Bayshore Dental Studio

Scanner Program or Ownership? How Multi-Location Practices Should Choose an Intraoral Scanner

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:18:39 GMT

The quick answer: for most multi-location practices, owning an open-system intraoral scanner costs less over five years and keeps you in control of your labs, your workflow, and your data. Scanner programs, which bundle a scanner with a subscription, lease, or required lab volume, lower the upfront cost but add recurring fees and often limit where cases can go. The strongest approach for growing groups is to own the scanners and pair them with a lab membership that lowers lab fees without locking you in.

What is an intraoral scanner program?

A scanner program bundles the hardware with ongoing obligations. Common versions include monthly subscriptions or software fees, leases with a buyout at the end of the term, per-scan charges, and "free" or discounted scanners tied to minimum case volume at a specific lab. These programs can make it easy to get started, but the true cost shows up over time, and the terms usually multiply with every location you add.

Scanner program vs. ownership at a glance

Compare the true five year cost

Look past the monthly payment. For each location, add the purchase or lease cost, subscriptions, software licenses, per-scan fees, and any lab volume commitments over five years. Then compare that against owning the scanner outright. Ownership has a higher first-year cost, but with no recurring fees it usually becomes the lower-cost option within the first couple of years, and the savings grow with every office you add. Remember to count what digital scanning saves on impression material, shipping, retakes, and chair time in either model.

Keep control of your labs and your data

Many scanner programs are designed to route cases to a particular lab. That can work until quality, turnaround, or pricing changes and you need options. An open system exports standard digital files, so each office can send cases to the lab that fits the restoration, and your group keeps full control of its patient scans. For multi-location practices, that flexibility protects both quality and negotiating power.

Standardize every location on one workflow

Groups grow fastest when every office works the same way. Owning the same scanner in every operatory means one training program, one set of protocols, and consistent scan quality that your labs can count on. It also makes it simple to add a new location: buy the scanner, train the team, and plug into the workflow you already use, with no new program contract to negotiate.

Do not overlook support and training

The biggest risk with any scanner is that it goes unused. Whether you choose a program or ownership, confirm who trains each office, whether training continues as staff turns over, and how fast support responds when a scanner has a problem during a patient visit. For multi-location groups, look for unlimited support and training that covers every office, not just the first install.

The best of both: own the scanner, join a lab membership

You do not have to choose between low lab costs and ownership. Pairing an owned, open-system scanner with a lab membership gives multi-location practices discounted lab fees and a streamlined digital workflow, without subscriptions on the hardware or contracts that lock every case to one lab.

That is how Bayshore Dental Studio approaches it. The IntelliScan 3D Model Y intraoral scanner is an open system you own outright, with no subscriptions or per-scan fees. It delivers 10 micron accuracy, a 25 mm depth of field, AI detection of caries and plaque, self calibrating optics, two tip sizes including a mini tip, and a treatment plan presentation mode, and it doubles as an intraoral camera. Every scanner includes free unlimited U.S.-based same-day support and service and free personal virtual training, backed by a 30 day money back guarantee and a 5 year warranty. Practices that join Bayshore Scans Club can save up to 50 percent on lab fees through the Bayshore online portal. Growing groups can also explore our full-service dental lab services , or schedule an IntelliScan demo to see it in your own office..

7 Qualities to Evaluate Before Buying an Intraoral Scanner

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:35:51 GMT

The quick answer: before buying an intraoral scanner, evaluate seven things: support and training, software, versatility, real clinical proof, total cost of ownership, warranty, and scan quality. Most dentists start with price and image quality, but support and software decide whether the scanner actually gets used every day. An open system that sends clean files to the lab of your choice protects your investment for years.

Why choosing the right intraoral scanner matters

Intraoral scanning has moved from early adopter technology to the standard of care for crown and bridge, implant, and removable workflows. Digital impressions remove trays and impression material, cut down on voids and distortion, and send cases to the lab the same day. The scanner you choose will sit in your operatory for five years or more, so the wrong choice costs far more than the purchase price. It shows up as unused equipment, retakes, and remakes. Use the checklist below whether you are buying your first scanner or replacing an older one.

The 7 qualities at a glance

The bottom line

The best intraoral scanner is the one your team will use on every case, backed by people who help you get value from it. Prioritize support and software first, confirm versatility and real clinical results, then compare five year cost, warranty, and scan quality side by side.

That is the approach behind the IntelliScan 3D Model Y intraoral scanner from Bayshore Dental Studio. It delivers 10 micron scan accuracy, a 25 mm depth of field, AI soft tissue filtering, and self calibrating optics for crowns, bridges, implants, and full arch scans. It is an open system that you own outright, with no subscriptions or per-scan fees, and it is protected by a 30 day money back guarantee and a 5 year warranty. Members of Bayshore Scans Club also get same day U.S.-based support and ongoing training and digital workflow guidance. Not sure whether you also need a mill? Read our guide to chairside vs. lab-centered scanner workflows , or schedule an IntelliScan demo to see it on a live patient.

