 As a Clinical Dental Technician and Managing Director of Bremadent Dental Laboratory, I have spent more than two decades in the dental technology industry. During that time, I have seen incredible advancements in materials, digital workflows, CAD design, milling technology, 3D printing, implant dentistry, and patient expectations. Yet despite all of these improvements, one issue continues to concern me more than any new technology ever could.
Standards. Recently, we had a dental technician attend our laboratory for a trial. On paper, everything looked promising. Years of experience. A strong CV. Confidence in their abilities. Claims of being able to produce a wide range of dental restorations. Unfortunately, when it came time to assess the actual work being produced, a very different picture emerged. The quality was simply not at a standard that we could send to a dentist or patient with confidence. The surprising part was not the quality itself. The surprising part was the reaction. Instead of recognising the issues and looking for ways to improve, the response was that our standards were too high. Apparently, we should simply let the work continue through production without intervention. That conversation left me asking a question that I suspect many dentists have asked themselves over the years. What has happened to some dental technicians?
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 If there is one question we are asked regularly by dentists and practice teams across the UK, it is this:
"Should I prescribe full contour zirconia or layered zirconia?" It's a great question because both materials have transformed modern restorative dentistry and both can deliver excellent clinical outcomes when used in the right situation. The challenge is that many clinicians know zirconia is strong, aesthetic, and popular, but understanding the practical differences between full contour and layered zirconia can help ensure the right restoration is selected for the right patient. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, we manufacture thousands of zirconia restorations and work closely with dentists to determine which option will provide the best balance of aesthetics, strength, longevity, and patient satisfaction. The short answer is that layered zirconia generally offers superior aesthetics, while full contour zirconia offers superior durability. However, like most things in dentistry, the real answer is slightly more nuanced.
After completing hundreds of immediate implant loading cases at Bremadent Dental Laboratory, I've developed some strong opinions about full-arch implant prosthetics. While FP1, FP2, and FP3 restorations all have their place in modern implant dentistry, if I had to choose my preferred option for immediate loading cases, FP1 would win almost every time.
Now, before anyone starts sharpening their implant drivers, let me be clear. This isn't about saying FP2 and FP3 are wrong. They absolutely have clinical indications and can deliver excellent outcomes. However, when the clinical situation allows it, FP1 offers advantages that are difficult to ignore from an aesthetic, functional, technical, and patient satisfaction perspective. Having worked on these cases both as a Clinical Dental Technician and as a laboratory owner overseeing large volumes of full-arch implant restorations, I've had the opportunity to analyse what works consistently in the real world rather than simply in theory. The more cases we complete, the more convinced I become that FP1 represents the closest thing we currently have to replicating natural dentition in a full-arch implant restoration.  If someone walked into a dental laboratory ten years ago and said that artificial intelligence, digital scanners, cloud-based workflows, 3D printing, facial scanning, and same-day smile design would become part of everyday dentistry, most technicians would probably have smiled politely and carried on trimming models.
Fast forward to 2026, and dentistry in the UK looks very different. The profession has evolved rapidly. Patients are more informed than ever, clinicians are under increasing pressure, and dental laboratories are no longer simply manufacturing appliances behind the scenes. Modern laboratories are becoming integrated clinical partners, digital workflow providers, technical consultants, and problem-solvers. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, we have seen this evolution first-hand. Dentistry in 2026 is faster, more digital, more aesthetic-focused, more collaborative, and in many ways more demanding than ever before. At the same time, it is also opening exciting opportunities for practices and laboratories that embrace change, innovation, and strong teamwork. So, what is dentistry really like in the UK in 2026, particularly from the laboratory side? Let’s take a closer look.  If you have spent any time in modern restorative dentistry, you have almost certainly heard the words “Can we do this in E.max?”
In many practices, E.max has become the go-to option for highly aesthetic crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, and anterior restorations. Patients love the natural appearance, dentists appreciate the predictable aesthetics, and dental laboratories value the balance between beauty and strength. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, E.max restorations are one of the most commonly prescribed aesthetic solutions we produce for dental practices across the UK. When handled correctly, they can deliver exceptional results that blend seamlessly into the natural dentition. Of course, like most things in dentistry, it is never quite as simple as “just make it white.” There is a huge amount of science, planning, shade management, and technical precision involved in producing a truly natural-looking E.max restoration. So, what exactly is E.max, why is it so popular, and what do dentists and the dental team need to know to maximise results? |
Private Dental Laboratory in London
 Kash Qureshi - Managing Director, Clinical Dental Technician
About the author:
Kash Qureshi is a Clinical Dental Technician (Denturist) in the U.K who oversees and quality controls over 3000+ fixed and removable prosthesis including implant cases from a clinical and technical aspect monthly at Bremadent Dental Laboratory & Swissedent Denture Clinic in London. www.swissedent.co.uk www.bremadent.co.uk [email protected] Categories
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