Dental laboratory services by GoDigital Dental
Step 1: Front of House
Welcome to the first part of a series designed to take you behind the scenes and explore each stage involved in crafting high-quality dental restorations, starting from the moment a case enters the lab to the final delivery.
In Step 1: Front of House, we focus on where everything begins: the front desk. This area plays a critical role in managing incoming cases, organising documentation, communicating with dental practices, and setting timelines in motion. It is the foundation of a smooth and successful workflow.
Let’s now take a closer look at how our front-of-house team supports the entire dental lab process right from the start.
Setting up a scanner with GoDigital Dental
Initial Contact and Onboarding
When onboarding new dental professionals, the process typically begins with initial contact. This may come directly from the dentist or through a digital scanner.
Establishing this connection is the first step in ensuring a smooth digital workflow between the practice and the lab when it comes to treatment planning and the lab’s ability to create restorations.
Supported Scanners and Integration
Go Digital Dental supports a range of popular major scanners, including Trios, iTero, Cerec Connect, DS Core, Medit, Shining 3D, and Dexis.
If a new client has not already connected through one of these platforms, they can follow the instructions available at How to Connect Your IOS to Go Digital Dental. This ensures their digital impressions are sent directly and securely to the lab ready for the patient’s dental appliance to be made.
Alternative File Upload Options
For cases where digital files cannot be uploaded directly through the scanner software, dentists can use the online portal. The Go Digital Dental file upload page allows for easy manual submission of case files. This can be accessed here: Dental Lab File Upload.
Creating an account with GoDigital Dental
Our receptionist creates a new account for the dentist, entering all the necessary details such as their GDC number, shipping address, email for invoices and statements, and mobile number. Once the account is set up, she creates a WhatsApp group that includes the entire team.
Since the team will work closely together on each case, this group serves as a convenient channel for sharing case information, photos, design files, and general communication with the dental technicians, as well as providing updates on shipping and logistics.
What is Labtrac?
Labtrac is an easy-to-use online system that helps dental laboratories manage their work more smoothly.
It works with many of the main intraoral scanners to automatically create new orders and stores information in one place, including scan files, images and messages, so they can be quickly and easily accessed when needed during lab work.
The case is entered into Labtrac, where it is assigned its own unique identification number for tracking and reference throughout the production process.
Workbench: for dental lab technicians on the go
The case is entered into Labtrac and assigned a unique ID number for easy tracking. Dental technicians can view the case on Workbench, a cloud-based platform that provides real-time access to all case details from anywhere.
All notes, photos, and relevant files are stored with the case in Workbench, ensuring that the entire technical team has up-to-date information to work efficiently and communicate effectively throughout the digital dentistry process.
The IOS ticket: important checks
The front-of-house team carefully reviews the iOS ticket to ensure all essential information is included before the case moves forward.
This includes checking the date and time of the next appointment, patient name, restoration material, shade, and confirming the correct dentist and practice details.
If there isn’t enough time to complete the case before the scheduled appointment, they will contact the practice to request a reschedule to allow sufficient time for processing.
Quality control
The CAD team
The CAD team begins by opening and downloading the case file, carefully reading through all the accompanying notes to ensure everything required to start the case is in place.
They then carry out a thorough review of the scan, using their knowledge and expertise to check for accuracy and assessing key aspects such as the margins, bite and occlusion, and whether any vital areas are missing.
They also examine the preparation design, look for overlapping scan data, and identify any scattered or unclear data that could affect the quality or outcome of the case.
The dentist’s input
If the CAD team is not satisfied with any part of the scan, they will take a screenshot and send it to the dentist via WhatsApp for review.
The case will then be placed on hold until the dentist confirms how they would like to proceed. This could involve a rescan, a reprep, or, in some cases, the dentist may advise to continue if they believe the scan is accurate enough.
If any issues are found in a non-vital area, the team may be able to clean the scan themselves. In such instances, there is no need to contact the dentist, and the case will move forward as normal.
Sending to iTero
If we have been given an iTero scan, we can send it to iTero Modelling, where their team will clean up the case on behalf of the dentist, if necessary
iTero has access to additional scan data that may have been discarded by the software before it reaches the lab, allowing them to recover and refine details that are no longer visible to us. This can help improve the quality of the case without needing a rescan.
