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Dental laboratory equipment encompasses the full range of systems used for manufacturing fixed or removable dental prosthetics. Whether your lab is focused on using the latest digital dental technologies for highly efficient production or time-tested techniques for maximum esthetic appeal, these systems will be critical to your ability to fabricate dental restorations. Your equipment includes everything from the bench you work at and the utilities working in the background, to the systems and machines you need to complete the highly specific tasks that allow you to produce top quality dental restorations. Having the right equipment and having it in good working order is critical to your labs operations and success.
What types of dental laboratory equipment do I need?
The answer to this question is completely dependent on what type of lab you operate and what types of restorations you want to be able to create. If you are a full service lab using a variety of techniques to produce fixed and removable restorations from a wide range of materials, then your lab will require an equally vast range of equipment, and it will make a lot of sense to look at systems that are both flexible and efficient. If you are a specialty lab focused on one restorative area, then you will want to invest in the equipment best suited to the tasks you will need to complete every day.
Just about every lab will have need for the basics such as laboratory furniture including
workbenches and
lighting, as well as
utility equipment including dust collectors and compressors. Other must haves when it comes to dental laboratory equipment include a reliable and versatile
handpiece, an
articulation system for mounting models and cases, as well as
cleaning and polishing systems for putting those final touches on restorations. Another category of dental lab equipment that can be put to use in almost any lab is a
CAD/CAM system. These digital platforms can be used for the design and fabrication of both fixed and removable prosthetics, and with a wide range of systems and components available, there is digital dental technology that can fit with and enhance the workflow of both large and small dental labs.
If your lab will be fabricating fixed restorations such as crowns and bridges there are a number of equipment systems you will need in place. Which systems you will need will depend on the processes you will use for fabrication and the materials you will be using. If your lab plans to fabricate metal restorations you will need
waxing equipment as well as investment and
casting equipment. Labs that plan to work with ceramic materials will need the right
furnace to match the materials being used.
If your lab plans to specialize in removable restorations such as dentures the equipment you will need is different because you will be working with a different set of materials and processes. Removable labs need to invest in systems designed for working with
acrylic materials, and the equipment for
curing these materials is critical as well. Regardless of the specialties of your lab, investing in the right equipment requires more than simply purchasing the correct systems.
What should I consider when purchasing equipment for my dental lab?
With the first consideration of what types of restorations you want to create settled, it’s time to take a more specific look at the needs of your dental lab. Your investments need to not just fit in the lab, but be able to be set up in an ergonomic and useful manner, so be sure to look at the size and configuration of any system you are considering makes sense for your lab’s physical layout. Another important consideration is the company behind the systems you purchase. The more complicated a technology, the more important this service will be, so be sure you will have someone available to help keep you up and running once a piece of equipment is in your lab. Finally, when purchasing new equipment for your lab, inquire about routine maintenance that you should be performing to keep your new systems working in excellent condition. With this in mind, get your search going to find the right equipment for your dental lab.
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