Digital Workflows That Translate Your Vision into the Final Result
We work with dentists who want predictability, clear communication, and restorations that match the approved design, not surprises at try-in.
Digital Workflows That Translate Your Vision into the Final Result
We work with dentists who want predictability, clear communication, and restorations that match the approved design, not surprises at try-in.
You’ve invested in digital scanning, you’re designing cases with more precision than ever, and your patients expect results that match the preview on screen. The challenge isn’t technology. It’s making sure what you design is what you deliver.
That’s where we come in.
Smile Art Lab partners with dentists who run digital workflows and want a lab that understands the process, from scan to design to final restoration. We’re not here to just receive files and send back crowns. We work alongside you. We review your scans, align on expectations before cutting anything, and make sure the result reflects the design you approved.
Whether it’s a single anterior crown, a full set of veneers, or a complex full arch case, our focus is always the same: give you a predictable result you can confidently seat.
What We Actually Do?
We don’t list services to fill a page. Everything we offer ties back to the same goal, helping you move from plan to outcome with fewer surprises and better communication along the way.
Digital Smile Design
For cases where you need to plan the outcome before starting treatment, we create digital smile designs based on clinical photos, facial references, and your treatment goals. This is not just a visual tool for the patient. It’s primarily a case planning step for the clinician. We use it to define tooth position, proportions, midline, and overall aesthetics before any preparation begins. We consider lip dynamics, facial context, and the patient’s starting point to build a design that is both realistic and clinically achievable.
2D Smile Design
Sometimes a full 3D workflow isn’t needed. For simpler case discussions or patient presentations, we provide 2D smile designs that give your patient a clear visual of what’s possible, without overcomplicating the process.
CAD Design for Crowns, Veneers, and Implants
Every restoration we design in CAD is built with the end result in mind. That means considering material behaviour, prep design, cement space, and how the restoration will look and function once it’s seated. We use the digital file as a design tool, not a shortcut.
Full Arch and All-on-X Design
Full arch cases require careful planning. We work with your scan data, temporary restorations, and any existing records to design frameworks and restorations that respect tissue profiles, occlusal schemes, and the aesthetic expectations set during temporisation. We collaborate with you on the design before anything goes into production.
Digital Wax-Ups
Digital wax-ups, 3D smile design, and digital smile design all refer to the same workflow in our lab. They are used as a diagnostic and case planning tool to define the outcome before treatment begins. This allows you to visualise tooth position, proportions, and overall aesthetics, and use that design to guide temporaries, prep guides, and final restorations. Whether you refer to it as a digital wax-up or smile design, the goal is the same: plan the result before you start.
Case Planning Support
Not every case comes with a clear roadmap. Sometimes you need a second set of eyes on a plan, whether it’s material selection, design feasibility, or how to manage patient expectations. We’re available to talk through cases before you commit to a direction. The earlier we’re involved, the smoother the workflow.
How We Work with You?
For cases that go through digital smile design, alignment upfront is key. Here’s how a typical case moves through our workflow. This process exists for one reason: to make sure the final result matches what was planned from the start.
You Send Us What You Have
Clinical photos, intraoral scans, and any reference material that helps us understand the case. The more context we receive upfront, the more accurate the design.
We Review and Align
Before starting the design, we review everything. If something doesn’t add up, missing data, inconsistencies between photos and scans, or unclear treatment goals, we reach out. It’s easier to clarify early than redesign later.
Design Based on Your Goals
We build the design based on your clinical plan, facial references, and desired outcome. Every contour, proportion, and tooth position is intentional and aligned with the final restoration.
3D Preview for Your Approval
You receive a 3D preview of the proposed design. This is your opportunity to review aesthetics, proportions, and overall direction before moving forward.
Adjustments and Finalisation
If changes are needed, we revise and send an updated preview. Once approved, this design becomes the reference for the rest of the workflow.
What Sets Us Apart?
We’re not trying to be the biggest lab or the cheapest option. We’re focused on being the lab you trust when the case matters.
We Focus on the Final Outcome, Not Just the Design
A beautiful CAD design means nothing if the final restoration doesn’t match. We think beyond the screen, considering how materials will behave, how light interacts with ceramics, and how the restoration will look once it’s bonded and finished. The design is a means to an end, not the end itself.
We Guide on Prep, Materials, and Limitations
Not every case is straightforward. If your prep doesn’t support the planned design, or the material you’ve requested won’t achieve the result you’re after, we tell you. We’d rather flag a potential issue early than deliver something that compromises the outcome.
