A realistic guide to balancing clinical excellence and financial efficiency in modern dental practices.
If you’ve ever questioned whether providing top-tier prosthetics can coexist with strong financial performance, you're not alone. The good news? With the right approach, you don’t have to choose one or the other.
Let’s take a deeper look — backed by real-world data and clinical studies — at the true costs of in-office milling and smarter alternatives for maximizing profitability without compromising quality.
While Chairside CAD/CAM systems initially promise speed and control, their long-term operational costs and inefficiencies often outweigh those benefits.
According to an analysis published in Dental Economics (2018), the total cost of producing a single crown using an in-house milling system was, on average, 15–20% higher than outsourcing to a professional dental lab. This includes:
Material costs
Equipment maintenance and depreciation
Software upgrades
Most significantly, the dentist or trained staff’s time diverted to lab-related tasks.
Additional findings from Avant Dental and Decisions in Dentistry also show that ongoing expenses such as consumables, technician salaries, and system upkeep create a mounting financial burden over time.
Furthermore, a study in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (2019) found that in-house systems have higher error and remake rates than external labs — resulting in wasted materials, longer chair times, and decreased patient satisfaction.
Premium block prices due to low-volume ordering
Frequent bur/tool replacements
Recurring maintenance, repairs, software fees, and depreciation
Valuable time spent on scanning, designing, finishing, and equipment upkeep
Time that could otherwise be used for revenue-generating patient care
Every hour behind the machine is an hour lost from your core skill — dentistry
In-house systems often underperform on complex or high-aesthetic cases
Increased errors lead to rework, longer appointments, and possible loss of patient trust
When considering total costs — both direct and indirect — outsourcing to a professional dental lab often results in better financial outcomes and higher-quality restorations.
Focus on what matters most: treating patients and growing your practice.
Look beyond cost alone. The right dental lab should offer:
Consistent precision and craftsmanship
Fast turnaround and proactive communication
Low remake rates and accountability
Scalability as your clinic grows
A high-quality lab is not an expense — it’s a strategic asset that supports your clinical goals and financial success.
📚 References
Dental Economics. (2018). The hidden costs of in-office milling.
Avant Dental. Decisions in Dentistry: Cost analysis of chairside CAD/CAM.
Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. (2019). Systematic review on CAD/CAM denture accuracy and efficiency.