STRANRAER DENTAL LABORATORY

Crown and Bridge

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About the service

Digitalization of dentistry has already happened and the changes are dramatic, especially in crown and bridge. We now can offer a fully digital work flow to our dentists. We can receive any intra oral scan, print models on our Asiga 3D printer, design on our Exocad Software and mill crowns on our newly commisioned DGShape milling machine.

In the surgery intra oral scans are replacing impressions. We receive these scans and design the crowns on our software, print off resin check models before milling the crown, all in house.

We can return crowns within two days of receiving the initial scans compared to the traditional two week turnaround

Emax CAD (Lithium disilicate)

Every dentist knows and uses emax for many of their anterior crowns. Its opalescence, translucency and light diffusion create a chameleon like effect beside natural teeth and result in undetectable restorations.

Emax CAD matches the aesthetics of traditional pressed emax but is milled from a block which results in more consistent results due to digital designing

It has a flexural strength of 360-400 Mpa. which is stronger than layered porcelain, weaker than zirconia but the most aesthetically pleasing material

Ideal for anterior crowns, small bridges,veneers, inlays and onlays

Monolithic Zirconia

As the name suggests, it is pure Zirconia. It does not chip or break. Zirconia is famed for its extraordinary strength. It is the first choice material for posterior crowns and bridges. New developments in Zirconia has allowed it to catch up with the aesthetics of Emax. It now has exceptional translucency. We have a huge range of stains to characterise the crowns to exact detail of the natural abuting teeth.

It has a flexural strength of a minimum Mpa.750 (300 Mpa stronger than emax)

Ideal for anterior/posterior crowns and large span bridges

WE CAN RETURN FINISHED CROWNS WITHIN 2 DAYS OF RECEIVING THE INITIAL SCANS

Orthodontics
We can receive alginate or intra oral scans to produce digital and printed study models. Intra oral scans can be printed with our own 3D printed. As the models are made from resin the patient can retain them for future replacement essix retainers without even visiting the dentist. As well as this we still offer a full range of orthodontic appliances, from fixed to removable appliances.
Cobalt Chrome Dentures

These dentures are constructed with the same methods as jewellery. They are superior to acrylic dentures as the metal is much stronger and therefore can be much thinner covering less areas in the mouth. The denture is carefully designed to seat round the natural teeth with very thin clasps which retain the denture during chewing. Small rests placed on the surfaces of the natural teeth disperse the forces of chewing evenly throughout the mouth. These dentures can be much more permanent and can often out last the remaining natural teeth in the mouth.

Denture Repairs

Our business is built around a caring, fast local service. Patients who come directly to us with a broken dentures can have it repaired in one hour ‘while you wait.’ There is disabled access and car parking at the door. All repairs/additions and relines of dentures collected from the dental practice are completed that same day.

Flexible Dentures

Our flexible material of choice is Myerson Duraflex. It is a state of the art thermoplastic light enough to float in water! It does not absorb water like many flexible materials this allows surface staining to be cleaned more easily. The material is almost unbreakable and its strength allows the denture to be very small and thin. The materials flexability allows it to wrap round the natural teeth tightly retaining the denture in the mouth very securely. The reduced size, thickness and tightness of the denture fit makes them ideal for first time denture wearers.

( see dentist download for flexible denture patient suitability leaflet)

Acrylic Dentures

Since opening in 1999 the business was built on acrylic denture work.Our four registered technicians have a combined 75 years experience in acrylic dentures.

Acrylic dentures are the cheapest option to restore lost teeth. They are bulkier than other options but are easy to adjust and add too. There is a choice of 16 shades for both private and economy teeth and many different mould shapes and sizes. From first impressions it will take at least 3 surgery visits to get the denture to final fit. Due to our fast turnaround time and regional private delivery driver the dentures can be completed within 3 weeks. We can produce a permanent emergency denture of one to three teeth for patients who have unexpectedly lost a tooth within one day!

