Launch a Successful Dental Lab
In this guide, we will show you how to start your own dental lab. We’ll go over how to find what services you will offer, build a dental lab budget, and laying out your space with the right furniture and equipment.
As dental implants and permanent solutions to missing and broken teeth become more popular, the rise in demand for dental laboratories has followed suit. Dental labs may provide dentists and patients with intricate or detailed dental implants, full dental reconstructions, dental prosthetics, and more.
A Growing Dental Industry
Now, with more patients opting for implants and dental reconstruction, dental labs are under greater pressure to deliver aesthetically pleasing, high-quality results in a timely manner.
This boom in dental implant and aesthetic dentistry popularity has helped to propel the dental lab industry, creating more opportunities and jobs for people interested in working behind the scenes in dentistry. Patients and dentists alike are discerning when it comes to the look, feel, and quality of dental implants, but don’t let that dissuade you.
If your dental lab can provide high-quality work, this field can be an incredibly lucrative business.
In this guide, we will cover some of the necessary steps and considerations to craft a dental lab business plan, start your own dental laboratory, and share some of the ways OnePointe Solutions can help you do just that.
Finding Your Dental Niche
Before you commit to starting a dental lab, you should first identify whether or not there is a need for your particular dental services. Types of services include:
- Crown & Bridge
- Veneers
- Occlusal Appliances
- Dental Sleep Medicine
- Implants & Removable
- Provisionals
A now booming industry, the world of dentistry has grown quickly over the past few years, and a huge number of dental manufacturers and laboratories already exist. While it may seem intimidating to join an industry that is already brimming with talent, don’t feel dissuaded by the presence of competition.
Learn what services are in the highest demand, see what products and services are less popular, and search for areas of the industry that are missing adequate representation.
Building a Team of Dental Lab Experts
Once you know what kind of work you plan to do at your dental lab, you’ll be able to start building a team. You already know the niche you plan to fill, so start to look for team members that have expertise in that field or complementing fields.
Remember, you want to fill your team with like-minded individuals who be assets to the team, not just colleagues or business partners you have enjoyed working with in the past.
Choose team members with experience and qualifications; those with degrees and experience pertaining to dentistry and dental services will always be better choices than individuals coming from adjacent industries. Additionally, look for team members with diverse sets of skills that complement the other team members.
Finding six orthodontics experts won’t serve you as well as finding three orthodontics experts and three experts in crown construction. Essentially, do your best to build a diverse, well-rounded team with a variety of skills and backgrounds.
Creating a Budget for Your Dental Lab
A major consideration when figuring out how to start a dental laboratory is to consider the budget. Everything from the top of this process to the bottom will cost money, and you’ll need to be prepared to pay for all the necessary components.
Not only will you need to budget for the cost of the space you rent or buy, but you will also need to consider the cost of dental lab equipment, furniture, utilities, licenses, personnel, materials, and so on.
Common equipment found in a dental lab includes dental microscopes, model-building equipment, casting machines, dental waxing equipment, and all the necessary air purifiers and filtration systems to keep your work environment clean and sanitary. Sit down and go through every anticipated expense individually, then create a plan based around the budget you have created.
Creating a budget will help you be more prepared throughout the process, ensure you don’t run out of money unexpectedly and increase your confidence making choices or alterations to the design of your dental lab.
Designing Your Dental Lab Layout and Floor Plan
Once you know your financial parameters, it will be time to choose and design your lab space. When selecting a space for your lab, be sure it will readily comply with all dental lab regulations to avoid shelling out more money in the event your space isn’t up to snuff.
You should also be careful to choose an appropriately sized lab. Too small and your staff won’t be able to complete their work safely or comfortably.
Too big, and you’ll have trouble keeping things organized, cleaned, and functioning efficiently. Ensuring your have enough space to fit in your dental lab benches and storage while staying cost efficient is key.
Once you have chosen your space, OnePointe Solutions can help you design and furnish your dental lab. Our design team works closely with clients to determine their specific needs.
Get Help Planning Your Dental Laboratory
We carry a full range of lab benches, casework, tables, seating, and so on, so you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for. No matter the size or scope of your project, we can help you find the best solution and will custom build your furniture to fit perfectly in with your design for optimized use of space and streamlined workflow.
Contact us by calling (866) 612-7312 or filling out a contact form on our site. We will have a representative reach out to discuss the right kind of lab furniture your project.