Spring Cleaning Your Orthodontic Workflow: 5 Ways to Improve Case Submissions

Five Star Orthodontic Lab & Supply

As orthodontic practices continue to embrace digital technology, one area where efficiency and clarity can make a big impact is case submission workflow. Whether you’re sending intraoral scans, indirect bonding setups, or custom appliance requests, clear communication and streamlined processes help reduce errors, speed turnaround times, and improve treatment outcomes. At Five Star Orthodontic Lab & Supply, we’ve supported practices with comprehensive digital services — from 3D printing to digital indirect bonding. 

Here are five practical ways you can “spring clean” your case submissions and improve your digital workflow this month:

Standardize Your Digital Data Inputs

When submitting cases to a lab, consistency matters. Make sure your digital impressions include:

• Patient name and clear identifiers
• Right orientation of scans (upper/lower/full arch)
• Any construction bite images when applicable

If using an intraoral scanner, complete the digital RX info with doctor and patient details before uploading. These small steps reduce back-and-forth questions and help the lab understand exactly what you need. 

Tip: Save preset scanner profiles in your software so every scan includes the necessary info by default.

Use a Clear, Detailed Prescription

A thorough lab prescription is essential — even in a digital workflow. Include:

• Desired appliance
• Bracket type and preferences
• Treatment goals
• Special instructions

A complete digital RX ensures the lab techs and digital designers can plan accurately without resubmission delays. Five Star’s customer portal allows for comprehensive RX submission along with file uploads, making this process efficient and organized. 

Optimize Your File Organization and Uploads

When your digital files are well organized, the lab team can process them faster. Try these habits:

• Label files by patient name and date (e.g., Smith_Jane_0326_scan.stl)
• Separate files for upper, lower, bite, and photos if required
• Upload all related files in one session to prevent duplicates
  

If you’re sending scans for a digital indirect bonding case, for instance, 3D files combined with clear photos and prescriptions eliminate ambiguity and help ensure a smooth digital bracket setup. 

Communicate Preferences Clearly

Whether your practice uses particular brackets, tray types, or tray setups, include that information upfront. For example:

• Preferred bracket library
• Preferred transfer tray thickness
• Any specified offset, tie wings, or slot orientations

This clarity saves time and prevents assumptions — especially when digital tools like AI-assisted planning are involved. With advanced digital indirect bonding workflows, the more information the lab has, the more precise and customized the result can be. 

Leverage the Customer Portal and Support Services

Five Star Ortho offers a customer portal for RX submission, case tracking, and communication — all in one place. Using that system:

• Reduces lost emails
  
• Keeps all case histories in one spot
  
• Allows easy reorders or remakes
  

If a case is unclear, don’t hesitate to reach out using the support resources available. Five Star also provides phone support and instructional content, including video tutorials that help with everything from taking construction bites to organizing bracket IDs. 

Spring is a great time to refresh your practice’s digital orthodontic workflow. Effective case submissions benefit both your team and the lab — leading to fewer delays, clearer communication, and better patient outcomes. By standardizing data entries, providing detailed prescriptions, organizing files thoughtfully, communicating preferences, and using available support tools, you can streamline your workflow and ensure a smoother partnership with your lab.

At Five Star Orthodontic Lab & Supply, we’re here to support you with services ranging from 3D digital model printing to custom appliances and digital indirect bonding solutions. When your case submissions are efficient and organized, both your practice and your patients win.