Dental implants act as replacements for damaged or missing teeth to complete a patient’s smile. They are fixed restorations, meaning that they are attached to existing structures and cannot be removed by a patient. Mabel Dental manufactures fixed restorations, including dental implants. Here is more information about how a dental lab makes implants:
Digital or Physical Impressions
As part of ordering implants from a dental lab, a dentist sends digital or physical impressions of the patient’s mouth. These scans allow the lab to create 3D digital models or sculpt recreations of the missing teeth and create molds. Depending on the type of intraoral scanner they have, dentists can send the lab digital impressions from their scanners. Our lab uses a digital workflow. This has helped us lower the amount of crown remakes to fix fit issues. Dentists can upload raw STL files on our website, eliminating the need to convert them.
Dentists can send prescription Rx forms by stapling them to the outside of the bag with the case or sending the digital form. Prescription Rx forms allow the dentist to select the material and shade for the crown and abutment. The lab is able to provide more information about the implant materials and help dentists choose materials according to the patient’s dental needs. This may include hypoallergenic options. Mabel Dental offers an Rx form specifically for fixed implant cases.
Crown Manufacturing
The lab will create the dental crown, or the part of the tooth that is above the gums. Crowns can be milled from the dentist’s selected tooth material. Labs such as Mabel Dental offer a variety of materials to manufacture crowns. These materials include:
- Ceramics: Ceramic crowns are made out of monolithic lithium. This high-strength material offers durability and precision, allowing the crown to fit comfortably.
- Zirconia: Zirconia can be used for posterior and anterior crowns. This smooth-surface material offers additional strength and has varying degrees of translucency.
- Porcelain Fused to Metal: Porcelain fused to metal provides a natural look for the crown while lowering the chances of crown shifting. This option also helps reduce allergic reactions and tooth sensitivity.
- Full-Cast Gold: Full-cast gold crowns seal well, preventing leakage, and are resistant to wear and fractures. Options include cobalt-chromium, 2% yellow gold, 40% gold, and 60% gold.
Different types of teeth may require unique properties. Molars are used more for chewing, so these implants require strong materials and durability. Incisors are visible when patients smile, so they need an accurate color match with the other teeth. Mabel Dental offers different color choices to match the patient’s existing teeth. Crowns take around eight in-lab days to complete. For digital cases, this time is reduced to six in-lab days.
Abutment Manufacturing
An abutment is the part of the implant that is screwed into the patient’s jawbone to provide additional support for the crown. The patient needs to have adequate bone density to support an abutment. Dental labs will manufacture and mill abutments, customizing them to fit each patient’s specific needs.
Custom and cast custom abutments are available. To create a custom abutment, a technician mills the abutment with computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. CAD/CAM technology allows them to assess the surrounding teeth and jaw to make sure the abutment will fit. Custom abutments are designed individually for each case. We create titanium custom abutments, which are able to be used in all sections of the mouth. Titanium is durable, allowing the abutment to withstand acts such as chewing. Gold-tone titanium abutments protect the appearance of the patient’s smile, as they help prevent gray from showing through the crown or tissue. Zirconia abutments with a titanium base are also available.
For a cast custom abutment, the technician uses a UCLA abutment, which is a plastic sheath that has a cast-to-platform interface. The UCLA abutment is waxed to create the correct shape and profile for the patient’s needs. The technician invests the pattern and places the ring in a furnace. Once it is at the correct temperature, the technician casts the abutment. There are several prescribed alloys available. This includes high palladium alloy for posterior abutments and yellow gold for anterior abutments. The abutment is then completed and polished. Custom cast abutments take 8 to 10 business days to make. Custom abutments take 10 lab days. With digital cases, there are only 8 in-lab days.
Partner With a Dental Lab
Our fixed restorations include implant overdentures. These are dentures that are attached to dental implants to provide more stability for the patient’s smile. We also offer bridges, veneers, partial dentures, mouthguards, and sleep apnea devices. Repair and replacement services are available for cracked appliances. Mabel Dental provides lab-to-lab support for our Smile Partners. To learn more about our dental lab, we invite you to fill out our online form or give us a call.
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