1. Support and training

Support is the most important quality, and the easiest to overlook. True support includes onboarding, chairside training for the whole team, ongoing education, and fast help when something goes wrong in the middle of a patient visit. Ask who provides the training, whether it happens in your office or online, and how quickly support responds. A scanner your team is not confident using will end up in a drawer.

2. Software

Software drives the learning curve and the day to day experience. Look at the user interface, scanning prompts and feedback, AI features such as soft tissue filtering, and how often updates are released. Just as important is the lab connection. An open system exports standard files so you can send cases to any lab without restrictions. Ask for a live demonstration rather than relying on videos.

3. Versatility

Some scanners are built for a narrow set of indications. Confirm the scanner can handle the cases you actually see: single crowns, bridges, implant scan bodies, partials, dentures, full arch, and orthodontic records. Depth of field matters here, since a deeper scan range makes posterior and hard to reach areas easier to capture. Peer groups of dentists who already use the scanner are a good place to ask how it performs across case types.

4. Clinical proof

Every scanner images a stone model well. Scanning a live patient with saliva, soft tissue, and limited access is a different test. Ask for documentation of real clinical cases such as crowns, implants, and full arch work, and talk to dentists who use the scanner every day. Real patient results are the best way to know whether the scanner performs the way the specifications suggest.

5. Total cost of ownership

Compare cost over five years, not just the purchase price. Add any subscription, software license, or per-scan fees, then subtract what you will save on impression material, shipping, retakes, adjustments, and chair time. Scanners you own outright with no recurring fees usually come out well ahead over five years. Ask every vendor for a written five year total.

6. Warranty

One year coverage has long been the norm for dental technology. Ask how long the warranty lasts, what it covers, whether an extended warranty is available and when you have to buy it, and what happens if the scanner fails. Find out whether you will receive a loaner or a replacement unit quickly, because a scanner that is out for repair stops your digital workflow.

7. Scan quality

Image quality is what your lab cares about most. Accuracy depends on the optics, the number of cameras, calibration, and the software that processes the scan. Look at accuracy specifications, self calibration, and color realism, and ask the lab you work with to review sample scans. Clean margins and contacts in the file mean better fitting restorations and fewer remakes.

How to Choose a Flexible Partial Denture Lab: 7 Questions to Ask

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:58:27 GMT

The quick answer: choose a flexible partial denture lab that can service the partial after delivery. The most important question is whether the lab can rebase it, repair it, and add teeth or clasps as the patient's mouth changes. Fit consistency, turnaround, material quality, and communication matter too, but serviceability decides whether a partial lasts for years or needs a full remake the first time a tooth is lost.

Why does serviceability matter most for flexible partials?

Partially edentulous patients rarely stay the same. Ridges resorb, tissue changes, and additional teeth are often lost after a partial is delivered. Depending on the material and how it is fabricated, some flexible partials are difficult or impossible to reline or add to, which leaves remaking the entire appliance as the only option. That means more appointments, more lab cost, and a frustrated patient. A serviceable flexible partial can be rebased to fit changing tissue, repaired if damaged, and expanded with new teeth or clasps, so the original appliance keeps working as the case evolves.

7 questions to ask a flexible partial denture lab

The bottom line

The right flexible partial lab gives you a partial that can grow with the patient: rebasable, repairable, and able to accept new teeth and clasps, made from a comfortable, biocompatible material, and backed by consistent fit and responsive communication.

That is exactly how Bayshore Dental Studio built BAYFLEX flexible partial dentures . BAYFLEX is a serviceable, metal free system made from an extremely resilient, high performance nylon thermoplastic that is monomer free, BPA free, hypoallergenic, and highly stain resistant. With no visible metal clasps, a properly fitted BAYFLEX partial is nearly undetectable in the mouth. Every BAYFLEX partial can be rebased, repaired, and expanded with additional teeth or clasps as your patient's needs change, without remaking the appliance. Options include BAYFLEX Basic, BAYFLEX Hybrid, BAYFLEX Single Tooth, and BAYFLEX Clearframe , a semi-rigid, clear, metal free upgrade to acrylic and metal frameworks that is also easy to repair and rebase in the lab, with five tissue shades and a two appointment workflow from a scan with the IntelliScan 3D or a traditional impression. BAYFLEX is recommended by 93 percent of clinicians surveyed in a Clinicians Report evaluation. Send your next BAYFLEX case to Bayshore .

1. Can the partial be rebased as tissue changes?

Ask directly whether the lab can rebase its flexible partials and how the process works. Rebasing restores tissue adaptation without starting over, which protects both the patient's comfort and your chair time.

2. Can teeth and clasps be added later?

This is the question that most often separates labs. If a patient loses an abutment or an adjacent tooth, you want the lab to add a prosthetic tooth or a new flexible clasp to the existing partial rather than fabricate a new one.

