How to prepare a complete laboratory prescription

An incomplete prescription is the most common cause of delays and remakes in the laboratory. Not because the technician doesn't know how to work—but because they start without crucial information that they then have to guess. Every question to the dentist means a day lost.

Mandatory elements of every prescription

1. Patient data (name/ID) — for identification with multiple prescriptions at once
2. Tooth number(s) — in FDI notation (11–48)
3. Type of restoration — crown, bridge, inlay, veneer, denture
4. Material — zirconia, e.max, PFM, PMMA, Co-Cr
5. Shade — scale (Vita Classic, 3D Master, Bleach) + designation (A2, 1M2, BL2)
6. Information about antagonists and adjacent teeth — or attached scan
7. Deadline — pickup date
8. Dentist/Clinic — contact for questions

What is most often overlooked

Shade scale without scale designation. An A2 without information on whether it's Vita Classic or 3D Master — these are two different shades.

Stump shade. With dark stumps, the dentin affects the final shade of the crown.

Patient photos. For aesthetic anterior restorations, a photo is standard, not an option.

Implantological parameters. Screw-retained vs. cement-retained, implant connection type.

Prescription format: digital vs. paper

Criterion	Digital Prescription (portal/PDF)	Paper Prescription
Completeness	Higher — mandatory fields prevent omission	Depends on dentist's habits
Change history	Full history	None
Photos	Integrated with prescription	Separate correspondence
Handling time	Immediate	Depends on courier

At deltalabs. we accept prescriptions through a digital system — each has a change history and linked files.

Can the laboratory start work without a complete prescription?

Technically, it can, but then the technician makes decisions on behalf of the dentist. Missing information means either a question to the dentist (delay) or a default assumption by the technician (risk of discrepancy).

How to specify shade for vital pulp vs. devitalized tooth?

For vital pulp: Vita Classic or 3D Master + stump shade. For devitalized: stump shade is critical — a dark stump requires a masking layer.

What to do if an incomplete prescription was sent?

Call or write to the laboratory immediately. Every hour of information delay is potentially a day of work delay.