Questions, answered

Getting started is simple. Get in touch through our contact page with your practice details and GDC number, and our team will set you up as a registered dental practice. Once you’re set up you can send cases by post or upload digital scans through our portal.

As a dental laboratory, we work directly with GDC-registered dental professionals and dental practices rather than members of the public. If you’re a patient, your dentist will work with a laboratory like ours to create your appliance. If you’re looking for a dentist who uses us, please get in touch .

Registered practices can log in to the dentist portal to submit and track cases. You can access the portal here . If you don’t yet have login details, contact us and we’ll get you set up.

We’re a family-run laboratory based in Christchurch, Dorset, and we’ve been serving dental practices since 1978. We work with practices across the UK using postal and digital workflows, so location is no barrier to working with us.

We accept digital scans from all major intraoral scanners, including iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, Medit, CEREC Primescan and others. You can export an open STL/PLY file or send through your scanner’s connection and we’ll handle the rest.

You can send scans directly through our scan upload page or via your scanner’s own export connection. If you’re unsure of the best method for your system, our team is happy to talk you through it.

Yes — we provide a free 3D printed model with every appliance order placed digitally, so you have an accurate physical reference for fit and finish.

A good scan captures the full arch with clear margins, no gaps in the data, and accurate occlusal detail. Make sure the relevant teeth and soft tissue are fully captured and the bite registration is clean. See our scan and impression requirements for full guidance.

Turnaround depends on the appliance, and we offer express services on most items to get work back to you faster. You can see current timings on our turnaround times page .

Yes. We offer express services on our appliances when you need a case back quickly. Get in touch when you place the case and we’ll let you know the fastest option.

We offer several postal options to suit your practice. Full details, including how to package impressions safely, are on our postal options page .

Yes. All our technicians are GDC registered and hold BTEC, City & Guilds or foundation degree qualifications, each with over ten years of experience. Every appliance is made with care, precision and high-quality materials.

DAMAS (the Dental Appliance Manufacturers Audit Scheme) is a quality management standard for dental laboratories. Being DAMAS accredited means we are independently audited to ensure consistent quality, traceability and compliance — giving you and your patients confidence in every appliance we make.

Yes. Our work is covered by a warranty for your peace of mind. Full terms are on our warranty page .

We offer a full range of custom dental appliances, including: Bruxism splints and night guards Whitening trays Orthodontic appliances, retainers and aligners Custom gumshields and sports mouthguards Snoreguards (MSi, Silensor-SL and fused) Full and partial dentures, immediate dentures and repairs Wax-ups

We offer three types of snoreguard: the MSi, the Silensor-SL and a fused design. Each suits different patient needs — see our snoreguards page to compare them.

Yes. We offer over 70 preset gumshield designs with interchangeable colours, and patients can also design and fully customise their own. See the gumshields page for options.

Yes, we provide a full denture repair service alongside full, partial and immediate dentures. Learn more on our denture repairs page .

A dental laboratory is where custom dental appliances and restorations are made. Dentists send a prescription along with an impression or digital scan of a patient’s mouth, and skilled dental technicians craft the appliance — such as a denture, splint, retainer or mouthguard — to precise specifications before returning it to the practice for fitting.

A night guard (or bruxism splint) is a custom-fitted appliance worn over the teeth, usually at night, to protect them from grinding and clenching. It can help reduce tooth wear, jaw pain and headaches associated with bruxism. A dentist will advise whether one is suitable for a particular patient.

A full (complete) denture replaces all the teeth in an arch when no natural teeth remain, while a partial denture fills the gaps left by some missing teeth and clips around the remaining natural ones. The right option depends on how many teeth are missing and the patient’s individual needs, which their dentist will assess.

Custom whitening trays are made to fit a patient’s teeth precisely, based on an impression or scan taken by their dentist. The close fit helps hold the whitening gel evenly against the teeth and reduces contact with the gums, making at-home whitening more comfortable and effective than one-size-fits-all trays. Whitening should always be carried out under the guidance of a dental professional.

A retainer is an appliance worn after orthodontic treatment to hold the teeth in their new position and stop them drifting back. Retainers can be removable or fixed (bonded behind the teeth). How long and how often it should be worn varies between patients, so always follow the specific advice of the treating dentist or orthodontist.

A traditional impression uses a soft material in a tray to take a physical mould of the teeth, which is then cast into a model. A digital scan uses an intraoral scanner to capture a highly accurate 3D image of the mouth instead. Both let us make a precise appliance — digital scans are faster to send, avoid posting physical impressions, and can be more comfortable for the patient.

Yes — a custom-made sports mouthguard (gumshield) is designed to absorb impact and protect the teeth, gums and jaw during contact and collision sports. A custom-fitted guard made from a dental impression offers a far better fit and level of protection than a generic boil-and-bite product.