A dentist and a lab can collaborate to develop custom solutions for each patient’s specific dental needs. Communication between clinical practitioners and highly skilled technicians is key to creating quality dental prosthetics. This professional relationship provides patients with improved aesthetics and function. Here are a few situations where dentists will work with dental labs:
Orthodontic Appliances
Dental labs fabricate different orthodontic devices to move teeth into proper alignment. After a patient’s orthodontic treatment, traditional wire retainers assist in maintaining the teeth’s position. Younger patients with developmental bite issues can use functional appliances to control jaw growth. Special retainers help to replace missing teeth, while space maintainers keep these gaps open when baby teeth are lost prematurely until permanent teeth arrive. Night guards will help protect your bite and keep your teeth in alignment while you sleep.
Implant Restorations
Dental labs create custom abutments that connect implants to visible replacement teeth above the gumline. The benefit of screw-retained crowns is that they can be removed if future maintenance is required. Hybrid dentures are prosthetics that include full-arch implants for individuals who have lost all of their teeth. Dental labs will shape the implant so that it fits comfortably in the patient’s jaw. They will also design a custom crown to fit over the implant abutment.
Digital Smile Designs
A digital smile design helps create harmonious and natural-looking restorations for the patient. Dental technicians use computer design tools to create an aesthetically pleasing smile for your patient. Virtual mock-ups allow patients to preview potential results before committing to treatment plans.
New restorations will blend in with existing teeth for natural results. Wax-ups are physical models that dentists use as temporary restoration guides for technicians to craft. Communication between dental offices and labs on complex cases can be simplified with digital records, as they do not have to worry about mailing physical impressions or models.
Occlusal Guards
Dental labs fabricate protective devices for nighttime grinding and clenching habits. Guards help treat unconscious grinding by distributing the pressure evenly across your jaw. Patients with extreme bruxism leading to enamel wear can benefit from the maximum protection provided by rigid acrylic splints.
Partial coverage designs protect only certain problem areas, while full coverage designs protect all of the patient’s teeth. Dental technicians will accommodate different bite forces and grinding patterns by creating guards of varying thicknesses and materials.
Surgical Guides
Surgical guides are three-dimensional printed devices that fit over existing dental structures or gums. They are beneficial when placing implants into the mouth. Patients without teeth can have mucosa-supported guides that rest directly on gum tissue. When maximum surgical precision and visibility are needed, these surgical guides help provide the desired results. Before the surgical procedure, surgeons use reference markers to verify correct guide positioning. Lab technicians create these custom guides based on the patient’s mouth shape and existing teeth.
Complex Restorative Cases
Dentists working on full mouth rehabilitation that requires numerous coordinated restorations work closely with their laboratory technicians. Labs will create crowns or veneers for the patient, depending on their needs. These crowns can be made with a variety of different materials, like zirconia or gold alloys. Dentists and technicians evaluate the shape and material to make sure the restorations are strong and aesthetic. Lab technicians can also create bridges if the patient is missing multiple teeth.
Shade Matching
Laboratory technicians use sophisticated equipment to capture a patient’s exact tooth color for natural results. Porcelain samples assist in matching subtle variations in translucency and opacity and are offered in custom shade guides. Technicians match your crowns or veneers to the patient’s existing teeth to create natural-looking results. They can also add characteristics like white spots or tobacco stains, depending on the patient’s preference.
Collaborate With Reputable Dental Labs
Dental labs work with dentists to create restorations, implants, nightguards, and more. They make sure that each of these items fits the patient’s mouth perfectly, and they will make adjustments if necessary. Finding a reputable lab is necessary to achieve better patient satisfaction. Start your search for an experienced dental lab today.