Services Offered by a Dental Lab

Dental implant laboratories design and manufacture various types of oral appliances to help patients improve their oral health and enhance their smiles. If you are a dentist, you can work with these labs to create crowns, dentures, and bridges for your patients. Here are some services a dental lab offers:

Fixed Restorations

Since fixed restorations are attached to pre-existing tooth structures, patients can’t remove them when eating or sleeping. A dental lab uses quality materials, such as lithium disilicate, to make inlays and onlays that aid in repairing teeth with mild to moderate decay. Technicians also design bridges for patients who have one or more missing teeth to improve their ability to chew and speak.

Veneers are made from porcelain or composite resin, and they correct issues such as discoloration, chips, or minor misalignments. This enhances the appearance of teeth. At experienced dental fabrication laboratories, technicians use porcelain-fused-to-metal or gold to make crowns that strengthen damaged or weak teeth. If you need temporary crowns, you can send a digital scan to the lab to work on the order.

Removable Prosthetics

Patients with multiple missing teeth can benefit from removable prosthetics because they improve both appearance and the ability to eat comfortably. When creating full dentures, dental implant laboratories may assess an individual’s face shape, skin tone, and tooth form to create aesthetic and functional products. Technicians also make partial dentures, which fill gaps left by missing teeth. Flexible partials are made from lightweight thermoplastic material and offer increased comfort for those wanting to replace one or more missing teeth.

For individuals who grind their teeth, orthotic laboratories can create custom nightguards. These labs also produce sports mouthguards to protect athletes during activities like running, boxing, or other sports. Many removable appliances come in various colors and thicknesses to meet different patient needs, whether durability or comfort is the priority.

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Implant Services

Dental labs plan and fabricate implant crowns and bridges to replace missing teeth and restore function. They also manufacture implant overdentures, which are more stable than traditional dentures and can be removed for cleaning. Using computer-aided design systems, labs produce high-quality and well-fitting implant crowns, abutments, and full-arch restorations.

To place an order, you can use an intraoral scanner to capture impressions of the patient’s mouth and send them to a lab. Technicians review the individual’s jaw structure, bite, and oral anatomy before beginning work on the implants. Once completed, the lab sends the implants for you to evaluate their fit by checking bite and alignment.

Orthodontic Appliances

Dental labs create a variety of orthodontic appliances, including clear aligners that apply gentle, controlled pressure to move and straighten teeth into proper positions. These devices are for patients who need gradual correction of misaligned teeth to enhance both appearance and function. Labs also create retainers, which help maintain teeth alignment after braces or aligners are removed.

You can order expanders designed to widen the upper jaw, addressing bite issues, creating space, and improving alignment. Whether fixed or removable, these appliances help correct moderate to severe crowding or crossbites. Labs may also fabricate space maintainers to keep gaps open for permanent teeth when baby teeth are lost prematurely.

Work With an Experienced Dental Lab

Using advanced technology and high-quality materials, a dental restoration lab produces a wide range of devices to support patients’ oral health. They manufacture veneers, night guards, sleep apnea appliances, and many other dental products. These professionals also conduct thorough quality control to minimize issues like frequent remakes and time-consuming adjustments. Contact a reliable dental lab today to learn more about their services, ordering process, and turnaround times.