MADISON, Wis. (3/6/2014)—The primary way dental practices select dental labs is by word of mouth, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)’s 2013 State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry Survey.

Roughly 71% of respondents said they choose their labs by word of mouth, while 19% said they choose their labs through lab representative visits.

“Esthetic considerations” (86%) are respondents’ primary consideration when choosing a lab, followed by procedure or specialty (64%), and cost (46%).

The survey also indicated that the use of multiple laboratories by cosmetic dentistry practices is common. Only 5% indicated their practices used a single laboratory in 2013, representing a 1-point decrease since 2011. The majority (57%) indicated use of two or three labs, while 37% used four or more laboratories.

For more information, or to download the full survey, click here.