In our previous article about digital dental labs, we discussed many important topics such as essential components of digital dental labs and general understanding of digital dental lab types. This article addresses each type of digital dental lab more in detail and covers pros and cons of the each.
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FULLY DIGITAL DENTAL LABS As the name implies, fully digital dental labs digitally design and manufacture dental appliances all in one place – in-house. They are considered autonomous dental appliance design and manufacturing institutions. Having everything in-house eliminates need for relying on third party businesses. Control of speed and quality of the work being done can be conducted under the same roof. Since, both digital dental design and manufacturing is all done in the same lab, virtually any kind of digital dental design can be manufactured.
Following are major pros and cons of having fully digital dental lab: PROS - Eliminates need for third party institution for any part of the design or manufacturing of dental appliances; - Relatively easy scalability; - Quality control of manufactured goods; - Opportunity to be involved in dental education; - Provide B2B (business to business) solutions to other dental labs or clinician practices; CONS - High starting and maintenance costs; - Need to have professionals who are able to work with digital dental technologies; - Need to have regular updates to software or hardware that requires additional financial investment; - Risk of broken workflow in the event of equipment failure; Based on the financial situation and goal of the dental lab, they can become fully digital or just incorporate some of the modules of digital dental lab.
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DIGITAL DESIGN DENTAL LABS This category of dental labs is limited in their manufacturing. They, however, are independent with the design of dental appliances. In such labs, once the case is received from clinician, it is digitized, and dental design is done. Then, digital dental design file is sent to outside digital manufacturing labs - milling centers, for production of the design. Often, dentist or other dental clinicians integrate such set-up into their practice. It allows them to be able to design the dental appliance the way they want. Following are some major pros and cons of digital dental design labs: PROS - Relatively cheaper start up and running costs; - No need to worry about raw material needed in manufacturing; - Usually digital design station and dental scanners are only requirement; - Can be incorporated into dental practice; CONS - Limited quality control; - Need to rely on third party manufacturing institutions for production of dental appliances; - Turn-around time is extended due to logistics of using third party manufacturing institutions; Such digital dental lab set-up is very convenient in that, it is less expensive to set-up and can be organized in office setting with no required manufacturing machinery and maintenance hardware. It is perfect start point for dental labs, who is going digital as well as dentist who want to have control over design of dental appliances. There are types of digital dental labs who are more on manufacturing side and can rapidly produce goods. We will review it next.
DIGITAL MANUFACTURING DENTAL LABS Here we focus on Digital Manufacturing Dental Labs. Focus of such dental labs is to manufacture and related activities rather than design of the appliances. Basic workflow is - to get design from client business and manufacture it to the point client wants. Digital dental technologies through computer aided manufacturing/machining is the main engine of such labs. Dental milling centers and labs who mill for other labs are some examples of such institutions. Digital Manufacturing Dental Labs are more technical and industrial in their setting. They are similar to CNC (Computer Numerical Control) industry firms, just with specialization in dental appliance manufacturing. In such labs or milling centers various kinds of manufacturing methodologies and materials are widely used. They can serve various clientele, including digital design dental labs or even dentist offices with scan and design technology. Quiet often digital manufacturing dental labs provide digital design services also.
Digital Manufacturing Dental Labs have following pros and cons: PROS - High throughput, high volume production; - Full quality control over manufacturing of dental appliances; - Serve as additional checkpoint for design flaws; CONS - Relatively High Startup and running cost; - Need to have trained professionals who have thorough technical knowledge of processes; - Depending on size, tight regulations governing manufacturing institutions apply to these also; Digital Manufacturing Dental Labs or Centers are perfect institutions, where highly skilled technical professionals control the full process of manufacturing of dental appliances. It can work as a hub for various designers and dental clinicians with design offices. Furthermore they can work as a manufacturing backup for fully digital dental labs in case of latter’s manufacturing breakage. Methodologies and practices conducted in types of digital dental labs we mentioned is subject of separate publication and will be covered in future.
Which type of digital dental labs is most efficient and which one is cheapest to set up? Comment your answers below.