dental lab occlusion
Occlusion Communication With Your Dental Lab
Published 2026-08-27 · Updated 2026-09-10 · By Phoenix Dental Tech Clinical Team
Medically reviewed for laboratory accuracy by Phoenix Dental Tech Laboratory Leadership
Labs do not feel the patient’s joint. We only see the bite you captured and the words you wrote. Vague occlusion notes produce vague contacts.
Say what “in occlusion” means for this patient
“In occlusion” might mean shimstock drag, light hold, or out of contact on a new implant. Those are three different designs.
Write the scheme: canine guidance, group function, or “match existing wear.” If you recently changed VDO, tell us — the opposing scan may already be obsolete.
Bite files that lie
A bite taken with the patient in a chair that forces the mandible, or a bite over a thick scan body, will design a crown that hits early.
If the bite looks wrong in the software, we will query it. Please do not be offended. A two-minute recapture beats a high restoration.
How we QC contacts
We check the design against your note, not against a generic “tight contact” preference. If you asked for an open distal on a tilted 15, that is what we mill.
Phoenix Dental Tech would rather ask one occlusion question than send a unit that needs 20 minutes of adjustment at 4:45 p.m.
FAQ
Do you want a full-arch bite for a single crown?
A quadrant bite can work if it is stable. If the patient has a slide or a new appliance, a more complete record saves an insert adjustment.
Work with Phoenix Dental Tech
Ocean Township, NJ digital dental laboratory — call (732) 643-8828 or send a case.