A dental lab can help you provide custom dentures, veneers, implants, and even devices to help with snoring. The labs invest in state-of-the-art equipment and technology that allows them to provide high-quality dental prosthetics. They also hire experienced technicians and use high-quality materials. Here are a few customization options available through collaborations with laboratories:
Partial and Full Dentures
Some dental practices receive requests for partial dentures, which are a common treatment option for addressing tooth loss. Partial dentures and flippers offer temporary solutions that can be worn while clients wait for full restorations and implants. They create a more aesthetic smile and also restore functions, such as speaking and chewing. Dentists provide full dentures to clients who have lost most of their teeth. Dentures must be personalized to achieve a comfortable fit. Before fabrication, take accurate impressions of the client’s oral structures. Labs work with both traditional bite molds and digital impressions captured using advanced intraoral scanners.
Technicians make dentures from various materials, including acrylic resin and nylon. You can collaborate with labs to identify the right materials and fabricate durable dentures. Acrylic offers structural strength and adjustability, while nylon polymers are lightweight, enhancing comfort and aesthetics. Dental lab technicians customize dentures based on your instructions and the Rx information. They also provide ongoing support to help adjust and repair dentures.
Braces and Smile Shapers
Braces come in many forms, including traditional metal brackets, white ceramic brackets, and invisible Invisalign trays. Each option has unique benefits, and labs can customize them to meet your clients’ needs. Labs have the equipment and trained technicians needed to fabricate Invisalign trays for the full treatment and handle any adjustments or repairs. Labs also have large facilities and teams that can provide quick turnarounds for new prosthetics and adjustments. Clients who don’t want to undergo brace treatment or advanced smile-restoration procedures may choose wearable shapers. Also known as Snap-On Smiles, these solutions allow users to improve their appearance with products that snap onto existing teeth. They help conceal a tarnished or crooked smile, and are ideal for patients seeking instant, non-invasive cosmetic improvements. They can be digitally designed for a precise fit and natural appearance, with labs customizing the shade and shape.
Custom Abutments and Orthodontics
Laboratories offer custom abutments designed to support single or multiple restorations. The abutments are cast and milled to provide stability and long-term retention. Labs use materials such as titanium and zirconia, which offer strength and improved aesthetics in anterior regions. They also provide various material options for overdentures supported by custom abutments. These overdentures improve function and comfort while helping to preserve oral tissue health.
Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology enables the creation of precise abutments that integrate seamlessly within the implant framework. Labs also produce custom orthodontic appliances such as mouthguards, nightguards, splints, and space maintainers. Depending on the case complexity, they work with both digital and printed models. Digital designs provide greater control over fit and stability, while printed models support verification and alignment adjustments. All custom abutments and orthodontic devices are fabricated from high-quality, approved materials to verify long-term comfort and durability.
MADs and Sleep Apnea Devices
Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) offer an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. These devices are designed to address mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. The oral appliances reposition the client’s lower jaw slightly forward to prevent airway obstruction during sleep. MADs are worn inside the mouth, like splints and removable dentures. Fabricating them requires accurate impressions of the oral cavity and its structures. Labs customize the devices from high-quality dental impressions taken by intraoral scanners, resulting in secure, comfortable fits. Labs also use advanced engineering and precision manufacturing to produce dental prosthetics and devices with consistent comfort and performance. Partnering with a laboratory enables your dental practice to expand its services to include MADs and other oral devices.
Find a Dental Lab Today
Fabricating dental prosthetics and devices requires a fully equipped laboratory, experienced teams, and high-quality materials. Working with a lab reduces the need to hire in-house lab technicians when demand for custom treatments increases. Whether your clients need dentures, crowns, bridges, or implants, labs can support the treatment. Contact a dental lab today to find out more about their services.
