Last week, our discussions centered around optimizing lab workflows and reducing remakes—an ongoing challenge for many of us. Members shared strategies on improving case intake processes and explored the impact of continuing education on remake rates. There was also a lively exchange about the latest materials and technologies affecting our work, from zirconia quality control to innovations in aligners.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Tightening our case intake to cut remakes
A thought-provoking discussion about how refining our initial case assessment can lead to fewer remakes and better overall efficiency. Read more here
Direct-printed aligners vs PETG
This thread digs into the pros and cons of direct-printed aligners compared to traditional PETG, considering both performance and cost. Read more here
CE that actually improves remake rates
Members are sharing their experiences with continuing education programs that have made a tangible difference in reducing remakes. Read more here
Zirconia in-process QC that works
Explore effective quality control practices for zirconia that can save time and improve outcomes during the production process. Read more here
When the 98mm puck fights back
A relatable and technical discussion on dealing with challenges when working with 98mm pucks, especially in achieving precision. Read more here
Looking for validated calibration STL sets
A call to the community for recommendations on reliable STL calibration sets that ensure accuracy in digital workflows. Read more here
Handpiece runout killing my margins
Join this conversation about how handpiece runout can affect margins and what steps can be taken to mitigate these issues. Read more here
Looking forward to another week of productive discussions and shared learning. Keep contributing your valuable insights!
We cut remakes by about 18% after switching to a 90-second intake checklist that requires a ‘shade photo’, opposing, and bite record before a case gets a work number. Some offices push back on extra steps, so we keep it to three must-haves and sell it as a seatbelt check — quick, but it saves everyone time.
@ethan94 Same here on tightening intake — our best quick win was auto-flagging iPhone “Portrait” shade photos via EXIF and asking for a re-shot against a gray card before issuing a work number; that alone cut anterior shade remakes noticeably. Minor pushback, but we text the flag with a sample, and it sticks — do you audit that check daily?
Quick win for us was making a pre-op photo (or scan screenshot showing contacts) a hard stop in the portal, plus a 10-minute morning triage by a senior tech to bounce fuzzy margins with a templated note; anterior contours improved and remakes dipped. Small caveat: it slows first submissions from new offices for a week, so we send a one-page “greenlight checklist” and a clip-on polarizer to help their photos. Thanks @RosaD for the intake-gate idea — ours is a traffic-light screen and it’s been solid.
On those ‘pending zoning changes’, our lab remodel sailed through when we handed the planner a one-pager with mill/oven dB at 1m, CFM capture, SDS, and an IPA-waste pickup contract. Patent marking debates aside, tightening supplier contracts did more for us than stickers on custom jigs. If they hint at environmental review, have a basic air-filtration note ready and save a week.