How do I send a digital scan to a dental lab?

The export step is where most workflow delays originate. Every major intraoral scanner outputs STL by default, but some restorative cases, particularly full-arch implant work, benefit from including the scanner's native file format alongside the STL so the lab's CAD team can reference occlusal dynamics without rebuilding them manually. Confirm with your lab which formats they prefer before the case is seated, not after the scan is already done.

Dani Dental accepts digital submissions through a dedicated case portal with a same-business-day acknowledgment window. Cases submitted before 2 p.m. MST are logged, reviewed, and assigned to a named technician the same day. If the file has an issue, like a soft-tissue artifact over a margin or a scan gap in the posterior, the technician on the case contacts the submitting office directly, usually within two hours, rather than routing a generic rejection notice.

For practices running 10 or more monthly implant cases, a structured digital intake protocol reduces average case touch time by eliminating the back-and-forth that happens when scan files arrive without complete Rx documentation. The Dani Dental Doctor Kit includes a one-page digital submission checklist covering file format, Rx fields, shade photo requirements, and CBCT attachment guidelines, so the first submission goes in clean.