Effective Communication with the Laboratory
Behind every exceptional dental restoration lies a productive collaboration between the clinician and the dental technician. The dental laboratory receives the clinician's instructions, models, scans, and photographs — and transforms them into the final restoration that the patient will wear for years or decades. The quality of this communication directly determines the quality of the result.
What Information Does the Laboratory Need?
Creating a restoration that is precisely fitted, correctly coloured, and naturally shaped requires comprehensive information transfer:
Digital scan or impression: Accurate dimensional data is the foundation. At Smilecraft, we use digital intraoral scanning to provide the laboratory with exact 3D data.
Shade guide and photographs: Tooth colour is not a single value — it varies across the tooth from gingival to incisal edge, and the translucency, surface texture, and lustre must be matched to adjacent teeth. We use calibrated shade guides and standardised clinical photographs to communicate this information.
Occlusal data: The bite relationship (how the patient's upper and lower teeth meet) must be recorded and communicated to ensure the restoration does not interfere with the patient's natural bite.
Clinical instructions: The material choice, margin design, contact points, and any special requirements are communicated via a detailed laboratory prescription.
Digital Workflow Advantages
The shift to digital workflow has significantly improved laboratory communication. Digital scans can be shared instantly and precisely. CAD designs can be reviewed and modified collaboratively before fabrication begins, eliminating the need for remake due to misunderstanding.
At Smilecraft, we work with highly experienced certified dental laboratories and maintain a relationship of ongoing dialogue throughout each case. We believe that the clinician-technician team is as important as any individual technique or material in producing outstanding prosthetic results.
