Remote dental CAD design service

Small dental labs that are short on design capacity, and dental offices with their own mills or printers.

A fee per designed unit or case, with rush rates for fast turnaround. Steady work from a few labs can build into regular monthly volume.

• Dental anatomy and restoration design knowledge
• Comfort with dental CAD software
• Reliable turnaround and clear written communication

• Check whether your state's dental board has rules on who may design or make restorations and on who must sign the prescription
• Protect patient data, since scans may count as health information, so ask clients about their data and privacy requirements
• Software licenses can be costly and may be tied to a particular lab or hardware, so read the terms
• A powerful computer and backups are essential, since lost files mean lost income
• Check HOA or lease rules and consider business liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your computer, software licenses and backup setup. Software licenses can be costly and may be tied to a particular lab or hardware, so read the terms before buying.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many labs and dental offices you work with and how many hours you put in. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week.

Check whether your state's dental board has rules on who may design or make restorations and who must sign the prescription. Also ask clients about data and privacy requirements, since scans may count as health information, and check HOA or lease rules.