3. Can damaged areas be repaired?

Accidents happen. A lab that can repair a flexible partial gets the patient back to function quickly and avoids the cost and delay of a full remake.

4. What material is the partial made from?

Material choice affects comfort, staining, and biocompatibility. Look for a resilient, high performance thermoplastic that is monomer free, BPA free, and hypoallergenic, with a metal free framework, especially for patients with sensitivities to the monomer in acrylic or to metal. Stain resistance and the availability of multiple tissue shades also support a more natural, longer lasting esthetic result.

5. Does the lab offer more than one design?

One design does not fit every mouth. A capable lab should offer:

A standard flexible partial for most partially edentulous cases
A hybrid design that pairs a metal framework with flexible clasps for cases needing more support, such as patients missing all posterior teeth
A single tooth flexible partial for interim restorations and implant healing
A clear, semi-rigid, metal free frame option with a tooth supported framework when minimizing visibility is the priority

6. How easy is it to submit cases and communicate?

Predictable fit starts with good records and clear communication. Ask whether the lab accepts digital scans as well as conventional impressions, whether cases can be submitted and tracked through an online portal, and whether you can talk to a technician about design questions. A streamlined two appointment workflow, scan or impression with bite registration and then seating, keeps cases moving.

7. What do other dentists say about the lab's partials?

Independent clinician evaluations and peer recommendations are among the best predictors of fit consistency and remake risk. Ask the lab for published evaluations, and talk to colleagues about turnaround and how often their partials seat without major adjustments.

Chairside vs. Lab-Centered Intraoral Scanner Workflows: Which Fits Your Practice?

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:27:47 GMT

The quick answer: most general practices get the best return from a lab-centered workflow, where you scan chairside and send the digital file to your lab for design, milling, and finishing. A full chairside workflow, where you also design and mill in the office, makes sense when you place a high volume of single-unit restorations and have a team ready to own CAD and milling. Many practices land in between. Here is how to decide based on your restorative volume, your team, and how closely you want to work with your lab.

What is the difference between a chairside and a lab-centered scanner workflow?

Both workflows start the same way: an intraoral scanner captures a 3D digital impression in place of trays and impression material. The difference is what happens next. In a chairside workflow, the practice designs the restoration in CAD software, mills it on an in-office unit, and stains, glazes, or sinters it before seating, often in a single visit. In a lab-centered workflow, the scan is sent digitally to a dental laboratory, where technicians design, mill, and finish the restoration and ship it back for seating at the next appointment. A hybrid approach keeps simple single units chairside and sends everything else to the lab.

Chairside vs. lab-centered workflows at a glance

The bottom line

If high-volume single units and same-day delivery are central to your practice, a chairside workflow can be worth the investment. For most general practices, the better move is a strong intraoral scanner paired with a digital lab partner, which delivers accurate impressions, a broader range of restorations, and less equipment to manage.

Bayshore Dental Studio built its digital workflow around exactly that model. The IntelliScan 3D Model Y is an open system scanner you own outright, with no subscriptions or per-scan fees, 10 µm scan accuracy, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 5-year warranty. Scans go straight into Bayshore's fully digital lab workflow, and practices that join Bayshore Scans Club can save up to 50% on lab fees with same-day U.S.-based support and ongoing training. From single Z Crown zirconia units to full arch cases, send your next digital case to Bayshore and see how a lab-centered workflow fits your practice.

Why does the scan itself matter so much?

Whichever workflow you choose, the digital impression is where accuracy is won or lost. A clean scan captures margins and contacts without the voids, pulls, and distortion that can affect conventional impressions, and you can check it on screen before the patient leaves. That clean data is what drives better-fitting crowns and bridges and fewer remakes and chairside adjustments. In practice, the scanner is the one piece of equipment every digital workflow shares, so it is the right place to start.

When does a chairside workflow make sense?

A chairside setup tends to pay off when most of these are true:

You place a high and steady volume of single-unit crowns and onlays
Same-day delivery is a meaningful part of how you market the practice
A team member is ready to take ownership of CAD design and the mill
You have the chair time and space to absorb milling and finishing in the schedule
Your case mix is weighted toward posterior single units rather than complex restorative work

The tradeoff is that chairside dentistry turns part of your practice into a small production lab. The equipment, maintenance, materials inventory, and staff training are yours to manage, and the time spent designing and finishing is time away from other procedures.

When is a lab-centered workflow the better fit?

For most general dentists, scanning chairside and partnering with a digital lab is the more efficient path, especially when:

Your restorative volume is moderate or varies month to month
You want to go digital without buying a mill, furnace, and design software
Your cases include bridges, implant restorations, full arch work, removables, or high esthetic anterior units
You would rather keep chair time focused on patient care than on design and finishing
You value technician input on design, shade, and material selection

A lab-centered workflow also scales with you. The same scanner and the same digital submission process cover a single crown, a multi-unit zirconia bridge, or a full arch case, so there is no ceiling on what you can send.

