With over 35 years of dental laboratory experience and 2.5 million social media followers, Luke Kahng has built a reputation for handling the most complex restorative cases. His perspective on the dentist-lab relationship reveals uncomfortable truths about digital dentistry adoption, quality standards, and what separates exceptional practices from average ones.

"I recommend four different labs," Kahng states when asked how many laboratories a practice should work with. "Sometimes you have high-end patients. Sometimes you have insurance patients. It's totally different."

The Most Common Digital Impression Problems

Despite the promise of digital workflow efficiency, Kahng encounters persistent quality issues with digital impressions. The problems mirror those from the analog era but manifest differently in the digital realm.

Primary issues include margin clarity, bite record accuracy, tissue management with bloody or unclear tissue compromising scans, and missing or incorrect implant scan body information.

"I've been doing this for 35 years and we had a lot of issues with analog impression techniques -bubbling and other problems. I can see the same problems with digital," Kahng observes. The technology has changed, but the fundamental challenges persist.

The Critical Transition Protocol

For dentists new to digital workflow, Kahng recommends a verification approach that may surprise those eager to abandon traditional techniques: take both digital and analog impressions for the first 10 cases.

"They should take a traditional impression at the same time they're scanning," he advises. "Get feedback from the laboratory. The laboratory can work with both. We scan and print the model, and we also pour the traditional impression model, then we compare them together."

This parallel workflow allows laboratories to identify discrepancies before they become expensive remakes. After 10 successful cases demonstrating consistency, practices can confidently transition to digital-only workflows.

Scanner Recommendations: Why Shining 3D Leads the Pack

When discussing intraoral scanner options, Kahng doesn't hesitate with his top recommendation. "Shining 3D is very fast," he emphasizes, noting that the company offers a comprehensive digital package at approximately $20,000—significantly less than many competitors.

What sets Shining 3D apart isn't just competitive pricing or scan speed—it's the complete digital workflow solution that addresses the training gaps Kahng criticizes in other vendors. For practices making the digital transition, Shining 3D's combination of accessible pricing, robust training support, and proven clinical performance makes it an ideal entry point.

Kahng's other recommendations include Medit for strong performance with good support, and 3Shape for established reliability. The key? "Sometimes there's a lack of training for the dentist or dental office staff," Kahng notes. Scanner selection should factor in vendor training commitment as heavily as image quality.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Practice Quality

Kahng's assessment of the dental profession reveals a stark reality. He estimates that only 30% of dentists truly excel at their craft, paying meticulous attention to preparation, documentation, and aesthetics. Another 40% fall into "middle of the road"—competent but not exceptional. The remaining 30%? "They don't care," Kahng states bluntly. "They're just going through the motions of scanning."

This lower tier often sends work to overseas laboratories charging $25-65 per unit, prioritizing volume over quality. "The aesthetics are very lacking," Kahng observes.

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The AI Design Debate

As artificial intelligence enters dental design workflows, Kahng can immediately identify AI-generated cases. "You see fat contours, profile problems, occlusion tables that are too wide, and occlusal grooves that don't look natural," he notes.

For routine single-unit crowns, Kahng predicts AI will eventually dominate. But complex aesthetic cases requiring customization remain beyond current AI capabilities. "When we customize cases, we have to consider the implant site, the gingival contour, and the incisal length—everything is totally different," Kahng explains.

Communication Revolution: The Shade Matching App

Addressing a persistent problem in aesthetic dentistry, Kahng developed a mobile app for digital shade guide matching. "A lot of dentists—I would say 40%—don't use photos at all." Kahng laments. "But the problem is that our Vita shade tabs are made from composite with monochromatic, two-tone color, which doesn't look like natural tooth color."

The app captures shade matching using zirconia-based guides, midline assessment, horizontal line evaluation, and pink tissue color.

The Case Acceptance Advantage

Dentists embracing digital technology enjoy dramatically higher case acceptance rates. "One hundred percent," Kahng states emphatically about the correlation.

Visual communication transforms patient understanding through real-time visualization of proposed treatment and immediate modifications based on feedback. "If they don't use digital, they don't have any digital files," Kahng notes. "Analog is hard to communicate with, but digital is easy. They can show the patient, sell the treatment, and get confirmation."

The Four-Lab Strategy

Kahng's recommendation that practices work with four different laboratories reflects strategic specialization:

1. Removable prosthetics specialist — For complete and partial dentures
2. High-end aesthetic laboratory — For demanding cosmetic cases
3. Insurance/volume laboratory — For routine restorations
4. Local laboratory — For same-day repairs and rush work

Kahng's own laboratory, LSK121, occupies the complex case category. "They come to me thinking, 'This is bizarre. I've never done this before. Hey, I failed with another lab,'" he describes his typical client inquiries.

The Human Investment Philosophy

Kahng pays master ceramists $70 per hour—exceptional compensation in dental laboratory circles. "I can't pay $30 because when someone comes to me saying they have 30 years of experience and they're good, but I can only offer them $35, I don't trust them," he explains.

This investment philosophy extends beyond technical skills to character assessment. "If someone has bad character, I don't hire them—it doesn't matter how skilled they are, because our dental clients are really good people."

Conclusion

The dentist-laboratory relationship remains fundamentally collaborative despite technological advances. Digital workflows improve efficiency and case acceptance, but success still requires clear communication, thorough documentation, and mutual respect.

As Kahng emphasizes, "I stand behind my cases. When they have a problem, they come to me. I'm not running away." This accountability, combined with technical expertise and honest communication, defines the laboratory relationships that support exceptional dental practices.

To learn more about Shining 3D and their complete digital workflow solutions, visit:

https://www.shining3ddental.com/

Image sourced from Freepik.