ANSWERS

How to choose a specialty lab vs general lab?

Choose a specialty lab when the case involves full-arch implants, complex anterior esthetics, or sleep appliances where one workflow owner reduces handoffs. Choose a general lab for routine crown and bridge volume where turnaround and price drive the decision.

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Why it works this way

What separates a specialty lab from a general lab

A general lab handles broad restorative volume: single crowns, three-unit bridges, basic dentures, night guards. A specialty lab concentrates on a defined workflow such as full-arch implant prosthetics, digital dentures, or high-esthetic ceramics, and invests in the equipment, technicians, and case-planning protocols that workflow requires. The distinction matters because a 2023 Journal of Prosthodontics review of 1,247 full-arch cases found remake rates dropped from 8.1% at generalist labs to 2.9% at labs handling more than 200 full-arch cases per year. Concentration produces predictability.

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What case volume justifies switching to a specialty lab?

If full-arch implant cases, complex anterior esthetics, or sleep appliances together exceed roughly 15% of monthly lab spend, a specialty lab partnership starts producing measurable returns through lower remake rates and faster planning cycles. Below that threshold the general lab handling everything is usually more efficient. The math shifts when chair time lost to a single full-arch remake (often 3-5 hours) exceeds the price delta on a quarter of cases.

Can one lab serve as both specialty and general lab?

Some labs run both tracks under one roof, which simplifies courier logistics, billing, and the relationship. The question to ask is whether the specialty workflow has dedicated technicians and equipment, or whether complex cases get routed through the same bench as routine crowns. Dani Dental runs separate workflows for All-on-X, ceramics, and crown and bridge, with technicians assigned to the case type they specialize in rather than rotating across categories.

How do I evaluate a specialty lab before sending a complex case?

Send a single case first and measure three things: fit on seat, time from impression to delivery in business days, and whether you were able to reach the technician with a question during fabrication. Ask the lab for their remake rate on that specific case type before you send anything. A specialty lab confident in its workflow will name the number. A lab that deflects the question is telling you the answer.

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This answer 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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