The restoration of a patient’s form and function is extremely important in terms of a successful case. Teeth can often become damaged from trauma, congenital issues, or poor oral health.
One of the most common options for treating an All-On-4® case is a hybrid prosthesis. But all “hybrids” are not created equal. We are a long way from the days of the only option being a cast metal substructure with traditional acrylic and denture teeth.
Implant-supported restorations have emerged as the leading treatment method in dentistry, particularly for treating edentulous patients. These restorations serve to rehabilitate oral function and support the maintenance of healthy bone
Among the diverse array of dental restorative materials, Zirconia has emerged as a forerunner. With its exceptional mechanical properties and aesthetic appeal, Zirconia is a game changer in the field
Historically, porcelain veneers have been an effective treatment option. In addition to preserving tooth structure, adhesive technologies offer excellent options to improve both the esthetic and restorative needs of the
Google “All On 4,” and over 25 billion results appear. This treatment option is a fast-growing area of dentistry. The concept of All On 4, also known as full-arch implant-supported
The restoration of a patient’s form and function is extremely important in terms of a successful case. Teeth can often become damaged from trauma, congenital issues, or poor oral health. The first goal in restorative dentistry is to create stability in the oral cavity. However, for patients, restoring their smiles to achieve a better aesthetic appearance is an essential factor. Managing a balance of these two fundamental restorative goals is imperative to the patient’s overall satisfaction.
While there are many steps to ensuring a positive experience, one of the basic areas that play a critical role is in the ability to communicate color accurately.
The color perception process in humans is complicated. It is dependent on the physical limits of light, the complexity of brain neurons, and the reflective quality of light on an object. Therefore, the perception of color can be attributed to the physiological feedback of physical input.
The scientific knowledge of the basic principles of color is essential in meeting the demands of matching tooth color to patients’ esthetic expectations. Color can then be described by classifying it into three categories:
Hue
Value
Chroma
Teeth Shade Taking Environment
The most influential factor when taking a shade is the quality of the light source. It is commonly known that natural light that occurs mid-day is the most accurate for color matching. Since this light is not conducive to a dental practice, artificial lighting is a more common practice.
Using a light source that is most like natural sunlight is the most ideal. Color-corrected lights are available that can show color more accurately. Also, using full-spectrum LED lights works just as well. The key is to have balanced lighting that is as close as possible to natural light. Lighting that is as close to 5,500°K with a 100% color rendering index is ideal.
Many factors can affect the ability to achieve this, including:
The tint on the office windows. Make sure to have window coverings to cut out the outside light altogether.
The color of the walls, floors, and furniture. Make sure these are non-reflective and colored with low saturation shades.
Because color perception is profoundly affected by surrounding colors, it is essential to neutralize these before taking a shade. Influencers could be factors such as lipstick or clothing. Ask patients to remove lipstick and neutralize their clothing by draping a neutral gray cloth over them.
Also, it is crucial to take shades quickly. A tooth should not be looked at for more than 5 seconds to avoid hue accommodation. To give your eyes a break during the shade-taking process, look at a neutral gray background to screen out color glare.
Taking the Shade
The teeth shade-taking process is important as it is critical to provide the dental laboratory with accurate information to fabricate the case. The accuracy of this step is crucial in reducing adjustments, remakes, and ultimately profitability. It also significantly affects the patient’s experience with the process and influences their overall satisfaction. Below are the steps that improve the ability to take an exact shade:
Take the shade at the beginning of the process, especially before prepping. Dehydration can occur after only a couple of minutes of having the patient’s mouth open. When teeth dry out, their value increases, and the chroma and translucency decrease.
Sit the patient upright. How light enters the mouth can affect how the color is recognized. Only use color-corrected lighting.
Use cheek retractors, as shown below, to reduce the possibility of shadows.
Ensure the patient’s teeth are at eye level with the person taking the shade.
Hold the shade tab in the same position as the tooth being evaluated.
– Place the incisal edge of the guide to the incisal edge of the tooth. (See the image below.) – Keep the facial surface of the guide parallel to the facial plane of the teeth. – Make certain the guide is not lingual of the teeth or outside of the mouth.
To increase accuracy, hold the entire shade guide up to the mouth. Use the mid-buccal of the tooth to determine the hue.
Take a shade of the preparation for all ceramic restorations, such as porcelain veneers. The color of the prep will significantly affect how the dental lab fabricates the restorations.
Get the patient involved in the color selection. When the patient is evaluating the selection, they should hold a mirror at arm’s length to allow for adequate light to enter the mouth.
If you become stuck between two shades, choose the lighter of the two. Choosing the lighter shade will make corrections easier, should they be necessary.
Take several photos and include the shade tab in the picture.
If the patient is bleaching, wait a week after the last bleaching session to take the shade to allow the color to settle.
Photography
While photography does not provide for accuracy in shade evaluation, it does provide valuable information for the dental lab technician.