How do team adoption and lab collaboration factor in?

Team adoption is often the deciding factor. Scanning alone is quick to learn, and assistants can take on much of it with good training. Adding in-office design and milling raises the learning curve and makes the workflow depend on one or two trained people. With a lab-centered approach, your team focuses on capturing a complete scan and communicating the case clearly, and the lab handles the rest. Strong digital collaboration helps too: being able to send scans instantly, discuss a case with a technician, and track it through an online portal keeps a lab-centered workflow fast and predictable.

Zirconia vs. IPS e.max: How to Choose the Right Crown

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:42:33 GMT

The quick answer: reach for zirconia when strength leads the case, and for IPS e.max when translucency leads it. Zirconia handles posterior crowns, long-span bridges, and heavy function, while e.max shines on single anterior units and veneers where lifelike esthetics matter most. Most practices keep both on the menu and match the material to the tooth. Here is how to make that call quickly and predictably.

What is the core difference between zirconia and IPS e.max?

Zirconia is a polycrystalline ceramic milled from zirconium dioxide. It is prized for very high flexural strength and fracture resistance, with no metal core and no porcelain layer to chip. IPS e.max is a lithium disilicate glass ceramic. Its glassy microstructure gives it high translucency that closely mimics natural enamel, along with solid but lower strength than zirconia. In short, zirconia is the strength material and e.max is the esthetics material, though modern formulations have narrowed the gap in both directions.

How do they compare on strength?

Full-contour zirconia reaches flexural strength of up to roughly 1,400 MPa, with fracture toughness in the range of 5 to 10 MPa m and a modulus of elasticity above 205 GPa. Lithium disilicate such as IPS e.max sits closer to 360 to 400 MPa. That difference is why zirconia is the safer choice under heavy occlusal load, for long-span work, and for patients who clench or grind, while e.max is best reserved for lower-load situations.

How do they compare on esthetics?

IPS e.max has long been a benchmark for anterior esthetics because its translucency and light diffusion read like natural enamel. Early zirconia was strong but opaque. Today's high-translucency, multilayered zirconia builds a natural color gradient into the disc and blends far better than older generations. For the highest anterior demands, a layered option adds hand-applied porcelain on the facial surface, and e.max remains an excellent monolithic choice for single units and veneers.

Zirconia vs. IPS e.max at a glance

The bottom line: you do not always have to choose

Match the material to the demand of the tooth. Choose zirconia when strength and durability lead, and IPS e.max when anterior translucency leads. When a single case needs both, a layered option bridges the gap.

Bayshore Dental Studio's Z Crown zirconia family spans the full range: Z Solid full-contour zirconia at up to 1,400 MPa for bruxers and long-span bridges, high-translucency Z Crown Anterior for esthetic units, and Z Crown Layered and Z Crown Plus, which layer e.max porcelain over a zirconia coping to combine strength with hand-finished beauty. When a case calls for pure lithium disilicate, our IPS e.max restorations deliver lifelike anterior esthetics, all milled in a fully digital workflow compatible with every intraoral scanner. Send your next case to Bayshore and our team will help you pick the right material for the tooth.

Zirconia Bridges: A Clinical Guide for Predictable, Durable Bridgework

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:29:21 GMT

Zirconia bridges have become the workhorse of fixed prosthetics for a simple reason. They deliver the strength to survive the posterior load and the esthetics to satisfy the anterior smile, from a single material. For the practice, that means fewer remakes, fewer fractures, and a restoration you can prescribe with confidence across most of the mouth.

This guide covers when to choose a zirconia bridge, how to prepare for one, how the material options differ, and how to give your lab what it needs so the case seats the first time.

What is a zirconia bridge?

A zirconia bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis milled from zirconium dioxide, a ceramic prized for its high flexural strength and biocompatibility. It replaces one or more missing teeth by joining crowns, called retainers, on the abutment teeth to a pontic that spans the edentulous space. The whole restoration is one solid, metal free unit.

Because it is milled from a single block, a monolithic zirconia bridge has no layered interfaces to separate under load. That structural simplicity is a big part of why it has become the default choice for so much of today's bridgework.

How strong is a zirconia bridge?

Zirconia offers high flexural strength, well above conventional feldspathic porcelain. That is the property that lets it carry heavy occlusal load and span longer edentulous spaces without fracturing. It is also why zirconia is the material of choice for patients with bruxism or parafunction, where a weaker ceramic would chip or break.

If you want a deeper look at why this property matters when you choose a restorative material, see our post on why flexural strength is important when selecting a restoration material .

Why are dentists choosing zirconia over PFM?

For decades, porcelain fused to metal, or PFM, was the default for bridgework. Zirconia has largely replaced it because it solves PFM's biggest weaknesses.

