 If there is one clinical record that can dramatically improve communication between a dental practice and dental laboratory whilst taking less than two minutes to record, it is the stick bite.
Yet despite its simplicity, it remains one of the most underused and misunderstood records in restorative dentistry. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, we receive thousands of denture, implant, crown and bridge, and full arch rehabilitation cases every year. One thing we have noticed consistently is that many clinicians provide excellent impressions, accurate scans, detailed prescriptions, and beautiful photographs, but omit one of the most valuable records available for guiding anterior aesthetics and occlusal plane orientation. The stick bite. Ironically, some of the most expensive and complex cases we receive arrive without one. When this happens, the laboratory must rely on photographs, facial landmarks, experience, and clinical judgement to determine how the final smile should sit within the patient's face. When a stick bite is included, many of those assumptions disappear. The result is often greater predictability, improved communication, reduced chairside adjustments, and more confident smile design. This article explains exactly what a stick bite is, why it matters, how to take one correctly, when it should be used, and why many experienced clinicians consider it an essential record for full arch and aesthetic cases.
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 If you've ever attended a restorative dentistry course, prosthodontic programme, implant training event, or denture course, you've almost certainly come across a facebow. More specifically, if you've worked with Bremadent Dental Laboratory, there's a good chance we've asked you to provide a Denar facebow record for a case.
What often surprises us is not how many clinicians haven't used a facebow recently, but how many have been shown how to use one without ever fully understanding why they're using it. We regularly receive cases where the bite fork is upside down, components have been assembled incorrectly, records have become distorted, or the facebow has been used simply because it was listed on a prescription form. Once we explain its purpose, the lightbulb usually comes on and everything suddenly makes sense. This article is designed to be the definitive guide for dentists, therapists, implant clinicians, prosthodontists, dental students, and dental teams who want to understand what a Denar facebow is, how to use it correctly, and why it remains one of the most valuable tools available for achieving predictable restorative outcomes.  If you work in dentistry, one conversation you have probably had countless times is explaining the difference between NHS and private dental treatment. For many patients, the assumption is simple. A crown is a crown, a denture is a denture, and teeth are just teeth. Until they start comparing results, aesthetics, materials, comfort, longevity, and expectations.
As a dental laboratory, we see both sides every day. We understand the pressures dental practices face when balancing patient expectations, budgets, timeframes, regulations, and clinical outcomes. We also understand why patients can sometimes feel confused when they hear phrases like “NHS option” or “private upgrade.” The reality is that both NHS and private restorations play an important role in modern dentistry. Neither is “bad,” and neither exists to compete against the other. They simply serve different purposes. For dentists and dental teams, being able to explain this clearly and confidently helps patients make informed decisions without feeling pressured or overwhelmed.  At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, we work closely with dentists and dental teams across the UK to deliver predictable, high-quality implant-retained dentures. One issue that continues to come up in practice is locator pick-ups that don’t quite perform as expected.
They may feel tight, slightly off, lack retention, or cause ongoing adjustments. In some cases, they fail prematurely. When this happens, it is rarely down to the locator system itself. More often, it comes down to how the pick-up has been carried out. The key difference lies in whether the procedure is done chairside or in the laboratory. From both a clinical and technical perspective, chairside locator pick-ups are more accurate, more predictable, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients. Let’s break down why.  Helping patients understand their dental options can sometimes feel like trying to explain rocket science to someone who just came in for a filling. But when it comes to partial dentures, clarity and simplicity are key. At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, based in London, we know that patients who understand their treatment options feel more confident, engaged, and likely to follow through with care. Here’s a practical guide for dental practices, dentists, and the wider dental team on how to explain the different types of partial dentures to patients in a way that’s friendly, professional, and easy to grasp.
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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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