Home-based digital dental design

Dental practices and other labs that want extra design capacity or a specialist designer.

A fee per design or case, with extra for complex work. Income grows as you add practices or labs that send you regular cases.

• Qualified dental technician with CAD experience
• Good eye for anatomy and fit
• Reliable turnaround and clear communication

• Check whether you need General Dental Council registration and what MHRA rules apply to custom-made devices
• Professional indemnity and product liability insurance
• Patient data from scans: check your data protection duties, including registering with the ICO
• Check with your landlord, mortgage lender or council before running a business from home
• Reliance on partner labs for the physical production

Startup costs are estimated at typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on your computer, CAD software and insurance. You would also rely on a partner lab or milling centre for the physical production of restorations.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how many practices or labs you design for and your turnaround times. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week.

Check whether you need General Dental Council registration and what MHRA rules apply to custom-made devices. Also check your data protection duties for patient scans, including ICO registration, and check with your landlord, lender or council before working from home.