How We Make Your Cases
Scanning, CAD design, 3D printing, milling and laser welding, all done in house by our technicians in Brooklyn, NY.
Our Digital Workflow in Brooklyn
Elegant Dental Laboratory makes crowns, bridges, implant restorations, dentures, night guards and provisionals in house in Brooklyn, NY. Our technicians design every case in exocad and 3Shape, then print or mill it on the machine that suits the material, and finish it in our own lab.
We are an Authorized 3Shape partner and accept scans from all major intraoral scanners, as well as conventional impressions and models.
Scanning and CAD Design
A good restoration starts with good data. We take STL and PLY files from all major intraoral scanners (send PLY if you want us to see color), and we pour and scan conventional impressions and models on our lab scanners.
Before work starts, a CAD/CAM technician checks every incoming scan and marks the margin. If something would keep us from making a good restoration, such as too little room, an incomplete bite or missing adjacent teeth, we call your office first.
Our technicians design each restoration themselves in exocad and 3Shape, setting margins, contours, contacts, emergence profile and occlusion. If you want to see the design before milling, ask and we will send it.
Sending scans for the first time? Follow the steps for your scanner on Submit a Digital Case, or read how to send a scan to a dental lab.
3D Printing
We print models, night guards and denture bases in house, so a case never waits on an outside service. Models print straight from your scan, with no impression to pour.
For dentures we make both printed and milled bases. Our article on 3D printed vs milled dentures compares the two.
CAD/CAM Milling
Our milling machines include Ivoclar PrograMill PM7, ARUM, DATRON and DGSHAPE, and we also use Zirkonzahn equipment. Different machines do different things well: some suit zirconia, others PMMA, denture bases or metal, so each case goes to the machine that fits its material.
We mill zirconia restorations from our own Elegance Zirconia discs, along with PMMA provisionals, denture bases and PFM copings.
A zirconia bridge, a night guard and a full denture should not all be made the same way. Our technicians are trained across several systems, which gives us more options and better control over the result.
Laser Welding
For cases that need a strong, clean joint between components, we use laser welding. Compared with traditional soldering, it reduces porosity and keeps heat away from nearby porcelain, acrylic or composite, so the joint stays strong where strength and fit cannot be compromised.
What This Means for Your Office
- Every scan checked and the margin marked by a technician before work starts
- A call before we start if a scan or bite has a problem
- A design preview before milling when you ask for one
- Printed models straight from your scan, with nothing to pour
- One lab for crowns, bridges, implants, dentures, night guards and provisionals
See what we make: Zirconia, IPS e.max, Implants, Provisionals, PFM and Dentures.
Ready to Send a Case?
Send a digital case from your scanner or schedule a pickup. To talk through a case, material or design first, call 877-335-5221 or email info@elegantlab.com.
Technology FAQ
Common Questions About Our Digital Production
Do you produce cases in house?
Yes. Our technicians scan, design, print, mill and finish cases in our Brooklyn lab, on our own equipment and software.
Do you work with digital and traditional impressions?
Yes. Digital scans go straight into our CAD/CAM workflow. Conventional impressions and models are poured and scanned in our lab, and an impression and a scan can come in the same case.
Which scan file formats do you accept?
STL and PLY from any major intraoral scanner. Send PLY if you want us to see color. We do not accept OBJ files.
Do you check my scan before you start?
Yes. A CAD/CAM technician checks every scan and marks the margin. If there is too little room, an incomplete bite or missing adjacent teeth, we call your office before work starts.
Can I see the design before milling?
Yes. Ask for a design preview and we will send the design, contacts and occlusion before the case is milled.
Who designs my restoration?
A technician in our lab designs every restoration in exocad or 3Shape. Designs are not generated automatically.
Why do you use more than one printer or milling machine?
Because one machine is not the best answer for every case. Zirconia, PMMA, denture bases and metal each mill best on different equipment, and using several systems gives us better control over fit and finish.
What kind of cases does your digital production support?
Crowns, bridges, implant restorations, dentures, night guards, provisionals and models.