To fully communicate the shade, make sure to provide the following pictures:
natural smile
full face
retracted lips
pictures with the shade tabs
Light source
The diffuser helps to reduce glare. Again, it is crucial to use full-spectrum color-corrected lighting in the operatory and ensure that there are no outside color influencers, such as walls or clothing, as these will reflect into the shade and create discrepancies.
Position the camera in the same plane as the patient’s teeth. This position should be almost perpendicular, with just a slight variation to the left or right to remove glare.
Several factors can affect a person’s ability to match a shade accurately. These factors include:
Age
An individual’s degree of color perception
Experience
Because shade-taking is such an essential part of the restorative process, it is a good idea to have the dental practice staff’s color vision tested. These tests are relatively simple and can provide information regarding whether a person has a color vision deficiency and can show an individual’s ability to discern small color differences.
Color communication is exceptionally vital to the success of any restorative procedure. Managing the patient’s esthetic expectations is crucial to their satisfaction. Burbank Dental Lab understands the vital role we play in this process and is available to offer suggestions and support to help your dental practice thrive.
Imetric Digital Scan In-Office Service Burbank Dental Lab, at its core, has focused on being an indispensable partner to our clients. In keeping with our core values, we are heavily
KeySplint Clear Night Guard Due To Popular Demand, We’ve Added The Webinar Below Clear, Strong, Flexible, & Precise With the Carbon Platform, powered by breakthrough Digital Light Synthesis technology, Burbank
A better fitting denture with more retention and fewer sore spots A more durable, stain and odor resistant denture acrylic Electronic record for quick and easy recreation if needed. More
Burbank Dental Lab is offering Original Straumann Custom Abutments, milled at Burbank. Straumann implants have recently made available an FDA approved workflow that enables Burbank Dental Lab to fabricate milled
Burbank Dental Lab is well versed in the various TMJ orthotics that are available. We understand the importance of creating an appliance that meets the specific design parameters of each individual clinician.
Burbank Dental Lab custom sports guards are individually made to your prescription and are designed to meet the needs of the specific sport and level of competition of your patient.
Burbank Dental Lab Night guards and occlusal guards can bring relief to patients that are experiencing discomfort due to bruxing and grinding. Our night guards are carefully designed to protect your patient's teeth and restorations and are custom made to your prescribed bite and VDO.
BiteSoft® splints prevent teeth from grinding and clenching during the night. This innovative, successful solution to bruxism offers patients the opportunity to sleep peacefully throughout the night, without damage to their teeth or restorations.
The TAP 3 is a two-piece mandibular advancement device for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. It permits a wide range of precise degree adjustment to ensure maximum comfort and effectiveness.
Burbank Dental Lab has three new state-of-the-art Carbon M2 printers. We are very excited about the options that these cutting-edge printers will allow us to offer our dental clients. Here are some of the advantages that these printers will begin to deliver to you and your dental practice.
Our New State-Of-The-Art 3d Printers
Carbon offers a highly dependable 3D manufacturing solution for many dental applications with its breakthrough Digital Light Synthesis™ technology, enabled by a wide range of dental materials.
Fabrication of the future is here!
Burbank Dental Lab has three new state-of-the-art Carbon M2 printers. We are very excited about the options that these cutting-edge printers will allow us to offer our dental clients. Here are some of the advantages that these printers will begin to deliver to you and your dental practice.
Our New State-Of-The-Art 3d Printers
Carbon offers a highly dependable 3D manufacturing solution for many dental applications with its breakthrough Digital Light Synthesis™ technology, enabled by a wide range of dental materials.
What Our Clients Say
“I like how fast I get my cases back. It’s a lot faster than I expected.”
“Burbank is amazing. I am blown away by their craftsmanship. Crowns are absolutely beautiful. Patients love them. Wyoming and Jason have been great with communication. I will continue to send...
“I have been using Burbank Dental Lab for a few years now. I have been very happy with the results. The best part is that the team communicates well regarding...
“Very good service, recommended and attentive I am very grateful to the dental doctor who treated my dental problems very successfully and helped me regain my beautiful smile.”
“I have been using Burbank Dental Lab for several years now and am continually impressed with the quality of their work and their customer service! Everyone that works there is...
“I am very impressed with the attention to detail and easy communication. I use Burbank Dental Lab even though I’m on the east coast because the results are always predictably...
“I have been a client of Burbank Dental for over 20 years. Everyone from the phone operators to the techs to management is wonderful and friendly. I have done a...
“I have been using Burbank Lab for over 30 years and recommend them highly. The owner Tony is a stand-up guy with a ton of integrity and a mensch. The...
“When I want something done right, I send it to Burbank. After experiencing inconsistent quality from my previous lab partners, Burbank was highly recommended by a colleague so I gave...
“After experiencing a decline in quality and communication from our previous lab we decided to give Burbank a try based on the recommendation of several business associates. The service from...
“I am a Heartland dentist in Texas and I have been looking for a comprehensive lab that I could use for implants, removable, and fixed. I discovered Burbank a few...
“Delivery time was excellent! The fit of the screw retained implant crown including emergence profile, contacts, seating, and occlusion were perfect. Didn’t do anything but seat it and torque the...
