Lab-Clinic Partnerships Are Broken? —Here’s How to Fix Them

Oct 28, 2024

Lab-Clinic Partnerships Are Broken? —Here’s How to Fix Them

Let’s cut to the chase: the relationship between dental labs and clinics is under immense pressure. In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven environment, clinics expect precision, speed, and seamless communication. Yet, labs are still struggling with fragmented workflows, miscommunication, and outdated processes that simply aren’t cutting it.

The issue isn’t just about moving from physical to digital workflows—it’s about mastering a hybrid workflow that allows labs and clinics to collaborate effectively without losing valuable time or, worse, losing clients. If your lab can’t deliver on both fronts—physical and digital—you’re playing a losing game.

Clinics are demanding more transparency, faster turnaround times, and error-free results, and they expect this across both physical impressions and digital workflows. Labs that can’t meet these demands are being left behind. The problem? Most labs are stuck in inefficient systems, unable to bridge the gap between the old way of doing things and the new expectations of modern clinics.

If you’re relying too heavily on physical workflows, you’re facing unnecessary delays. If you’ve gone fully digital but haven’t integrated it properly, you’re likely dealing with chaos and confusion. It’s not one or the other anymore—it’s both.

Let’s dive into the core challenges that labs and DSOs face in this hybrid model—and more importantly, how to overcome them.

The Challenge: Navigating the Hybrid Lab-Clinic Workflow

1. Physical Workflow: The Old Guard

Physical workflows—handling physical impressions, materials, and shipping—remain the backbone of many labs. However, physical processes come with inevitable delays. Labs deal with miscommunication during handoffs, shipping errors, and slower turnaround times. Without the ability to track these processes in real time, labs are operating in the dark.

2. Digital Workflow: The New Frontier

On the flip side, digital workflows promise speed and precision, offering tools like CAD/CAM designs and digital scans. But digital alone isn’t a cure-all. The problem arises when digital systems lack integration, creating bottlenecks that can be just as frustrating as the physical ones. Clinics expect instant updates, but without real-time synchronisation, even digital processes fall short.

The Reality: Why Labs and Clinics Struggle with the Hybrid Model

Labs and DSOs find themselves caught between these two worlds—struggling to manage both physical and digital workflows in tandem. Here’s what’s really holding them back:

Communication Breakdowns: Physical and digital workflows often run in parallel, but without centralised communication, critical updates get lost, leading to delays and frustration on both sides.
Siloed Information: Lab teams are working in one system, clinics in another, and the result is duplicated efforts, missed steps, and confused expectations.
Old-School vs. New-School Thinking: Clinics that have embraced digital expect faster service, but labs that rely on outdated physical processes are unable to meet their expectations. This disconnect is killing lab-clinic relationships.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Labs across the industry are facing the same uphill battle. But while some are letting this chaos define their workflow, others are taking control.

The Solution: How Smile Genius Solves the Hybrid Workflow Crisis

This is where Smile Genius comes in—our case management platform isn’t just designed to handle digital or physical workflows—it seamlessly integrates both, allowing labs and clinics to collaborate with speed, clarity, and precision. We don’t believe in choosing between physical and digital; we make sure both work together in harmony.

1. Seamless Integration for Physical and Digital Workflows

Smile Genius brings physical impressions and digital case management together under one roof. Every step—whether it’s a traditional impression or a CAD/CAM file—is tracked in the same system. This means no more confusion, no more lost impressions, and no more juggling multiple tools. Every case, no matter how it starts, is easily managed in one platform.

2. Real-Time Case Updates for Full Visibility

When was the last time you could track a case, in real-time, from clinic to lab and back again? Smile Genius offers real-time visibility for every case, across both physical and digital workflows. From the moment a case is created, both lab and clinic teams are kept in the loop, eliminating the guesswork. Missed deadlines? Not anymore.

3. Streamlined Communication for Better Lab-Clinic Partnerships

Communication isn’t just about speed—it’s about clarity. With Smile Genius, every interaction between lab and clinic is stored in one place. Whether it’s discussing case specifications or flagging a delay, everything happens in one platform, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.

4. Accountability and Transparency Across the Workflow

Smile Genius doesn’t just streamline tasks—it provides accountability. Every team member knows exactly what they’re responsible for, and every case is clearly tracked from start to finish. This level of transparency isn’t just good for operations—it builds trust with clinics, ensuring they can rely on you for accurate, on-time delivery.

Why Labs and DSOs Can’t Afford to Ignore the Hybrid Model

Ignoring the need for a hybrid workflow is no longer an option. Labs and DSOs that fail to master both digital and physical processes will quickly find themselves outpaced by competitors.

Clinics want the speed and efficiency of digital tools, but they still rely on the precision of physical workflows. If your lab can’t provide both in a seamless, integrated way, you’ll be left behind.

Smile Genius bridges this gap. We empower labs to operate at peak efficiency—no matter what kind of workflow they’re managing—while ensuring that clinics always get the speed, accuracy, and communication they expect.

It’s time to master the hybrid model.

Book a demo with Smile Genius today and see how our platform can revolutionise your lab’s workflow—delivering real-time control, seamless communication, and guaranteed results.