Digital Crown and Bridge Workflow: 7 Steps for More Predictable Cases (2026)

A successful digital crown and bridge workflow starts well before a restoration reaches the lab.

Scan quality, preparation design, clinical information and communication all influence what happens next. When those inputs are clear—and your laboratory workflow is built to support them—digital dentistry can create a more efficient and predictable restorative experience for both your practice and your patients.

DDS Lab has supported more than 3 million digital cases. Along the way, we've seen what helps digital cases move smoothly from scan to final restoration.

Here are seven practical steps that can help.

Quick Guide: 7 Steps for a Predictable Digital Crown and Bridge Workflow

1. Capture a complete, accurate intraoral scan
2. Review the preparation and margins before submitting
3. Provide the clinical information your laboratory needs
4. Include photography when the case calls for it
5. Use digital design collaboration when additional visibility is valuable
6. Track the case so you can schedule with confidence
7. Share feedback that helps your laboratory learn your preferences

1. Capture a Complete, Accurate Intraoral Scan

The quality of the restorative workflow starts with the quality of the clinical information provided to the laboratory.

Before submitting a scan, confirm that the preparation and surrounding tissue are clearly captured and that there are no voids or stitching errors in critical areas. Moisture control and adequate tissue retraction can make the margin easier to capture accurately.

Be sure to include the opposing arch and an accurate bite so the laboratory has the information needed to evaluate articulation and design the restoration.

Research continues to support the accuracy of digital impressions for single-unit restorations. A 2025 study published in BMC Oral Health found digital impressions produced single-crown restorations with marginal fit accuracy comparable to or better than conventional methods.

If an area around the preparation isn't clearly captured, correcting it before the patient leaves the chair is considerably easier than bringing the patient back for a rescan.

Digital workflow takeaway: Before sending the case, review the scan the same way you would evaluate a conventional impression before putting it in the box.

2. Review the Preparation and Margins Before Submitting

A digital impression may eliminate impression material, but it doesn't eliminate the fundamentals of restorative dentistry.

Before submitting the case, evaluate:

• Margin visibility
• Occlusal clearance
• Axial reduction
• Draw and undercuts
• Adjacent contacts
• Tissue capture around the preparation

The goal isn't simply to produce a technically complete scan. It's to give the laboratory a clear representation of the clinical situation so the restoration can be designed appropriately.

When the preparation or margin isn't clear, communication between the practice and laboratory becomes even more important. DDS Lab offers additional guidance on how to send a digital impression and connect your intraoral scanner to the lab.

3. Provide the Clinical Information Your Laboratory Needs

The scan captures anatomy. The prescription communicates intent.

A complete digital prescription should clearly identify the restoration and material requested, shade and any case-specific functional or esthetic considerations.

Depending on the case, useful information may include:

• Material selection
• Shade
• Occlusal considerations
• Contact preferences
• Existing restorations that should be matched
• Patient-specific functional considerations
• Esthetic expectations
• Relevant clinical photographs

The more clearly the clinical objective is communicated, the better equipped your laboratory team is to execute against it.

DDS Lab also offers printable Rx forms to help practices standardize case information.

For more complex cases, you don't have to solve every technical question before sending the case. DDS Lab's technical team is available for one-on-one case consultations to collaborate on material selection, case planning and restorative options.

4. Include Photography When the Case Calls for It

A scan provides tremendous clinical information, but it doesn't communicate everything.

Photography becomes particularly valuable as esthetic complexity increases.

For posterior restorations, photography may simply provide additional clinical context. For anterior and high-esthetic cases, photographs can communicate information that a scan alone cannot—including shade, characterization, smile dynamics and how the restoration needs to integrate with the surrounding dentition.

For demanding anterior cases, Curate™ by DDS Lab uses structured photography and collaborative planning to give the laboratory greater visibility into the desired esthetic outcome.

Better information at the beginning of the case creates greater opportunity for alignment before the final restoration is fabricated.

5. Use Digital Design Collaboration When It Adds Value

Not every crown needs a design meeting.

But there are cases where seeing the proposed restoration before fabrication can be extremely valuable.

DesignVault™ connects your case with DDS Lab's design team and provides the opportunity to review a proposed design when greater collaboration is appropriate.

Depending on the case, that may mean reviewing:

• Contours
• Contacts
• Occlusion
• Emergence profile
• Esthetic direction
• Overall restorative design

This can be particularly useful for complex restorations, anterior cases or situations where you want greater visibility before moving into production.

The objective isn't to add another step to every digital case. It's to make collaboration available when it can improve predictability.

6. Track the Case So You Can Schedule With Confidence

The digital workflow shouldn't become invisible once you hit send.