“Absolutely gorgeous and high-quality maxillary zirconia hybrid on Ti-bases. Their lab followed my prescription exactly. Their technicians have amazing talent. Thank you, Burbank!”
“We were looking for a lab that could accept our digital scans and produce high-quality centric-relation nightguards for patients. Burbank Dental Lab was recommended by a dental school classmate. We...
Burbank Dental Lab has far exceeded all of my expectations, and has fully delivered top tier prosthodontic work. What sets this lab apart from others is the constant communication. When...
“This lab provides restorative dentists with excellent technical support and high-quality lab work at reasonable fees. Their restorations are consistently excellent both from a functional and esthetic standpoint.”
“High quality dental lab with years of experience. Very professional service and results are second to none. Whether its cosmetic work, implant work, or digital, Burbank has their act together....
“In 25 years practicing dentistry I have not delivered a better full mouth rehabilitation crowns and bridge case like the one I did today. Aesthetics, fitting, contact, and occlusion was...
“I have been using Burbank for a while now. They are the only lab I’ve worked with who delivers consistently superior results. Their esthetic and implant work is second to...
“Full Arch fixed prosthetic cases go extremely smoothly with Burbank Dental Lab and their imetric photogrammetry in-office workflow. Highly recommend this workflow for anyone doing full Arch cases. Working with...
“Great Dental Lab for removable and crown and bridge. Amazing customer service. Vince and Dmitri are very accommodating and will ALWAYS work with you. Their product is top notch!” (click...
Hi Tony, hope you’re well. I’ve sent you a before and after case of a #8 old PFM replacement – single tooth next to natural #9. (Click for photo). Also...
“Just wanted to let you all know that I retired a few years ago but I sincerely appreciated both the help and especially the great quality of the work you...
“The implant department at Burbank is amazing! They have delivered casework that has exceeded my expectations and our patients are thrilled! We switched from a local lab to Burbank; our...
“We’ve been using this lab for a few years now and we are very happy. Excellent customer service, very kind billing staff and work is always well done. Every time...
“Burbank Dental Lab has provided us with many years of high-quality work, timely service and friendly staff. Our thanks, from all of us at Westlake Dental Associates.”
“Fantastic case! I just dropped these two implant abutment/crowns in and they were perfect! Thank you!” MARGINS: Excellent CONTACTS: Excellent CONTOUR: Excellent OCCLUSION: Excellent FIT: Excellent SHADE: Excellent ESTHETICS: Excellent...
This case is the case where you sent me the samples of the acrylics for a patient who is very sensitive to different chemicals, etc. She wore each sample disc...
“What an amazing lab to work with. Each person I have encountered has been amazing. From Joel and Kenny to Laura in Accounting to Tony himself. The crowns go in...
“We have used this lab for 18 months. They have proven to be very patient and customer-centric. They produce some really nice work and are easy to work with. Cases...
“Vincent and Karen are the best! I worked with Vincent on a full mouth rehab case. Everything turned out great and the patient is very happy. Working with Vincent made...
“They were great to work with and went out of their way to make sure we received our lab case the very same day. Holly even volunteered to come personally...
“Burbank Dental Lab is our most trusted dental lab for all of our dental work. They are extremely reliable and deliver exceptional products. They are always available for questions and...
“Amazing lab! The work always comes back in a timely manner and is beautiful! Marissa is who we are lucky enough to have help us with our cases and she...
“Very nice case! This patient was very happy. My only adjustment was to reduce the excess in the ovate pontic area that was overdone.” MARGINS: Excellent CONTACTS: Excellent CONTOUR: Excellent...
“I absolutely love this lab, very quick, beautiful work, and very professional. Marissa is so much help, and has answers every single time! Wouldn’t use anyone else!”
“For more than 5 years I have sent my removable lab work to Burbank Dental Laboratory. I delivered a new FUD and new mandibular distal extension RPD with a locator...
“Implant abutment and crown – this case was great! Thank you! The pink porcelain looked great where the gingival margins needed to be leveled.” MARGINS: Excellent CONTACTS: Excellent CONTOUR: Excellent...
“This was the first crown I inserted since we talked about the contacts being tight. This crown was PERFECT!!! Absolutely no adjustments were needed! This was one of those “throw...
“As a new customer to Burbank Dental Lab, I was pleasantly surprised at the interest the staff expressed for the INDIVIDUAL needs of my patients. As an academic, my ideal...
“Burbank is an excellent lab! It is one of the most high-tech operations in the country and I have visited many of them. Tony, Andrew, and the entire team have...
Thank you Joel for an excellent job. What I really love about Joel and Vincent from Burbank Lab is that 1. They listen to the instructions and follow them. 2....
“Thank you Joel for an excellent job. What I really love about Joel and Vincent from Burbank Lab is that: 1. They listen to the instructions and follow them. 2....
“Just completed a maxillary Prettau Zirconium bridge on 5 implants and am very pleased with the service, the attention to detail, and the communication skills of this lab, in particular...
This dental lab is world renowned for high quality of their crown and bridgework. I especially appreciate their expertise in implant castings. I happen to work with a couple of...
