FAQ
How do dentists know which lab to use?
A straight answer first, then the context behind it, from the technicians who do the work.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Dentists typically evaluate labs on three criteria: turnaround time, remake rate, and communication. A lab that ships crowns in 5-7 business days, maintains a remake rate below 3%, and routes calls directly to the technician on the case eliminates the three most common reasons dentists switch labs. Ask any candidate lab for documented numbers on all three before sending a case.
THE CONTEXT
What sits behind it
Most dentists land on a lab through referral from a colleague, then stay until something breaks. The first remake that costs them chair time, the third voicemail that goes unreturned, or a crown that ships at day 14 instead of day 7 triggers a search. At that point, the evaluation criteria sharpen fast: turnaround SLA in writing, a named technician on the case, and a remake rate the lab can back with data.
For restorative-focused general dentists and prosthodontists, shade accuracy and anterior esthetics carry extra weight. A lab running a digital color-matching workflow and calibrated studio photography eliminates a significant share of remakes before the case ships. Dani Dental photographs every case under standardized lighting and sends the image with the case note so the clinician can confirm before delivery.
For oral surgeons and periodontists managing implant cases, the evaluation adds a second layer: does the lab handle the full workflow from surgical guide through final prosthetic, or does the case move between vendors? Single-lab accountability on implant cases cuts coordination time and removes the handoff gaps that produce fit errors. Ask any lab candidate whether they mill in-house and whether the same technician tracks the case start to finish.
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How do dentists know which lab to use?
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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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