The MyDDSLab portal and mobile app give practices visibility into their cases throughout the laboratory process, including case status, expected delivery information and shipping updates.

That visibility matters because laboratory predictability affects more than the restoration—it affects your schedule.

Knowing when to expect a case helps your team coordinate patient appointments and reduces the time spent calling the laboratory for status updates.

DDS Lab's digital workflow is designed to combine efficient production with the visibility practices need to plan confidently.

7. Share Feedback That Helps Your Laboratory Learn Your Preferences

A strong laboratory relationship gets better over time.

When you seat a restoration, evaluate the things that matter clinically:

• Marginal fit
• Contacts
• Occlusion
• Contour
• Shade and characterization
• Overall esthetic integration

If you consistently prefer a particular contact strength, anatomy, emergence profile or esthetic characteristic, tell us.

Those details help your laboratory understand how you practice and what you expect from your restorations.

Digital dentistry isn't only about digitizing the impression. At its best, it creates a better communication loop between the doctor and laboratory.

What Causes Delays in Digital Crown and Bridge Cases?

The most common digital workflow problems often begin with incomplete or unclear clinical information.

Examples include:

• A margin that isn't completely captured
• Missing opposing or bite scans
• Incomplete prescriptions
• Missing shade information
• Insufficient reduction
• Unclear restorative instructions
• Missing photography on esthetically demanding cases

A quick review before submitting the case can prevent unnecessary communication later.

Think of the final scan review as a digital version of inspecting a conventional impression before the patient leaves.

How Does a Digital Workflow Improve Crown and Bridge Predictability?

Digital dentistry creates a direct path from clinical capture to laboratory design.

The intraoral scan provides the laboratory with a digital representation of the clinical situation. The restoration can then be designed using CAD technology, evaluated digitally and manufactured through an appropriate milling or fabrication workflow.

That digital continuity removes several variables associated with conventional impression and model workflows while also creating opportunities for greater visibility and collaboration.

Depending on the restoration, digital manufacturing may include materials such as zirconia, lithium disilicate or other restorative materials selected based on the clinical requirements of the case.

But technology alone doesn't create a predictable restoration.

The strongest digital workflows combine good clinical inputs, thoughtful restorative design, consistent manufacturing processes and communication between the doctor and laboratory.

That's where the laboratory relationship still matters.

Digital Dentistry With DDS Lab: Design. Deliver. Support.

DDS Lab has supported more than 3 million digital cases, giving our teams extensive experience working across digital restorative workflows and leading intraoral scanner platforms.

But our approach to digital dentistry goes beyond accepting a scan.

Design.
Our design teams combine digital technology with restorative expertise, with collaborative tools such as DesignVault™ available when greater visibility or input is needed.

Deliver.
Standardized materials, workflows, technology and quality systems across DDS Lab's fully owned and operated fabrication locations help us deliver consistent restorative outcomes at scale.

Support.
From scanner onboarding and continuing education to technical case planning and ongoing case support, our team is available when your practice needs us.

Because the best digital workflow isn't simply faster.

It's one that gives your practice confidence from scan to seat.

Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Crown and Bridge Workflows

What should I check before sending a digital crown or bridge case?

Review the preparation, margin capture, opposing arch and bite before submitting the case. Confirm that the prescription includes the restoration, material, shade and any relevant clinical instructions. Include photography when additional esthetic or clinical context will help the laboratory understand the desired outcome.

Do I need to mark the margin before sending my scan?

The most important step is ensuring that the margin is clearly captured and reviewing the preparation before submitting the case. If the margin or preparation is unclear, contact DDS Lab so our team can help determine the best next step.

Should I send photographs with every crown case?

Not necessarily. Photography becomes increasingly important as esthetic demands increase. Anterior restorations, shade-sensitive cases and restorations that must integrate with surrounding natural dentition benefit particularly from strong clinical photography.

For higher-esthetic anterior cases, learn more about the Curate™ workflow.

Can I review my restoration before it is fabricated?

Yes. DesignVault™ provides digital design review and collaboration when you want additional visibility into a case before production. It can be especially valuable for complex and esthetically demanding restorations.

How can I track a case after I send it?

The MyDDSLab portal and mobile app provide access to case status, delivery and tracking information, helping your practice coordinate patient scheduling without unnecessary follow-up calls.

Can DDS Lab help if I'm new to digital impressions?

Yes. DDS Lab provides digital workflow support and dental education across major scanner platforms. Our team can help practices connect their scanner, improve their submission workflow and make the transition from traditional to digital impressions easier.

Ready to Make Your Digital Workflow More Predictable?

Whether you're sending your first digital case or looking to improve an established workflow, DDS Lab can help.

Send a case today or talk with a DDS Lab technical expert about your digital workflow.

Design. Deliver. Support.