You made the investment. You bought the intraoral scanner, trained your team, and started sending digital impressions. The promise was simple: better accuracy, faster turnarounds, happier patients. And in many cases, that promise has been delivered.
But if your restorations aren't coming back better than they were with traditional impressions, the problem might not be your scanner — it might be your lab.
Not All Labs Handle Digital Files the Same Way
Here's what a lot of dentists don't realize: not all labs handle digital files the same way. Some labs accept your STL files and then... print a model and fabricate traditionally anyway. Others use automated CAD software with minimal human oversight, letting algorithms make design decisions that really should involve a trained eye. And some labs simply aren't equipped to handle the nuances of digital workflows at all.
Our Connect 3D Digital Workflow
At Designer Dental Lab, we've built our digital workflow — Connect 3D — around a simple principle: technology should enhance craftsmanship, not replace it. When you send us a digital scan, our technicians review it thoroughly before design begins. We check for scan completeness, margin clarity, and occlusal accuracy. If something looks off, we let you know before we start — saving you a remake down the road.
CAD Design with an Artisan's Eye
Our CAD designers work with the digital model the way a wax-up technician works with stone — with intention, artistry, and an understanding of how the final restoration needs to function. We don't just accept the software's default contours. We sculpt anatomy, refine contacts, and ensure that the emergence profile matches the natural dentition.
Tips for Better Digital Scan Results
A few tips to get the best results from your digital workflow: First, make sure your scans capture adequate tissue retraction around the margins. Second, scan the opposing arch completely — partial opposing scans lead to occlusal guesswork. Third, communicate with your lab. A digital Rx form with detailed notes is just as important with scans as it was with PVS impressions.
Your scanner is a powerful tool. But like any tool, it's only as good as the hands on both ends — yours in the operatory, and ours in the lab. When both sides are invested in quality, digital dentistry delivers on every promise.