We Match Final Restorations to the Approved Design
When you approve a design, that’s a commitment from us. We take the approved digital preview seriously and work to make sure the physical restoration reflects it, in shape, proportion, and overall aesthetics. If there’s a limitation we see during production, we communicate that to you before proceeding.
We Ask Questions Early and Avoid Assumptions
This is a simple one, but it makes a real difference. Instead of guessing what you intended, we ask. If a scan is unclear, if photos suggest a different midline than what’s noted, or if temps look different from the planned design, we pick up the phone or send a message. Assumptions cause remakes. Communication doesn’t.
Aesthetic Cases, Where It Matters Most
Aesthetic work is where predictability and communication matter the most. A single shade mismatch, a slightly off midline, or proportions that don’t suit the patient’s face can undermine months of planning.
We have a particular focus on cases that sit in the aesthetic zone:
Porcelain Veneers
From minimal prep to full prep veneer cases, we design with an understanding of how ceramic thickness affects translucency, value, and colour. We consider smile arc, tooth proportions, gingival zeniths, and line angles, because these details are what separate a good result from a natural-looking one.
Anterior Crowns
Matching a single anterior crown to natural dentition is one of the hardest things to get right. We approach these cases with extra attention to surface texture, translucency gradients, and incisal characterisation, so the crown disappears into the smile rather than standing out.
Smile Makeovers
When a patient is having multiple units done across the aesthetic zone, the margin for error is smaller and the expectations are higher. We work closely with you from planning through to final delivery to make sure the overall composition, symmetry, proportions, colour harmony, comes together as intended.
Full Arch Rehabilitations
Whether it’s a fixed full arch on implants or a removable prosthetic, we approach these cases with detailed planning. Tooth position, gingival contours, and occlusion all need to work together. We collaborate early and often on these cases because small changes in design can have a significant impact on the result.
Case Examples
Veneer Case, Working from Temporaries
A dentist referred to a 10-unit upper veneer case where the patient had been wearing temporaries for three weeks. The patient was happy with the shape and proportions of the temps. We scanned the temporaries, used them as the foundation for the CAD design, and sent a 3D preview for approval. After one minor adjustment to the lateral incisor proportions, the design was approved and the final e.max veneers were fabricated. At seating, the patient and dentist confirmed the result matched the approved temps closely, which was exactly the point.
Full Arch, Planning-Led Approach
A full arch implant case came in with scan data and a rough treatment plan. Before starting any design work, we reviewed the implant positions, the available restorative space, and the patient’s facial references. We flagged that the proposed tooth positions would create a cantilever beyond what we’d recommend for the selected material. After a brief discussion, we adjusted the design to improve load distribution and sent a revised 3D preview. The final zirconia bridge was delivered with no adjustments needed at try-in.
Technology
We work with current digital platforms including Exocad and 3Shape for CAD design, alongside in-house 3D printing for models, surgical guides, and diagnostic tools. But we mention technology last for a reason, it’s the thinking behind the tools that determines the result, not the tools themselves.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Case
If you’re running a digital workflow and want a lab that communicates clearly, designs with intent, and delivers restorations that match the plan, we should talk. Send us your next case or reach out to discuss how we can support your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
At minimum, we need intraoral scans (STL or the native file from your scanner) and clinical photos. For aesthetic cases, we also recommend retracted and smile photos, and any relevant records like a facebow registration. The more information we have, the better the outcome.
Yes. If your patient is happy with their temps, we can use scans of the temporaries as the basis for the final design. This is one of the most predictable ways to transition from provisional to final, because the design has already been tested in the mouth.
For cases involving digital smile design (digital wax-up / 3D smile design), yes. You’ll receive a 3D preview for review and approval before moving forward. For restorative cases, we design based on your instructions, approved temporaries, or clinical references without a separate preview step unless requested.
We accept files from all major intraoral scanners including iTero, TRIOS, Medit, Primescan, and others. If you’re unsure about your scanner’s file format, reach out and we’ll confirm compatibility.
Absolutely. If you’re working on a complex case and want input on material selection, design feasibility, or sequencing, we’re happy to discuss it before you begin. Early involvement helps us both avoid problems down the line.
For digital smile design (3D smile design / digital wax-up), the first preview is typically ready within 48 hours, depending on case complexity and number of units. For full-arch aesthetic restorative cases, the overall turnaround is generally around 3 weeks. Turnaround can vary depending on approvals and case complexity, but we always aim to keep the process efficient without compromising the result.