), shade tab used, adjacent tooth references, and any occlusal guidance issues removes the two most common reasons a case comes back: shade mismatch and contact-adjustment failure. Intraoral scans in .STL or .PLY format transmit in minutes; PVS impressions require courier coordination but remain acceptable for most restorations.
Prosthodontists and oral surgeons running full-arch implant cases need a deeper handoff. A CBCT export, surgical plan notes, and a short written narrative covering emergence profile goals and planned occlusal vertical dimension let the lab technician design abutments and frameworks proactively, not reactively. At Dani Dental, every complex case is assigned a named technician who calls or emails the referring doctor before fabrication begins, typically within one business day of case receipt.
Communication breakdowns account for a significant share of lab remakes industry-wide, not material failures. The fix is structural: use a single-page lab slip that travels with every case, keep the same technician on the account, and give that technician a direct line. Dani Dental technicians ship each case with their direct contact so adjustments and follow-up questions never route through a generic inbox.
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How to communicate restorative cases to a dental lab?
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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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