Carla McNeillie
JOB ROLE: Dental Technician Assistant
Carla has been working in the lab since November 2022. Carla started off in the plaster room where she cast up impressions and trimmed models. She quickly progressed onto making orthodontic retainers and splints. Carla continues her learning and is involved in denture repairs, immediate denture work and additions. Outside of work Carla does makeup on the weekends as this is what she is passionate about and loves doing, see her work on Facebook (standoutmakeup by Carla McNeilie). This detailed makeup work just shows how her skills are so transferable to the attention to detail required in the lab environment. Carla also likes going to her gym in her free time and socialising with her friends.
Caroline Keith
JOB ROLE: Director and Administrator
Caroline has been working at the lab since 2015 and her main tasks are accounts, invoices and wages. She is married to Gordon and works part time. At weekends she likes to spend her time with family and friends and is an active member of Wigtownshire Rugby Club.
Paddy Barrett
JOB ROLE: Senior Dental Technician Assistant
Paddy has been with the laboratory for over 15 years. Paddy started work in the plaster room and now over his many years’ experience can complete all stages of denture work. At present he mainly deals the final finishing of dentures making sure they are sent back to the dentist to the highest standard possible. He is an important cog in the laboratory day to day working. Without him the wheels can wobble Paddy likes to relax in his spare time by spending it socialising with friends or at home with his family.
Wullie Cain
JOB ROLE: Senior Dental Technician Assistant
Wullie has been working in the lab since 2015. Like most of us he started work in the plaster room and progressed through the lab until he found himself enjoying the methodical part of special tray and bite block construction. He can do most aspects of denture work and excels at the rush work, which is denture repairs, additions and relines. Wullie likes working with his hands in fine detail. In his spare time enjoys painting and building Japanese Gundam mecha models. At weekends loves spending time with his two boys, playing his PlayStation and spending time with his friends, Wullie also frequently travels to Ireland to see his girlfriend.
Aimee Smith
JOB ROLE: Qualified Senior Dental Technician

Aimee started working in the lab in 2017 after leaving school, she started working in the plaster room as an assistant dental technician and showed a keen interest in all aspects of denture manufacturing which led to Aimee progressing within the lab. Aimee was first drawn to the job because of the creativity it offered and really enjoys creating new smiles for people by working on try ins. More recently Aimee has taken an interest in Crown and Bridge and is now confident in the digital world with scanning, designing and milling crown and bridge work, Aimee also enjoys building up porcelain crowns because it is quite artistic. In 2019 she applied to study Dental Technology at University of Aberdeen. Aimee graduated and became a Qualified Senior Technician in August 2023 which is a great accomplishment after four years of monthly travel to Aberdeen and a very heavy university workload.

Outside of the lab, Aimee likes to socialise with friends and family however she is a country girl at heart, enjoying a quiet life in the countryside while helping her partner on the farm and walking their two black Labradors Ella and Jess.

Kenneth Firman
JOB ROLE: Qualified Senior Dental Technician

Kenny has been with the lab for over fifteen years. He has recently qualified with a Diploma in Dental Technology after training for four years at Aberdeen University. He is now a Qualified Senior Dental Technician. This is an amazing achievement considering he has a very young family, just got married and is under day to day work pressure within our busy laboratory. In Kennys free time he loves spending time with his family, walking his dog Gunner and as the name suggests is a keen Arsenal supporter. If he has any spare time after all that he is the king of pub quizzes.

Hilary Keith
JOB ROLE: Qualified Senior Technician
Hilary has been with the laboratory for over 20 Years. She graduated from Duncan Jordanstone College of Art in Interior and Environment Design with BDes (Hons). It was the artistic side of the job that first attracted Hilary to join the Dental Laboratory profession and become a technician. Hilary is very creative and has a keen eye to detail, making her an excellent technician. She is also excited to be involved in the computer aided design side of dental technology. Hilary enjoys many artistic pursuits including jewellery making, crochet and pottery and has exhibited and sold her work locally. When Hilary is not using her artistic and creative side, she enjoys open water swimming and has competed in the Great Swims in Lake Windermere and Loch Lomond. Hilary also enjoys training her two German shepherds.
Gordon Keith
JOB ROLE: Director

As a small boy Gordon spent evenings doing dental deliveries for the dental technician in Stranraer. This is where his journey and passion began. After leaving school Gordon went to Newcastle college and studied Dental Technology for three years passing the BTEC National Diploma with distinction. He then joined the Royal Army Dental Corp where he trained further in Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Crown, Bridge and Maxillofacial. He served time in South of England and in Germany. After 5 years Gordons heart was still in his hometown, so when the opportunity to become business partners with the technician he worked for as a small boy all those years ago came up, he embraced It and left the forces. Two years passed and when his business partner retired Gordon became the sole owner of Stranraer Dental laboratory. Through hard work, long hours and dedication he has seen the Laboratory grow from a one-man lab into the Ten strong and continually growing team it is today.

When Gordon is not in the Lab he loves the outdoors, keeping fit and relaxing with his family. At the weekends Gordon enjoys fishing and is passionate about Rugby. Now retired from playing the sport after 31 years he now coaches at Wigtownshire RFC.