Ep. 687 - The Dentist and The Lab in 2025: Real-World Insight from Famous Lab Technician Luke Kahng

Why do some dental labs consistently deliver perfectly fitting crowns while others require multiple remakes? The answer often lies in communication, training, and understanding the critical relationship between digital workflows and laboratory expertise.

In this episode, we're joined by Luke Kahng, Owner and Founder of LSK121 Oral Prosthetics in Naperville, Illinois. With over 35 years of dental laboratory experience, Luke has authored more than 100 articles featured in nationally renowned publications and built an educational platform with over 2.7 million followers across social media platforms. His hands-on approach and deep understanding of restorative digital workflows make him one of the most respected voices in dental laboratory technology.

This conversation explores the most critical challenges dentists face when transitioning to digital workflows and how to build successful laboratory partnerships. Luke shares his insider perspective on why cases fail, what separates high-performing practices from struggling ones, and practical strategies for achieving predictable results in an increasingly digital landscape.

Episode Highlights:

• Digital impression quality control protocols require dentists new to digital workflow to capture both traditional impressions and digital scans for the first 10 cases, allowing laboratories to verify accuracy and provide feedback before transitioning to exclusively digital submissions. When discrepancies occur between the two methods, the analog impression should always take precedence for fabrication decisions.
• Implant case failures often stem from inadequate scan body positioning, insufficient documentation of implant systems, and miscommunication between referring offices. Proper implant identification requires specific manufacturer details, platform dimensions, and connection types to ensure accurate prosthetic fabrication, with verification jigs recommended for complex multi-implant cases.
• Intraoral scanner selection should prioritize educational support and training quality over price discounts, with recommendations including lightweight cordless systems offering photogrammetry capabilities. Vendor training programs significantly impact case success rates, making educational support more valuable than cost savings from large corporate suppliers.
• Practice laboratory partnerships benefit from a four-laboratory system approach: specialized removable prosthetic labs, high-end aesthetic labs for complex cases, insurance-focused labs for routine work, and local labs for same-day repairs. This diversification ensures appropriate case allocation based on complexity and patient expectations while maintaining quality standards across different service levels.
• Artificial intelligence in dental design shows limitations in complex aesthetic cases, particularly with emergence profiles, occlusal table proportions, and customized contours. While AI may eventually handle routine single-unit restorations effectively, complex multi-unit aesthetic cases requiring symmetry adjustments, implant site considerations, and individualized gingival contours remain beyond current AI capabilities.

Perfect for: General dentists transitioning to digital workflows, prosthodontists managing complex cases, dental residents learning laboratory communication, and practice owners evaluating laboratory partnerships and digital technology investments.

Discover how proper laboratory collaboration can transform your digital dentistry outcomes and eliminate the frustration of ill-fitting restorations.