Once everyone is happy with the case and we have all the information present and correct, the case will proceed.
EWA
Ewa is our receptionist here at GoDigital Dental.
Ewa is always willing to go the extra mile, and no request is ever too much for her. She has a natural ability to connect with both clients and their patients, managing all of the lab’s appointments with care and efficiency. Her warm and welcoming approach helps put patients at ease from the moment they arrive.
Ewa plays a key role in supporting the entire team. By taking care of the day-to-day coordination and front-of-house responsibilities, she allows the technicians to focus fully on delivering high-quality results for our clients.
A typical day for Ewa
Once she has arrived at work for the day, Ewa’s task list for the day usually includes a combination of the following:
- Check all iOS portals and print the RX/iOS ticket
- Review emails and WhatsApp for any additional information sent after the case upload, then update Labtrac with the extra details and download any photos
- Ensure all case information, including files and photos, is added to the technicians’ Labtrac Workbench so they have full access
- Book new cases onto Labtrac
- Respond to all other emails and WhatsApp messages
- Receive all incoming packages
- When ceramic units arrive, locate the relevant case, place the ceramic inside, mark it off on Labtrac, and sign the tickets
- All work received before 1pm is booked in and processed the same day; work arriving after 1pm is booked in but processed the following day
- After 1pm, any work scheduled to be shipped that day is quality controlled by the operations manager and then handed to Ewa to book out and prepare for shipping
Types of cases we see at GoDigital Dental
Whilst there are all sorts of cases that dental laboratories around the country can handle, including dental devices like mouth guards, denture repairs, and a whole host of other dental products, we focus on the following cases.
Dental implants
We create dental implants designed to restore missing teeth with exceptional precision. We carefully assess the patient’s mouth, taking into account any remaining natural teeth and existing teeth to create restorations that blend seamlessly with their smile.
Using advanced materials and the latest digital technology, our GDC-registered dental technicians plan and design each case to achieve a precise fit and long-lasting function.
Our custom-made implant solutions are crafted to provide natural aesthetics and stability, helping patients regain both confidence and comfort in their daily lives.
Crown & bridge restorations
Our crown and bridge restorations begin as digital cases driven by precision and quality. Utilising the latest technology, from intraoral scanning to CAD/CAM design, we plan each restoration with meticulous attention to detail, whether it is a single crown, a short-span bridge, or a full arch solution.
Thanks to our fully digital workflow, restorations achieve a seamless fit and excellent shade matching, enhancing both function and aesthetics.
This approach offers significant benefit to dental practices and patients alike, including faster turnaround times, fewer remakes and clinical adjustments, and results that blend naturally with the existing dentition.
Digital impressions
Digital impressions are a key part of how we maintain accuracy and efficiency across every case.
Instead of relying on traditional impression-taking methods, practices can send us digital files directly from their intraoral scanners. This allows our dental technicians to begin designing the dental appliance without delay, using precise data that supports consistent results.
Digital impressions reduce the risk of distortion, save time for both the practice and patient, and help us uphold the high standards we set for all of our work.
GoDigital Dental: a standout amongst Nottingham dental laboratories
At GoDigital Dental, we are proud to be recognised as a standout amongst Nottingham dental laboratories, offering a full range of high-quality services across the UK. As a certified British Bite Mark lab, we are committed to excellence in both craftsmanship and patient care. Our team works closely with clinicians on case planning to ensure every restoration is precise, functional and tailored to the individual needs of each patient.
We believe in constantly moving forward, which is why we invest in continuing education and the latest digital technologies. This forward-thinking approach allows us to deliver reliable service, maintain industry-leading standards, and stay prepared for the future of dental innovation.
Next step
CAD/CAM
In CAD/CAM, we focus on the digital heart of laboratory services. Using the latest technology, we scan, design, and mill dental restorations
By partnering with GoDigital Dental, you are gaining a team that’s invested in your successful move to digital dentistry. Let us help elevate your practice and deliver outstanding results for your patients.
Get in touch today and receive a complimentary consultation.
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GoDigital Dental | Dental Lab
6 Millennium Way West
Nottingham
NG8 6AS