What to include with a laboratory prescription

Incomplete submission is the most common reason for delayed realization. A technician who does not have all the necessary data must call – which wastes both parties' time.

The essential: prescription form

The prescription form is the only documentation that formally defines what the laboratory is to create.

Mandatory elements of the form:

• Patient's name and surname
• Tooth number or designation (FDI)
• Type of restoration (crown, bridge, inlay, veneer, splint)
• Material (zirconia, e.max, PFM, PMMA)
• Shade (shade guide number + reference photo)
• Cementation type (adhesive vs. conventional)
• Occlusal and aesthetic notes

Without a prescription form, the laboratory should not begin work. At deltalabs. incomplete prescriptions are put on hold pending clarification.

Impressions or digital scans

Traditional impression:

• Silicone material (A-silicone) — best accuracy
• Impression of both arches — even if the work concerns only one tooth
• Check the impression before sending: no bubbles, full margin reproduction, no tears

Intraoral scan:

• Preparation scan + antagonist + bite
• Export in STL or PLY format
• Upload to the laboratory's prescription system

At deltalabs. we accept both formats. Digital scans speed up the workflow by 1–2 days (no transport or gypsum pouring time).

Occlusal registration

Occlusal registration records the position of the mandible relative to the maxilla. Without it, the technician must "guess" the occlusion on the articulator.

Minimum: wax bite in MIP (maximum intercuspation) position.

Optimal: registration in CR (centric relation) — especially for multi-unit restorations, changes in VDO, or patients with TMD dysfunction.

Additionally for complex cases: protrusive record — allows programming of condylar inclination on the articulator.

Registration technique: registration silicone (e.g., Futar, Regisil) or registration wax. Silicone is more precise and dimensionally stable.

Clinical photos

Photos are visual communication between the clinic and the laboratory. Minimum:

• Photo with shade guide next to the prepared tooth (daylight)
• Occlusion photo with articulating paper (if occlusal problems exist)
• Patient's smile photo (for aesthetic anterior restorations)

Optional:

• Close-up photo of the preparation
• Lateral photos (smile profile)
• Photo of the initial state (before preparation)

Photos eliminate 90% of misunderstandings regarding shade and aesthetics.

Facebow

A facebow records the position of the maxilla relative to the hinge axis of the temporomandibular joint. It is not required for every prescription but is indicated for:

• Restorations involving more than 3 units
• Changes in VDO
• Full mouth reconstructions
• Patients with asymmetry

At deltalabs. we accept records from KaVo Protar, Artex, SAM facebows. Facebow registration allows precise mounting of the model in the articulator — occlusion designed in CAD corresponds to clinical reality.

Models of antagonists and adjacent teeth

Even for a single crown prescription — an antagonist model is essential. Without it, the technician cannot:

• Design the occlusion (lack of contact with the opposing tooth)
• Assess available space
• Check canine and incisal guidance

A model of adjacent teeth allows for the design of correct contact points and emergence profile.

Checklist before sending to deltalabs.

1. Prescription form — complete, with all required fields
2. Impressions/scans — both arches + bite
3. Occlusal registration — CR or MIP (registration silicone)
4. Photos — shade with guide, occlusion, smile
5. Facebow — for restorations >3 units or VDO changes
6. Additional materials — old restoration (if remake), templates, mock-up

1. Does a digital scan replace a silicone impression?

Yes, completely. An intraoral scan (e.g., Trios, Primescan, Medit) provides accuracy comparable to or better than A-silicone. At deltalabs. digital scans are preferred — they speed up realization.

2. What if I don't have a facebow?

For simple restorations (1–3 units), it is not necessary. For complex cases — the lack of a facebow means the articulator is mounted in an averaged position, which may affect occlusal accuracy.

3. How to send photos to the laboratory?

At deltalabs. photos are attached directly to the digital prescription. Alternatively: email or messenger with the prescription number indicated. Important: photos should be in original resolution, not compressed.