Buying & costs
Dental CAD design cost: what should your lab compare?
A price per crown is a useful starting point. A useful buying decision also considers what arrives, how much checking your team performs and what happens when the brief changes.
The short answer
Compare the total cost of an accepted design, not only the advertised unit fee. Ask each provider to quote the same restoration, input files, output formats, revision scope and delivery target. Mocoore quotes against the case brief, so a crown, an abutment and a full arch are assessed separately.
What changes a dental CAD design quotation?
A single-unit crown and a full-arch restoration involve different coordination and review work. Even two crown quotes may cover different deliverables. Give suppliers the same short specification before comparing them.
- Identify the restoration type, unit count and whether model design is included.
- State whether you need manufacturing meshes, an editable CAD project or both.
- List requested revisions, priority handling and any library checks in the quotation.
How do you compare the real cost per accepted case?
Use your own figures: total design expense equals the quoted fee plus your lab review time, separately charged changes and handoff work. This is a purchasing worksheet, not a published market price. Record the same items across a representative trial.
- Time the internal review and the number of clarification messages.
- Separate a correction to the agreed brief from a new prescription or new scan.
- Match each invoice line to a case ID, unit count and agreed additional work.
| Item | Ask the provider | Record in the brief |
|---|---|---|
| Design scope | What restoration and how many units? | Agreed case and unit count |
| Revisions | What changes are included? | Included review rounds and new-scope process |
| Files | Which outputs are delivered? | Mesh format, project needs and version |
What should you send to get a useful quote?
Start with a business brief rather than a folder with no instructions. A de-identified representative case helps clarify complexity; use the agreed file-transfer channel after the initial conversation.
- Share your lab location, time zone, case mix and expected workload.
- Describe the CAD workflow, material and intended manufacturing route.
- Ask for the scope, delivery target and acceptance process in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mocoore publish a fixed price per crown?
Mocoore provides a case-based quote after reviewing the restoration, files, requested outputs and delivery needs. Ask for separate scope lines when comparing crowns, models, abutments or full arches.
Are revisions included in a design quote?
Agree this before work starts. A change needed to meet the original brief should be distinguished from a new scan, a changed prescription or an additional deliverable.
How should I compare two low-cost design services?
Send the same representative brief to each, then compare the usable outputs, review time, clarification needed and correction process alongside the fee.
