Welcome to the IAS Lab FAQ. Here you’ll find answers to common questions about our orthodontic laboratory services, appliances, retainers, digital workflow and how to work with our team of GDC-registered dental technicians.
IAS Lab is a specialist orthodontic and dental laboratory providing fast-turnaround, high-quality appliances for dentists and orthodontic practices in the UK and internationally.
Our GDC-registered technicians focus on clear aligners, fixed appliances and long-term retention, backed by predictable digital planning and clinical communication.
We combine a fully digital workflow with specialist orthodontic training and mentoring through IAS Academy. That means your cases are designed, manufactured and supported by a team that understands both the technical lab side and the realities of chairside treatment, consent and risk management. Our goal is to make orthodontics simpler, safer and more predictable for
general dentists as well as specialists.
IAS Lab is based in Byfleet, Surrey, and supplies appliances to NHS and private practices across the UK and beyond. Cases can be sent digitally or via post and courier, so we can support practices wherever they are located.
No. We work with GDPs, specialist orthodontists and multi-disciplinary teams. Many of our clients are general dentists who have completed IAS Academy training and want a safe, mentored pathway into orthodontics and ortho-restorative care.
Getting started is simple:
Our team can walk you through onboarding if you are new to digital orthodontic workflows.
Cases can be submitted in three ways:
Full submission guidelines are available in the downloads section and within the portal.
Yes. IAS Lab supports both NHS and private practices. Many of our clients run mixed practices and use us for clear aligners, fixed appliances, functional appliances, retainers and whitening trays alongside their restorative dentistry.
IAS Lab provides a comprehensive range of orthodontic appliances, including:
If you are unsure which appliance is most appropriate for a case, our team and IAS mentors can help.
We offer a full retention range so you can match your practice protocols and patient preferences:
This allows you to combine bonded and removable retention for long-term stability.
Yes. IAS Lab has many years’ experience fabricating Inman Aligners and remains a key laboratory for this appliance. We follow recommended clinical protocols to support efficient, predictable anterior alignment.
Yes. IAS Lab is the home of the ClearSmile range, including ClearSmile Clear Aligners, ClearSmile Brace and ClearSmile Discreet indirect bonding trays. These systems combine digital 3D planning, conservative tooth movements and aesthetic appliance design to deliver predictable outcomes for anterior alignment and cosmetic orthodontics.
We provide high-quality home-whitening trays and work with leading whitening brands. Trays can be ordered alongside orthodontic cases or as separate cases for cosmetic dentistry and smile maintenance.
Yes. IAS Lab produces hi-impact custom sports mouthguards for patients of all ages, including club colours and bespoke designs. Our sports guards are suitable for a wide range of sports where dental trauma is a risk.
Absolutely. IAS Lab is fully digital-ready and accepts scans from all major intraoral scanner systems. You can upload STL files and associated records directly through the portal, reducing postage time, distortion risk and chairside remakes.
Yes. If you prefer, or if a case is not suitable for digital impressions, you can send high-quality alginate or silicone impressions. We will pour and scan them in-lab to bring the case into our digital workflow.
Yes. IAS Lab offers 3D-printed models and digital study models as part of our digital planning service. These can be used for treatment planning, patient communication, pre-treatment records and long-term archiving.
For ClearSmile and other aligner cases, we provide digital 3D treatment planning so you can visualise tooth movements, stages, IPR and attachments before approving manufacture. Plans are reviewed via the online portal, making it easy to communicate with the planning technician and mentor.
Yes. Our Scan & Archive service allows you to digitise models and retain them securely for future reference, remakes and medico-legal documentation, reducing the need to store physical study models.
Turnaround times depend on the appliance type and case complexity. Retainers and simple removable appliances are generally quicker than full clear-aligner or fixed brace cases. We keep lead times intentionally tight and will confirm current turnaround times on your price list and at the point of case submission.
Where possible, yes. If you have a time-sensitive case (for example, an urgent replacement Essix retainer or sports mouthguard), contact the lab team before sending the case. We will advise what is realistic and whether a priority service is available.
Finished appliances are typically returned by tracked courier or post, depending on your location and preferences. Packaging is designed to protect appliances in transit and keep patient identifiers compliant with GDPR.
If you experience an issue with fit or function, please contact the lab as soon as possible with photos, notes and any relevant records. We will help you diagnose whether the problem is impression/scan related, clinical or lab-related and advise on the most efficient remake or adjustment options.
You do not need accreditation to use all of our appliances, but we strongly recommend appropriate training for ClearSmile, Inman Aligner and fixed brace systems. IAS Academy offers structured courses, case assessment and ongoing mentoring to help keep you within your competence and manage risk.
IAS-affiliated dentists benefit from comprehensive mentoring and case support on ClearSmile appliances, from case selection through to retention. Digital planning cases are reviewed with mentors and technicians, giving you an extra layer of confidence before you start treatment.
Yes. IAS Academy members can access discounted IAS Lab fees and marketing and clinical resources as part of their membership, along with offers in the IAS store.
Once your lab account is set up, you can access our online portal, which allows you to:
The portal keeps everything in one place and streamlines your digital orthodontic workflow.
You can contact IAS Lab using the details below:
IAS Lab operates in line with GDPR requirements. We treat patient data, scans and records with strict confidentiality and use secure systems for digital file transfer and storage. Our GDPR and complaints statements are available on request.