Running a dental lab – whether it’s a two-person boutique or a full-volume production facility – means one thing: you’re always racing the clock.
Every minute matters. Every delay, every search for a missing analog, every mix-up between Nobel and Straumann platforms… it all adds up. And when you’re juggling 10+ implant cases across multiple doctors, organization isn’t a luxury – it’s a survival skill.
Over the years, I’ve refined the way I organize our implant components – especially analogs and screws – to eliminate wasted time, reduce errors, and keep every case moving forward smoothly. Here’s exactly how I do it, broken down by system, storage, labeling, and reordering workflows.
🧩 Step 1: Set Up Your Storage by Implant System (Not Just by Part Type)
Early on, I made the mistake of storing all analogs together, all screws together, and so on. It looked neat – but was a disaster during case prep. We’d end up wasting time digging through drawers, cross-referencing SKU sheets, and risking grabbing the wrong platform.
Now? We organize everything by implant system first, then by part type.
For example:
Drawer 1: Straumann Bone Level®
Front: Analogs (tall and short)
Middle: Prosthetic screws
Back: Ti bases and healing caps
Drawer 2: Nobel Active®
Same structure
Drawer 3: Zimmer®, Astra®, BioHorizons® – grouped with dividers
This way, when I’m prepping a case, I grab everything from the right system in one place – no cross-contamination, no guesswork.
🏷️ Step 2: Use Color Coding + Clear Part Labeling
No matter how experienced your team is, human error creeps in when every analog looks the same. We fixed this by applying color-coded dots and labels to every container and drawer.
Our system:
Blue = Straumann
Red = Nobel
Yellow = Zimmer
Green = Astr
We use waterproof label tape and print part names clearly (e.g., “SBL Analog – Short”). If your supplier sends parts with platform names already printed on the label – like 32Dentalab does – it saves a step, which we love.
Even better? Some suppliers now include laser-etched part numbers on the analogs themselves. That’s ideal for large-batch cases or when inventory gets messy mid-case.
🧾 Step 3: Keep a Quick-Access “Daily Bin” for High-Turnover Parts
Not every part gets used evenly. We go through Straumann SBL analogs and 8mm prosthetic screws almost daily, so we keep those in a small, lidded container on the bench. It’s stocked every morning from the main drawers.
This cuts down prep time drastically – especially when cases come in late in the day and we need to move fast. At the end of the week, we log how many were pulled from the daily bin and add to our reordering sheet.
📋 Step 4: Create a Reorder Spreadsheet Linked to Your Workflow
Our biggest improvement came from digitizing our reordering process.
We use a simple Google Sheet that:
- Tracks quantity on hand
- Color-flags items low in stock
- Has direct links to reorder pages (shoutout to suppliers like 32Dentalab that keep clean product URLs and updated inventory online)
Every Friday, our lead tech updates the sheet – and orders go out based on that log. We also set automated email reminders to review the spreadsheet every 2 weeks.
It may sound small, but this alone cut our “we’re out of that analog again” moments by 90%.
🧠 Step 5: Train Every Tech on the System – and Make It Visual
One mistake I used to make? I’d build a perfect system in my head… and forget to share it with the team.
Now, every new tech gets a walkthrough of our inventory layout, reorder sheet, and label system. We also post:
- A platform compatibility chart on the wall
- A printed map of drawer layout for quick reference
- A “When to reorder” guide taped inside each bin lid
This visual training cuts onboarding time and avoids platform mix-ups that lead to remakes.
🧪 Bonus Tips That Saved Our Lab Time and Mone
Use dividers, not bags. Loose bags get lost fast. Compartment bins with lids = much better.
Always test new analogs in both stone and resin. A good analog should seat identically in both.
Avoid universal analogs unless you’ve tested them on multiple platforms – most aren’t reliable.
Keep emergency stock of your top 3 platforms. I keep 10 extra SBL analogs hidden away. Just in case.
Vet your suppliers. Consistency matters – if you order 50 analogs and 10 are slightly different? That’s a remake waiting to happen.
🧠 Final Thoughts: The Best Workflow Is One You Don’t Have to Think About
When your lab is organized, cases move smoother, communication improves, and stress levels go down. You’ll spend less time searching for parts – and more time getting the details right.
And yes – the suppliers you choose make a difference too. One reason I appreciate using suppliers like 32Dentalab is that they make things easier to organize: platform clarity, consistent part quality, fast restocking and labeling that’s built for lab use. You can even buy products by compatibility at their website, so that you will see only compatible products and nothing else!
Organization isn’t about being tidy. It’s about being fast, accurate and confident – every time.
