A digital dental lab that works from your intraoral scan
Export your scan, attach the Rx, and approve the design if you want to. Your restoration is milled by an FDA-registered partner lab in China and checked by our team before it ships to your practice.
- Files accepted
- STL or PLY: both arches + bite
- Scanners
- iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, Medit, Primescan and others with open export
- Typical door-to-door time
- 8–12 business days for crown & bridge
- Design approval
- Optional, before milling
How a digital case works
- Scan and export. Capture both arches and a bite. Export STL or PLY from your scanner software, or send the case through your scanner's lab connection if it supports one.
- Send the files with your Rx. Tooth numbers, material, shade, margin notes and any contour or contact preferences. Photos of the prep and adjacent teeth help with shade.
- Design and review. A CAD designer models the restoration. We flag thin clearance, unclear margins or missing information within one business day instead of guessing.
- Mill, sinter, finish. Zirconia is milled and sintered; lithium disilicate is pressed or milled; esthetic cases are stained or layered.
- QC and ship. Fit, contacts and occlusion are checked against the model and your Rx, then the case ships by tracked express courier.
What makes a scan lab-ready
- Margins fully captured and visible: retract or pack cord where needed.
- Opposing arch and bite scanned, not left out.
- Adjacent teeth complete enough to set contacts.
- For implants: the scan body seated and fully captured, with the implant system and platform named on the Rx.
The most common reason a digital case is delayed is an unclear margin. If we can't see it, we ask before we design, rather than guessing.
Digital vs. physical impressions
| Digital (STL/PLY) | Physical impression | |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping to the lab | None: files upload instantly | Courier to the lab adds several days |
| Model accuracy | Depends on scan quality | Depends on material and handling |
| Design preview | Available before milling | Possible after the model is scanned |
| Best for | Single units, short spans, implants | Cases you can't scan reliably |
Questions dentists ask
What file formats does a digital dental lab need?
Upper and lower arch scans plus a bite registration, exported as STL or PLY, together with a written Rx that states tooth numbers, material, shade and margin notes.
Do digital cases arrive faster than impressions?
Yes. A digital case skips the inbound shipping leg, so only the finished restoration ships. Digital crown and bridge cases are typically delivered within 8–12 business days door to door.
Can I approve the design before milling?
Yes. On request we send design screenshots or a viewer link so you can check margins, contacts and occlusion first.
Should patient names be in the files?
No. Use a case number on files and the Rx. We work with de-identified cases and never need patient names to make a restoration.
Try one digital case
Send a scan you'd normally send to your current lab and compare fit, contacts and shade yourself.