Strength. Modern zirconia carries load that would chip PFM porcelain, which makes it a safer prescription for posterior and long span bridges.
Esthetics. There is no metal substructure, so there is no gray margin at the gumline and no opaque core to mask. The restoration reads as a natural tooth.
Biocompatibility. Zirconia is inert and tissue friendly, a benefit for patients with metal sensitivities.
Longevity. A monolithic zirconia bridge has no porcelain to metal interface to delaminate, which removes the most common failure mode and the remakes that come with it.

What is the difference between monolithic and layered zirconia?

Not all zirconia bridges are the same, and the choice affects both strength and shade.

Monolithic, or full contour, zirconia is milled as one solid piece. It is the strongest option and the best choice for posterior bridges, bruxers, and long spans. Today's high translucency formulations make monolithic esthetic enough for most cases, including many that used to require layering.

Layered zirconia uses a zirconia core with hand applied porcelain on the facial surface for maximum esthetics. It is ideal for anterior bridges where lifelike translucency and characterization matter most. The trade off is a porcelain layer that can chip, so it is best reserved for lower load situations.

A practical rule: lead with monolithic for strength critical cases, and reserve layered for high esthetic anterior work.

When should you prescribe a zirconia bridge?

Zirconia bridges are a strong choice for:

Posterior fixed bridges carrying heavy occlusal load
Patients with parafunction or bruxism, where fracture resistance is critical
Cases with a metal allergy or a preference for metal free restorations
Long span bridges where PFM porcelain would be at risk
Anterior bridges where a natural, metal free esthetic is the goal, favoring layered or high translucency monolithic

For single units and short spans in the esthetic zone where load is lower, lithium disilicate is also worth considering. More on that choice below.

How do you prepare a tooth for a zirconia bridge?

Most zirconia bridge remakes trace back to preparation, not to the material. To give the lab what it needs:

Occlusal and incisal reduction: aim for roughly 1.5 mm to allow adequate material thickness.
Axial reduction: roughly 1.0 to 1.5 mm for structural support and esthetics.
Margins: a light chamfer or rounded shoulder of about 0.5 mm. Keep margins clear and readable, and avoid feather edges that are hard to mill accurately.
Rounded internal line angles: eliminate sharp angles that concentrate stress and invite fracture.
Adequate reduction for connectors: preserve enough interocclusal and interproximal space so the lab can build connectors at full height.

When in doubt on a complex or long span case, send the design question to your lab before you prep, not after. A two minute conversation up front prevents a remake later.

How do connector dimensions affect long span success?

Connectors are the single biggest predictor of whether a long span zirconia bridge survives. The connector is where stress concentrates, so its height and cross sectional area determine how much load the bridge can carry. Under reduce the prep and the lab is forced to build thin connectors, which is exactly where long span fractures start.

Two things help here. First, preserve interocclusal space during preparation so there is room for a tall connector. Second, flag long span cases when you send them, so the lab can engineer the connector and pontic design for the load rather than treating it as a standard case. At Bayshore Dental Studio, long span designs are reviewed before milling for exactly this reason.

Zirconia or e.max: which should you choose?

Lithium disilicate, known as e.max , and zirconia both have a place, and choosing well comes down to load and location.

Choose zirconia for strength . It is the safer prescription for posterior restorations, long spans, bruxers, and most bridges.

Choose e.max for maximum anterior esthetics on single units and short spans where load is lower and translucency is the priority.

For most bridgework, especially anything posterior or long span, zirconia's strength makes it the more predictable choice.

How do you cement a zirconia bridge?

Monolithic zirconia can be conventionally cemented or adhesively bonded. For most retentive preparations, a resin modified glass ionomer gives reliable, straightforward results. When retention is limited, bond the bridge using a zirconia specific primer containing MDP to get a durable bond to the intaglio surface.

We cover the broader topic in our post on the two methods for cementing crowns and bridges , which is worth a read if you want to match your cementation protocol to the case.

Can you adjust and polish a zirconia bridge chairside?

Yes, and doing it correctly protects both the restoration and the opposing teeth. When you adjust occlusion, use a fine diamond under copious water spray to avoid overheating the ceramic, then restore the surface with a dedicated zirconia polishing system. A well polished zirconia surface is actually kinder to the opposing dentition than a glazed surface that has been ground through and left rough. Skipping the polishing step leaves a coarse surface that can accelerate wear on opposing enamel, so keep a zirconia polishing kit chairside. If a case needs a large adjustment, let the lab know, since it can point to an occlusion or design issue worth correcting at the source rather than at the chair.

How Bayshore fabricates your zirconia bridge

At Bayshore Dental Studio, every zirconia bridge is designed and milled in a fully digital workflow, from scan or model through CAD design, milling, and sintering. That means consistent margins, engineered connectors, and predictable fit, case after case.

You can send your case either way. Take a digital scan with an intraoral scanner such as Intelliscan 3D , or send a traditional impression and let the lab digitize it. Either path lands in the same place, a Zcrown zirconia restoration that seats the first time and holds up in function.

