What equipment do I need to start doing digital dentures?

Minimum Equipment for Entry Level:

None required in your office - this is the most important point to understand
You can begin digital denture workflows with zero equipment investment
Conventional impressions and records can be sent to a laboratory for digitization
The laboratory has benchtop scanners and fabrication equipment
You benefit from digital design and manufacturing without capital investment

Common Misconception Addressed:

Most dental practices do not have benchtop scanners in-house and this is perfectly normal
The absence of scanning equipment should not be viewed as barrier to providing digital denture services
Practitioners without scanning equipment are not at disadvantage and represent the majority

Optional Equipment for Enhanced Digital Denture Workflows:

Intraoral scanner ($5,000 to $40,000): allows direct digital capture of impressions, eliminates physical impression shipping, enables same-day scanning capabilities
3D printer ($3,000 to $15,000): allows in-house fabrication of record bases, trial dentures, final dentures (with proper training)
Benchtop scanner ($3,000 to $20,000): for digitizing impressions and models in-house
Design software ($2,000 to $10,000 annual subscription): if choosing to design cases in-house rather than using a laboratory. ROE can design denture cases for in-house printing if necessary.

Recommended Staged Digital Denture Implementation:

Stage 1 (No investment): Start with conventional impressions sent to lab for digital processing
Stage 2 (Low investment): Add 3D printer for in-house trial denture fabrication
Stage 3 (Medium investment): Add intraoral scanner for direct digital impressions
Stage 4 (Advanced): Consider design software if high case volume justifies

Critical Success Factors Beyond Equipment:

Strong relationship with a laboratory experienced in digital denture workflows
Reliable internet connection for file transfer and digital preview communication
Staff training on digital workflow protocols and terminology
Understanding of digital preview evaluation (can be learned without equipment investment)

Return on Investment Considerations:

Equipment not required initially allows risk-free trial of digital workflows
Can evaluate patient acceptance and personal comfort before making any major equipment or software investment
Many practitioners never invest in equipment and remain successful with lab partnerships
Investment decisions should be based on case volume and workflow preferences

Additional Resources

For more information concerning the digital dentures:

Contact Information

For help with a digital denture solution for your next case, contact ROE Dental Laboratory: