When it comes to making veneers or crowns or any other form of dental porcelain, many dental practices outsource the work to external providers. Our practice takes a very different approach. We not only have an in house dental lab, but we work hand in hand with its technicians to achieve better and appropriately individualised outcomes.
In my experience, outsourcing dental ceramic work comes at a cost, both in monetary terms and quality. With this in mind, we established an in-house dental lab, complete with all of the relevant high-tech equipment onsite, including a ceramic milling machine, furnace and a burn-out machine.
The lab is run independently by dental technicians who specialise in the dental ceramics used in cosmetic dentistry, like veneers and crowns. This allows our practice to have quality control over the workmanship.
Also, by being part of our practice, our dental lab is driven by the imperative to ensure quality, as opposed to quantity. Where a client requires veneers or other forms of dental porcelain, it becomes a true collaborative effort between myself and our dental ceramists to work on the smile design and treatment.
Do I meet the ceramicist?
Yes! We’ll bring our in-house dental ceramists in to the consult to discuss the work with you. It’s important for us to make sure that everyone’s on the same page and to get our ceramists’ input from a technical point of view.
This also gives our ceramists the opportunity to examine our clients’ facial features and skin colour. This is particularly important, because the shape of veneers and crowns, for instance, need to properly fit the client; it’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our ceramist is also able to explain what is technically possible and how things will work, which often allays any concerns our clients may have about the process.
Is it quicker to have veneers or crowns made in-house?
The short answer is yes. Having an in-house lab allows us to manage parts of the process without relying on external providers, which can make the turnaround more efficient.
In some situations, certain work may be completed within a couple of days. More commonly though, veneers and crowns are ready within one to two weeks, depending on the complexity of the case.
Results, potential risks, complications, and recovery times can differ for each individual and each procedure. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. Refer to thedentalroom.com.au/risks for more information on risks and potential complications.
Before starting any treatment, we recommend seeking independent advice from an AHPRA-registered health practitioner and considering a second opinion. This content is intended for adults, is general in nature, and should not be regarded as medical advice. Individual results cannot be guaranteed.
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NEXT: Do you know your porcelain veneer ceramist?
About Dr Shawn Rama
Dr Shawn Rama is the Principal Dentist and Founder of The Dental Room, with more than 20 years of experience in general and aesthetic dentistry. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003 and has undertaken further training in aesthetic dentistry, complex restorative dentistry and dental implants. Dr Shawn is also an accredited Invisalign® Platinum Provider and a member of the Australian Dental Association. He founded The Dental Room in Balwyn North in 2016, creating a boutique practice centred around personalised, considered dental care.
