What is a dental lab case work order?

Every case that enters a dental lab begins with a work order. For general dentists and prosthodontists, the work order is the primary communication channel between the chair and the bench. It captures patient-specific detail: arch, tooth number, restoration design, material choice (monolithic zirconia, layered ceramic, PFM), shade prescription, bite registration notes, and the required delivery date. A missing field at submission can cost a full fabrication cycle when the technician has to pause and call for clarification.

Digital workflows have changed the format but not the principle. When a dentist submits an intraoral scan through a portal like 3Shape Communicate or Dentsply Sirona Connect, the case work order is attached as a structured digital form rather than a paper Rx. The technician receives the STL files alongside the prescription in a single package. Turnaround clock starts when both arrive, which is why complete submission matters as much in a digital pipeline as in a traditional one.

For practices running higher case volumes, including small DSOs or multi-doctor offices, standardized work order templates reduce per-case variation and lab rejections. When every doctor in a practice uses the same submission format, the lab can process cases faster, flag exceptions early, and hold to stated SLA windows. At Dani Dental, each incoming work order is assigned to a named technician, who is the direct contact if a clarification is needed before fabrication begins.