Frequently asked questions

Send your next zirconia bridge case to Bayshore

Get predictable strength, natural esthetics, and a fit that seats the first time. Partner with Bayshore Dental Studio for your zirconia bridgework. Send your next case today .

A monolithic zirconia bridge, milled from a single block for strength and a metal-free esthetic.

Monolithic (full-contour) zirconia for maximum strength, versus layered zirconia for the most lifelike anterior esthetics.

Target preparation for a zirconia bridge: about 1.5 mm occlusal, 1.0 to 1.5 mm axial, and a 0.5 mm chamfer margin, with adequate connector space.

Every Bayshore zirconia bridge is designed and milled in a fully digital workflow for a consistent, predictable fit.

Why Flexural Strength Is Important When Selecting A Restoration Material

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:53:00 GMT

Flexural strength is one of the most important properties to understand when you choose a restorative material. It tells you how much force a material can take before it fractures, which directly affects how long a restoration lasts and where you can safely use it.

What is flexural strength?

Flexural strength is expressed in megapascals (MPa), the unit that measures how much pressure or force per unit area a material can withstand before breaking. Every manufacturer of dental materials publishes MPa values, because flexural strength is a key indicator of durability for materials like zirconium oxide.

From a scientific standpoint, flexural strength is a material's resistance to fracture. It measures how much force is needed to break a test sample of a defined size. The higher the value, the more force the material can take before it fails.

Why measuring methods matter

The flexural strength reported in a test depends heavily on the measuring method and how the samples were prepared, for example whether the surface was polished or ground. Because of this, values measured with different methods are not directly comparable. For a fair comparison, the numbers have to come from the same method. The industry is working toward a standard, but it is not fully settled yet.

The advantages of high flexural strength

Materials with high flexural strength offer real clinical benefits, especially in these situations:

Long-span restorations. The stronger the material, the more units a restoration can safely include. The longer the span, the more strength it needs.
Stress-bearing restorations. High flexural strength is essential for posterior crowns and for bruxism patients, where heavy occlusal load would fracture a weaker material.
Minimally invasive preparations. A high-strength material can be made thinner while staying durable, which means less tooth reduction and more conservative preps.

Zirconia: the leader in strength

Zirconia is the best-performing all-ceramic material in dentistry when it comes to flexural strength. Lower-translucency dental zirconias reach roughly 1,200 MPa, while more translucent zirconias range from about 600 to 900 MPa.

There is a trade-off: strength and translucency move in opposite directions. The more translucent the material, the lower its flexural strength, and the stronger the material, the less translucent it tends to be. That balance is exactly what guides material selection case by case.

Choosing the right material for the case

This is why flexural strength sits at the center of restorative planning. For high-load and long-span work, lean toward a high-strength option like Z Crown zirconia . For anterior cases where translucency matters most, e.max lithium disilicate is worth considering.

Need help matching the material to the case? Send your next case to Bayshore Dental Studio and our team will help you get a strong, predictable result.

Why is digital technology such a great fit in dentistry?

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 20:28:00 GMT

Digital technology has moved from a novelty to the backbone of modern dentistry, and it fits the field so well because it solves the everyday problems practices care about most: accuracy, speed, communication, and experience.

Precision that reduces remakes

Digital tools capture more detail and remove human variables from the process. An intraoral scan records margins and contacts with a level of accuracy that is hard to match with traditional materials, and that precision carries through design and milling. The result is better-fitting restorations and fewer remakes.

Speed and a streamlined workflow

A digital workflow shortens the path from chair to lab to seat. Scans go to the lab in minutes, cases move through design and milling faster, and the whole loop tightens. Less waiting and less rework mean cases finish on time and the schedule runs smoother.

Better communication and case acceptance

Digital makes the invisible visible. Showing a patient a 3D model of their own mouth turns an abstract treatment plan into something they can see and understand. That clarity builds trust and helps patients move forward with care.

A better experience for everyone

Patients appreciate skipping messy impression trays, and staff appreciate a cleaner, more predictable process. A practice that runs on modern digital tools also signals quality, which matters to the patients choosing where to go.

Where to start

You do not have to digitize everything at once. Many practices start with digital impressions and grow from there. An affordable, easy-to-own scanner like IntelliScan 3D is a natural first step, and pairing it with a lab built for digital workflows keeps everything connected.

Ready to build a digital workflow that actually saves you time? S end your next case to Bayshore Dental Studio and we will help you get there.

Disrupting Orthodontics With Clear Aligners

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 20:15:00 GMT

Clear aligners have reshaped orthodontics over the past decade, moving tooth movement out of the specialist-only category and into general practices everywhere. For many patients and providers, they have become the default way to think about mild to moderate correction.

Why aligners took off

Aligners answered what patients were asking for: a discreet, comfortable, and convenient way to straighten teeth without a mouth full of brackets and wires. Being nearly invisible and removable made treatment fit into adult lives, and that demand pulled aligners into the mainstream.

