How to Choose a Dental Lab for Digital Scans
Quick answer
Scanner compatibility
The first question is the simplest: does the lab accept the files your scanner exports? If your scanner exports open files (e.g., STL or PLY), most digital labs can accept the case. The PANDA smart exports open files [VERIFY exact export formats]. Confirm the accepted formats with the lab before your first case — do not assume.
Turnaround
Ask for the standard turnaround for each case type you send — crown and bridge, implant restorations, dentures, appliances — in business days, and the rush options and any rush fees. [CONFIRM turnaround per case type with your lab.] Turnaround is not a single number; it is a schedule by case type.
Materials
Confirm the materials the lab offers for each case type — zirconia, lithium disilicate, PFM, full-contour metal, denture acrylics, appliance materials. [CONFIRM materials list with your lab.] If your material preferences are specific, confirm the lab stocks them before you commit case volume.
Case communication
How do photos, shade notes, adjustment notes and design approvals move between operatory and lab? A digital workflow should let you upload photos and notes with the scan, approve a design before it is milled, and flag adjustments in writing. Confirm the communication workflow before your first case — miscommunication is the most common cause of a remake that is not the lab's fault.
Remake policy
Ask the lab's remake policy: what is covered, what is not, and the process. Get it in writing. A clear remake policy — and an agreement on who is responsible when a case does not fit — prevents a disagreement later. [CONFIRM remake policy with your lab.]
The checklist
Before you send your first case
- Files: does the lab accept your scanner's export format? [VERIFY]
- Turnaround: standard business days per case type, plus rush options.
- Materials: confirmed for each case type you send.
- Communication: photos, notes and design approval workflow agreed.
- Remakes: policy in writing before case one.
- Pricing: [CONFIRM pricing per case type and any minimums.]
Key takeaways
- →Confirm your scanner's export format is accepted by the lab (open STL/PLY for PANDA smart).
- →Ask for standard turnaround per case type in business days, plus rush options.
- →Confirm the materials offered for each case type you send.
- →Agree the case-communication workflow — photos, adjustment notes, design approval.
- →Get the remake policy in writing before your first case.
Frequently asked questions
The Diversident Team
Diversident
The Diversident Team helps practices scan, equip and fund their growth.
Related articles
How Much Does an Intraoral Scanner Cost in 2026?
Price ranges by tier, the costs beyond the sticker, and how to read a total cost of ownership before you buy.
Read articleScannersIntraoral Scanners With No Subscription Fees
What recurring fees exist in the market, the questions to ask in writing, and where PANDA smart fits.
Read articleScannersFree Intraoral Scanner Programs: What's the Real Cost?
How 'free' lab-placed scanner programs work, the monthly minimum behind them, and an own-vs-placed comparison.
Read articleSend every scan to a lab built for digital.
Book a lab services intro call with our Lab Services Team and see how Diversident connects your scanner to the lab.
No obligation · Goes straight to the right team