When practices consider bringing 3D printing in-house, there’s an unspoken concern:
“What happens to my lab?”
You’ve worked with your lab for years. They know your preferences. They handle your complex cases. The relationship works.
Does adopting chairside 3D printing mean cutting them out?
Short answer: No.
Better answer: Your lab relationship evolves from dependency to strategic partnership.
Let’s talk about what that actually looks like.
The Old Model: Full Dependency
Traditional workflow:
Every restoration → Lab
Every surgical guide → Lab
Every night guard → Lab
Every model → Lab
Result:
- Lab controls your timeline.
- Lab controls your cost per case.
- Lab capacity limits your capacity.
- Emergency cases wait on lab availability.
The relationship: You depend on the lab for production capacity.
The New Model: Strategic Partnership
Hybrid workflow:
- Routine work → In-house
- Complex cases → Lab
- Emergency needs → In-house
- Specialty work → Lab
Result:
- You control routine production and timelines
- Lab focuses on high-value, complex work
- Both benefit from clearer role definition
- Better economics for everyone
The relationship: You collaborate with the lab as specialists, not commodity producers.
What Changes (and What Doesn’t)
You start handling in-house:
- Simple crowns and bridges
- Surgical guides
- Night guards and retainers
- Models for treatment planning
- Immediate/emergency cases
You continue sending to lab:
- Complex cases
- Multi-unit bridges requiring high esthetics
- Cases with difficult shade matching
- Work requiring specialty materials
- Anything outside your comfort zone
Key insight: In-house 3D printing gives you production capacity for routine work. Your lab becomes a specialist partner for complex cases where its expertise truly matters.
The Economics Work for Both Sides
For the practice:
- Dramatically lower cost per unit on routine work
- Faster turnaround (same-day in many cases)
- Emergency capacity
- Volume no longer limited by lab capacity
- Lab bills shrink, but don’t disappear
For the lab:
- Higher margins on complex specialty work
- Less commodity production, more craftsmanship
- Stronger relationships with practices that value expertise
- Focus on work where they add the most value
How to Transition Without Burning Bridges
Step 1: Have the conversation
Tell your lab you’re bringing 3D printing in-house. Be honest about what you’re planning to produce yourself. Ask for their perspective.
Step 2: Start small
Begin with models and surgical guides—work that doesn’t compete with the lab’s bread-and-butter restorations. Build your confidence.
Step 3: Cherry-pick carefully
Start producing simple cases in-house. Continue sending everything else to the lab. Show them your volume on complex cases isn’t changing.
Step 4: Redefine the relationship
Position the lab as your specialist partner. Send them work where their expertise matters. Stop sending commodity work that neither of you profits from.
Step 5: Communicate openly
Keep the conversation going. Ask for their input on case selection. Build a collaborative relationship.
Timeline: Most practices find the sweet spot in 6-12 months. Don’t rush it.
What Labs Are Saying
The dental lab industry is adapting to practices bringing routine work in-house.
Industry analysis shows labs are focusing on:
- Higher-complexity cases that require master technician skills
- Digital workflow integration and consultation services
- Specialty materials and advanced techniques
- Faster turnaround on premium work
Smart labs recognize: Fighting the trend toward in-house routine work is futile. Positioning themselves as specialty providers for complex cases is sustainable.
The future of dental production isn’t all-in-house or all-lab. It’s the strategic use of both, with practices controlling routine work and partnering with labs on cases where specialized expertise creates value.
Learn more about building your digital workflow with SprintRay today:
Strategic lab partnerships combined with in-house 3D printing create optimal workflows—practices control routine production while collaborating with labs on complex cases requiring specialized expertise.