A Laboratory Partner for the Future

NDX continues to grow to meet the evolving needs of dentists and patients

Oftentimes, restorative cases are only as good as the laboratory that works on them, and as patient expectations continue to grow, so too does the importance of partnering with a laboratory that can help meet or exceed those expectations. That is what drives National Dentex Labs (NDX) to continue pushing the envelope with its more than 50 full-service laboratories and nearly 4,000 employees across the United States. "The future of dentistry will center on convenience and quality for both the patient and the dentist," says NDX CEO Bob Joyce. "It is incredibly important to National Dentex that we be prepared to ensure that the journeys of dentists and patients are successful. That equates to restorations with optimal esthetics that are prepared in a timely and reliable manner through the utilization of cutting-edge and experienced resources."

Just as dental service organizations (DSOs) have been occupying an increasing percentage of the dental market, laboratories have also been consolidating over the past decade or so. "The trend toward fewer laboratories serving larger bases of dental practices continues to occur naturally through acquisitions, integrations, and share transitions," Joyce says. "In similar fashion, DSOs continue to consolidate and have been propellants for laboratory consolidation. This has required laboratories to invest in the right technologies and operate at a greater scale. We see attractive opportunities based on the continuation of these trends and the breadth of our products, operating model, and technologies." Joyce anticipates that consolidation will continue throughout the next decade, and as such, he believes that proactive investment in laboratory operations is paramount. "Our NDX network incorporates a digital workflow, including design, printing, and processing," he says. "We are also fortunate to have very close industry partnerships with material and technology providers. These partnerships enable us to do extensive research with suppliers and dentists—always with the objective of improving quality and turnaround times."

To meet the needs of patients who have become accustomed to receiving services quickly and conveniently in all aspects of life, the dentist of the future will likely need more from his or her laboratory than ever before. "It starts with patients and their lifestyle needs, oral health needs, and esthetic preferences," Joyce says. "We work with numerous dentists to garner insights and formulate adjustments to our offerings. Above all, there are two constants that we prioritize: the quality of our cases and the turnaround times. The importance of these elements to patients has increased because of their own use of digital resources—it is expected that the automated aspect of dental offerings and the quality and speed of delivery will be similar to what goes on in other aspects of their daily lives. This reinforces our approach to ongoing capital allocation to technology for the improvement of quality and delivery."

In the interest of taking its offerings to new levels, NDX has continued to strategically add to its network. Last year, the company also opened a state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot headquarters in Jupiter, Florida. "NDX is the largest network of dental laboratories in North America," Joyce says. "We have both local and national mail-order laboratories. We also have high-end esthetic laboratories, specialty laboratories, and a wholly owned and operated global laboratory. With our extensive network, we are not just a single location serving one area of local dentists—we serve all areas across the country, and we can scale more effectively to align with growing dental groups."

For more information, contact:
National Dentex Labs
nationaldentex.com • 800-678-4140