All-Digital Dentistry for Labs: Everyday Cases, Faster Turnarounds, and What to Stock

“Fully digital” isn’t a trend—it’s the default for labs that want consistent fits, fewer remakes, and shorter chair time for their doctors. Below is a practical map of which cases are routinely digital today, how the workflow changes, and the core materials a lab should keep on hand to run smoothly.

Why “digital” is now the baseline

Digital intake (IOS/CBCT), CAD design, and CAM milling/printing make planning clearer, contacts and occlusion more predictable, and delivery faster than analog methods. The payoff is tighter results, smoother communication with clinics, and far less rework.

What’s routinely digital in day-to-day lab work

Crowns & bridges. Scans in, CAD for contours/contacts, CAM to mill zirconia or lithium-disilicate, sinter and finish; PMMA for temps and try-ins. The result is more consistent seating with minimal adjustment.

Dentures (full/partial). Digital try-ins and libraries compress appointments and improve fit. Printed bases or milled solutions help standardize esthetics and occlusion—even in complex cases.

Implants & surgical guides. Merged CBCT + IOS supports safer, more predictable planning. Guide fabrication (print/mill) de-risks osteotomies and positions fixtures as planned; frameworks and long-term temps follow the same digital path.

Clear aligners. Digital setups and staged models streamline production for in-house or partner workflows and make case acceptance easier for clinics that already scan.

Night guards & splints. Scan, CAD, mill/print, polish. A clean digital pipeline produces smooth, glossy surfaces that are kind to opposing dentition and simple to adjust.

Sleep apnea devices (MADs). Digital protrusive setups and device fabrication reduce variability; good scans and design rules drive fit and comfort.

Wellness/monitoring scans. Baselines and periodic re-scans help clinicians visualize change, guide acceptance, and catch issues early—while giving labs consistent inputs for repeatable work.

Stock list for an all-digital lab

• Zirconia discs: balance translucency vs. strength by indication; multilayer saves finishing time.
• PMMA discs: provisionals, try-ins, splints, surgical guides.
• Titanium Grade 5 discs: custom abutments, bars, robust frameworks.
• Implant components: Ti-bases, analogs, screws, verification tools.
• Finishing & adjustment: fine diamond burs, zirconia adjustment stones, rubber polishers, diamond polishing paste (1–3 μm), felt/goat-hair wheels.
• Wax discs & accessories: mockups, occlusion checks.

Implementation tips that actually help

Keep libraries current
Implant platforms, tooth libraries, and material profiles.

One lot per case
Match zirconia shrinkage to the kiln program; don’t mix lots.

Standardize polishing on zirconia
Pre-polish → diamond paste to mirror finish (gentler on antagonists than rough glazing alone).

Tighten the lab–clinic loop.
Clear reduction guides, stump shade data, and bite records cut chairside adjustments and remakes.

Quick FAQ

What does “fully digital” change for crowns and bridges?
Consistent fits, fewer chairside adjustments, and faster deliveries when scans drive CAD/CAM.

Do digital dentures really reduce visits?
Digital workflows can compress the appointment count versus analog, with improved fit when scan data and design libraries are used correctly.

How do surgical guides help new implant providers?
They translate CBCT/IOS planning into more predictable osteotomies and placement, improving outcomes.

Is polishing better than glazing on zirconia?
A high polish often maintains smoothness longer; it’s kinder to opposing enamel than a rough surface.

What should a lab stock to support “all-digital”?

• Zirconia milling discs: Zirconia 9-Layer, Super HT Pre-Shaded, Super HT, High Strength
• PMMA: PMMA Monolayer Discs, PMMA Clear Discs, PMMA Pink Discs
• Titanium discs
• Implant components
• Finishing kits