Benefits for the practice and the patient

For the patient, aligners are removable for eating and cleaning, comfortable, and easy to live with. For the practice, a digital aligner workflow means fewer emergency bracket repairs, predictable planning, and the ability to show the patient a preview of their expected result before treatment begins, which helps with case acceptance.

Where aligners fit

Aligners are an excellent tool for the right case, typically mild to moderate crowding, spacing, and relapse. Case selection still matters. Complex movements, significant bite discrepancies, and certain rotations may call for other approaches or a specialist referral. Knowing where aligners shine, and where they do not, is what keeps results predictable.

Adding aligners to your practice

A clear-aligner offering starts with an accurate digital scan and a lab partner that can turn it into a well-planned treatment. A system like Clearfit aligners gives general practices a straightforward way to offer aligner therapy without building everything from scratch.

Thinking about offering aligners, or want help planning a case? Send it to Bayshore Dental Studio and our team will help you get started.

How to Disinfect the Intraoral Scanner in your Dental Office

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 19:17:00 GMT

An intraoral scanner moves from patient to patient all day, so keeping it clean is an essential part of infection control. A simple, consistent routine protects your patients, protects the device, and keeps you compliant.

Start with the manufacturer's instructions

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. Scanners differ in which parts are removable, which surfaces tolerate which disinfectants, and how the tip is reprocessed. The IFU is the final word on approved products and methods, and following it also protects your warranty.

Wipe down the wand and cords

Between patients, wipe the wand body, cords, and any touched surfaces with an approved intermediate-level disinfectant wipe. Follow the required contact and wet time on the product label so the surface stays visibly wet for the full duration. Avoid harsh solvents or anything not cleared by the manufacturer, since these can cloud optics or damage the housing.

Reprocess the tip correctly

The scanner tip is the part that enters the mouth, so it needs the most attention. Depending on the system, tips are either autoclavable for a set number of cycles or single-use and disposable. Confirm which type you have, track the cycle count for reusable tips, and never exceed the rated limit. A cracked or fogged tip should be retired.

Consider barrier protection

Many practices add a disposable barrier sleeve over the wand as an extra layer, which speeds up turnover between patients. A barrier is a helpful supplement, not a replacement, so continue to disinfect the wand surfaces on the schedule the manufacturer specifies.

Build it into your routine

The goal is a routine that runs the same way every time: barrier off, tip reprocessed, surfaces wiped for the full contact time, fresh barrier and tip on for the next patient. A predictable checklist keeps the scanner clean without slowing the day down.

A well-maintained scanner also produces better scans. If you are considering going digital, an easy-to-own option like IntelliScan 3D fits smoothly into a modern practice. Send your next case to Bayshore Dental Studio to see the digital workflow in action.

How Can an Intraoral Scanner Benefit Your Practice?

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 16:28:00 GMT

More and more dentists are bringing intraoral scanners into their practices, and for good reason. A digital impression replaces the tray and material with a fast, accurate scan, and it changes the workflow for the better from the first appointment through the final seat.

Start with the manufacturer's instructions

A well-taken digital scan captures fine margin detail and avoids the distortion, voids, and pulls that come with conventional impression material. Cleaner data going to the lab means better-fitting restorations and fewer remakes, which saves chair time and keeps cases on schedule.

Faster appointments and a smoother workflow

Scanning is quicker than mixing material, seating a tray, and waiting for set. You can review the scan on screen immediately, catch a missed area before the patient leaves, and send the case to the lab in minutes instead of shipping an impression. That tighter loop shortens turnaround on the whole case.

Higher case acceptance

One of the most underrated benefits is communication. Showing a patient a 3D model of their own teeth makes a proposed treatment easy to understand, which builds trust and helps patients say yes. A clear visual does more to explain a case than words alone.

A more comfortable experience

Many patients dislike traditional impressions, especially those with a strong gag reflex. A scanner removes the tray and the material entirely, which makes the appointment more comfortable and leaves a modern, high-tech impression of the practice.

Getting started

Adopting digital impressions is easier than most practices expect, and the payoff shows up quickly in fit, speed, and patient response. An affordable, easy-to-use option like IntelliScan 3D l ets you own the scanner outright and start sending digital cases right away.

Ready to go digital? Send your next case to Bayshore Dental Studio and we will help you get set up for a smooth digital workflow.

Two Methods for Cementing Crowns and Bridges

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 17:35:00 GMT

Cementation is the last step in a crown or bridge case, and it has a big influence on how long the restoration lasts. There are two main approaches, conventional cementation and adhesive bonding, and choosing the right one comes down to the material, the preparation, and how well you can control moisture.

Conventional cementation

Conventional cementation relies on the mechanical retention of the preparation. The cement fills the gap between the restoration and the tooth and locks the crown in place, rather than chemically bonding to it. Common choices include glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, zinc phosphate, and polycarboxylate cements.

This approach is simple, forgiving of a little moisture, and works well when the preparation has good retention and resistance form, such as adequate axial wall height and taper. For strong, retentive full-coverage crowns, conventional cementation is often all you need.

