Dental Lab Pricing
Every case is quoted at intake — by the material, the design and the workflow it needs, not a flat rate. Here is how pricing is structured, what every case includes, and how to get an exact number.
We do not publish one flat price list, because a monolithic posterior crown and a layered anterior unit are not the same job. What we can be transparent about is the structure — what drives cost in each category, what every case already includes, and how quickly you get a firm number.
Pricing structure
What drives cost, by restoration category
Pricing is transparent by structure rather than by a fixed number. For each category, these are the variables a quote is built from.
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Crown & Bridge
Material and span set the price.
- Material — zirconia grade, IPS e.max, PFM, or the noble content of a gold alloy
- Number of units and the span of a bridge
- Monolithic versus cut-back and layered
- Custom shade matching and surface characterization
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Implant Restorations
Components and complexity.
- Stock versus custom (milled) abutments for your implant system
- Screw-retained versus cement-retained design
- Single unit through to a full-arch hybrid
- Whether a surgical guide or planning is part of the case
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Removable Prosthetics
Framework and tooth line.
- Cast metal, flexible, or acetal framework
- Number of teeth and clasp assemblies
- Tooth line and base material quality
- Digital versus conventional workflow
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Veneers & Esthetic
Layering and shade work.
- Pressed, feldspathic, or hand-layered construction
- Number of units in the case
- Custom shade matching and cross-polarized photography
- Diagnostic wax-up or digital smile design
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Orthodontic Appliances
Appliance type and staging.
- Retainer type — Essix, clear, or Hawley
- Aligner staging and the number of steps
- Material and single- versus dual-arch
- Digital setup and refinement work
What every case already includes
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Case review & technical planning
We check the records before we fabricate and flag anything that will not produce a seatable case — before we mill, not after the patient is numb.
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Material selection & fabrication
The material and design are chosen for the case; where there is a genuine choice, you get the reasoning rather than a default house material.
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Quality control & fit verification
Margins, contacts and occlusion are checked under magnification on the model before the case ships.
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Lab communication & clinical support
A technician you reach directly about a live case — no call-center queue between you and the person making your work.
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Adjustments & remake policy
Our remake and adjustment terms are published rather than decided case by case, so you know what is covered before you prescribe.
Workflow
Digital vs traditional workflow pricing
Where a digital workflow wins
- More predictable pricing — the case is designed against clean data
- Fewer remakes, because fit starts from an accurate scan
- Faster turnaround with no impression to ship and pour
- Scales cleanly across a multi-location group
- The free partner scanner removes the cost of going digital
When we still use traditional
- The operatory does not have an intraoral scanner yet
- Certain removable and impression-driven cases
- A prep or deep margin a scan cannot capture cleanly
- You simply prefer a physical impression for the case
Turnaround
Turnaround times and rush cases
Turnaround is quoted per case at intake, because a monolithic crown and a staged full-arch are not the same production job.
What affects production time:
- Case type and complexity — a single unit versus a staged full-arch
- Material and finish — monolithic versus layered and characterized
- Whether the records need a call before we start
- Rush availability, quoted when the case is booked in
High-volume and multi-location clinics can schedule recurring capacity so cases are not competing for a slot. See group scheduling.
For groups
Pricing for DSOs and high-volume clinics
Groups are priced on volume, not per-location list rates.
- Volume-based pricing structured to your monthly case mix
- A dedicated account manager and one consistent standard
- Workflow standardization across every location
- Custom agreements for multi-location groups
Run a group? See how we work with DSOs, or request volume pricing.
Getting a quote
How to request a custom quote
A firm number, fast — send the case details and we come back with pricing and a timeline.
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Submit the case or the details
You
Send a scan or the specifics — restoration type, material, number of units, and the arch. A rough description is enough to start.
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We review
Lab
We confirm what the case actually needs and flag anything that would change the price or the plan before you commit.
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We respond with a quote
Lab
You get pricing and an achievable timeline, quoted for the case you described — not a generic list rate.
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Approve and send
Together
Approve the quote, open an account if you are new to us, and the case moves into production.
Request a quote
Get pricing for your case
Send the case details and we will come back with a firm number and an achievable timeline — quoted for the case you are actually sending.
- A quote for the specific case, not a generic list rate
- A technician you reach directly — no call center
- Free 3Shape TRIOS 6 scanner for active partners
Prefer to talk? +1 747-268-0808
Pricing FAQ
Questions Dentists Ask About Lab Pricing
A monolithic posterior crown and a layered anterior unit are not the same job — material, units, layering, implant parts, and rush all move the number. We quote the case you are actually sending and return a firm price at intake rather than an average that will not match your prescription.
Material and grade, unit count and span, monolithic versus layered build, custom shade and characterization, implant components, digital versus conventional records, and whether the case is rush. If something in the file will add steps — a framework try-in, a bisque try-in, planning — we flag it when we quote.
Not as a blanket surcharge. Digital cases are priced on the restoration, not the courier. Accurate scan data often makes the job more predictable and can reduce remake cost, and there is no impression to ship and pour. Partner practices can also receive a free 3Shape TRIOS 6 scanner, so equipment is not a barrier to going digital.
Digital protocolsWe structure agreements around your actual monthly volume and case mix rather than charging each location list rates. Send your numbers and we build pricing that reflects how the group actually prescribes.
Pricing for DSOsRush availability and any premium are confirmed when the case is booked in against your seat date — not discovered at invoice. If the date is not achievable, we say so before production starts.
Tooth or units, material preference, digital or conventional records, shade notes, implant system and parts if relevant, and the seat date. Use the form on this page or call the lab — we come back with pricing and what the timeline allows for that specific case.
Open an accountFabrication is quoted up front; adjustments and remakes follow our published policy rather than being negotiated case by case. What we remake at lab cost, what we refine, and what records we need back are written down before you prescribe.
Remakes and reliabilityImplant cases stack components — stock versus custom abutment, screw- versus cement-retained design, provisional stages, and whether CBCT planning or a surgical guide is in scope. The quote follows the platform, the restoration type, and any planning deliverables, not a crown fee with an implant label.
For implant specialistsPartner Offer
A Free Intraoral Scanner for Partner Practices
Partner with Universal Dental Lab and we place a 3Shape TRIOS 6 Wireless in your operatory — free for the length of our partnership. Scan the prep, send it in seconds, and skip impressions entirely.