For dental practices

Send-by date planner

Got a fit date booked? Tell us the appliance and the day the patient is in, and we'll work backwards from our turnaround to the latest date you can get the case to us.

Pick an appliance and a fit date to see your send-by date.

How this works. We count working days only (Monday–Friday) and aim to have the finished case back with you the working day before your fit date. Standard turnaround is laboratory time from receipt; Gold is 1 working day and Silver is 2. Posting adds a short allowance each way — around Christchurch we also collect free on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

This is a guide to help you plan. It excludes UK bank holidays, so add a day around them, and cases received after 12pm count from the next working day. For a tight date, call us on 01202 486113 and we'll confirm.

Turnaround & timing

Planning a case: common questions

How far in advance should I send a case?

Use the planner above — enter the appliance and the patient’s fit date and it works backwards over working days to the latest date to send it. As a rule of thumb, allow the appliance’s standard turnaround plus time for posting both ways.

Do you count weekends and bank holidays?

Turnaround is measured in working days (Monday–Friday), and the planner skips weekends. It does not account for UK bank holidays, so add a day around them.

Does posting add time to the turnaround?

Yes — the turnaround is laboratory time from receipt. Posting adds a short allowance each way; choose “Post / impression” in the planner to include it. Around Christchurch we also collect free of charge on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Can you turn a case around faster than standard?

Yes. Gold (1 working day) and Silver (2 working days) express are available on any appliance — select them in the planner, or see our turnaround times.

When does the turnaround clock start?

From when we receive your scan or impression; cases received after 12pm count from the next working day. Wax-ups and aligners run from when you approve the design or treatment plan.

More for planning cases

Turnaround times Standard, Gold and Silver, by appliance. Postal options Tracked labels and collection days. Scan & impression requirements Get cases right first time. More free tools Pickers and the gumshield designer.

Need it sooner than standard?

Gold (1 working day) and Silver (2 working day) express are available on any appliance — just tell us the fit date.

Send us a case See express services