Adhesive bonding

Adhesive bonding uses a resin cement that chemically bonds to both the tooth and the restoration. Because the bond itself adds retention, this approach is the better choice when the preparation is short, over-tapered, or otherwise lacks mechanical retention, and for restorations that rely on adhesion for strength.

Bonding is more technique-sensitive. It demands careful isolation and a dry field, along with the correct surface treatment and primer for the material being bonded. Done well, it delivers excellent retention and a sealed margin.

How to choose between them

A few simple questions guide the decision:

How retentive is the prep? Retentive, textbook preps can be conventionally cemented. Short or tapered preps benefit from bonding.
What is the material? Full-strength zirconia can usually be conventionally cemented, while glass ceramics like lithium disilicate are often bonded for best results.
Can you control moisture? Bonding needs a dry field. If isolation is difficult, a conventional cement may be the safer choice.

Material-specific tips

Full-contour zirconia such as Z Crown zirconia i s highly retentive and can be conventionally cemented in most retentive preps, or bonded with an MDP-containing primer when extra retention is needed. Lithium disilicate like e.max is typically etched and bonded with resin cement to reach its full strength, especially in thinner restorations.

When in doubt, match the cementation protocol to the material and the prep, and confirm the surface treatment before you seat. Have a case you would like help planning? Send it to Bayshore Dental Studio and our team will help you get a predictable result.

Z Crown

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 19:41:00 GMT

Z Crown Plus zirconia crowns from Bayshore Dental Studio: how they balance strength and natural esthetics, and when dentists should prescribe them.

Summer Savings 2018

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:32:00 GMT

The post Summer Savings 2018 appeared first on Bayshore Dental Studio.

Bayshore Dental Studio

Scanner Program or Ownership? How Multi-Location Practices Should Choose an Intraoral Scanner

What is an intraoral scanner program?

Scanner program vs. ownership at a glance

Compare the true five year cost

Keep control of your labs and your data

Standardize every location on one workflow

Do not overlook support and training

The best of both: own the scanner, join a lab membership

7 Qualities to Evaluate Before Buying an Intraoral Scanner

Why choosing the right intraoral scanner matters

The 7 qualities at a glance

The bottom line

1. Support and training

2. Software

3. Versatility

4. Clinical proof

5. Total cost of ownership

6. Warranty

7. Scan quality

How to Choose a Flexible Partial Denture Lab: 7 Questions to Ask

Why does serviceability matter most for flexible partials?

7 questions to ask a flexible partial denture lab ﻿

The bottom line

1. Can the partial be rebased as tissue changes?

2. Can teeth and clasps be added later?

3. Can damaged areas be repaired?

4. What material is the partial made from?

5. Does the lab offer more than one design?

6. How easy is it to submit cases and communicate?

7. What do other dentists say about the lab's partials?

Chairside vs. Lab-Centered Intraoral Scanner Workflows: Which Fits Your Practice?

What is the difference between a chairside and a lab-centered scanner workflow?

Chairside vs. lab-centered workflows at a glance

The bottom line

Why does the scan itself matter so much?

When does a chairside workflow make sense?

When is a lab-centered workflow the better fit?

How do team adoption and lab collaboration factor in?

Zirconia vs. IPS e.max: How to Choose the Right Crown

What is the core difference between zirconia and IPS e.max?

How do they compare on strength?

How do they compare on esthetics?

Zirconia vs. IPS e.max at a glance ﻿

The bottom line: you do not always have to choose

Zirconia Bridges: A Clinical Guide for Predictable, Durable Bridgework

What is a zirconia bridge?

How strong is a zirconia bridge?

Why are dentists choosing zirconia over PFM?

What is the difference between monolithic and layered zirconia?

When should you prescribe a zirconia bridge?

How do you prepare a tooth for a zirconia bridge?

How do connector dimensions affect long span success?

Zirconia or e.max: which should you choose?

How do you cement a zirconia bridge?

Can you adjust and polish a zirconia bridge chairside?

How Bayshore fabricates your zirconia bridge

Frequently asked questions ﻿

Send your next zirconia bridge case to Bayshore

Why Flexural Strength Is Important When Selecting A Restoration Material

What is flexural strength?

Why measuring methods matter

The advantages of high flexural strength

Zirconia: the leader in strength

Choosing the right material for the case

Why is digital technology such a great fit in dentistry?

Precision that reduces remakes

Speed and a streamlined workflow

Better communication and case acceptance

A better experience for everyone

﻿ Where to start

Disrupting Orthodontics With Clear Aligners

Why aligners took off

Benefits for the practice and the patient

Where aligners fit

Adding aligners to your practice

How to Disinfect the Intraoral Scanner in your Dental Office

Start with the manufacturer's instructions

Wipe down the wand and cords

Reprocess the tip correctly

7 questions to ask a flexible partial denture lab

Zirconia vs. IPS e.max at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Where to start