Required case information
A digital file is not a complete case. Tie each upload to a dentist, patient reference, prescription, requested work, material, due date, approval path, and the version that production should use.
- Scan or design file status
- Portal upload notes
- Material and restoration details
- Due date, stage owner, delivery, and invoice status
Typical production stages
Separate file review, design, approval, manufacturing or printing, and finishing so file availability is never confused with design approval or production completion.
- 1 Digital intake
- 2 File review
- 3 Design
- 4 Manufacturing or printing
- 5 Finishing
- 6 Quality check and delivery
Common bottlenecks
- Files stored in separate tools without clear case status
- Design waiting for dentist clarification
- Digital cases not connected to invoices
- Remakes without root-cause notes
File-to-case control
Keep the approved digital version attached to the production decision
The operational risk is not simply losing a file. It is manufacturing from the wrong version, missing an approval, or letting a file sit without a visible owner.
| Digital checkpoint | Record on the case | Control question |
|---|---|---|
| Upload received | File name or reference, source, received time, and requested work | Does the upload belong to this dentist and patient reference? |
| File reviewed | Usability result, missing data, and reviewer | Can design begin without an assumption or replacement scan? |
| Design approved | Approved version, approver, approval time, and any conditions | Which exact version is authorized for manufacturing? |
| Manufacturing released | Machine or production route, owner, material, and release time | Can the next person trace the output back to the approved design? |
Dental Lab Guru organizes files and workflow records; it is not CAD/CAM design software and does not replace scanner- or machine-specific controls.
Best practices
Keep digital file references attached to the case.
Use stage owners for design and manufacturing.
Track dentist clarification as a visible status.
Review digital remake reasons monthly.