NAICS 339116 Quarterly Industry Report
Dental Laboratories
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 339116Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 339116 industry profile using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns[8], Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data[6], and SBA size standard tables[7]. Our research team reviews dental industry trade publications and regulatory filings to verify production trends. This report receives quarterly updates reflecting workforce changes, technology adoption rates, and market conditions affecting dental laboratory operations.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the dental laboratories industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Dental Laboratories (NAICS 339116) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing dental prosthetics such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, and orthodontic appliances to prescription. These labs receive work orders from dentists and orthodontists specifying patient measurements and material requirements. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry within the medical equipment and supplies manufacturing subsector.
Most dental laboratories operate as custom job shops, producing individual prosthetic devices tailored to specific patient anatomies. Technicians skilled in ceramics, metal casting, and polymer chemistry fabricate crowns from porcelain, zirconia, or metal alloys. Denture production requires precise impression modeling and acrylic processing. CAD/CAM milling technology has shifted crown and bridge production from manual wax-up methods toward digital scanning and computer-controlled machining. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] classifies dental laboratory technicians as a distinct occupation.
Under SBA size standards[7], NAICS 339116 carries a threshold of 500 employees. Small independent labs dominate the industry by count, though consolidation has created several large national laboratory chains. Outsourcing of routine crown and denture work to overseas labs in China and other countries has pressured domestic pricing. Digital dentistry workflows have reduced turnaround times from weeks to days for many common restorations. Labs that invest in 3D printing and CAD/CAM milling equipment capture higher-margin complex cases.
What's Included in This Industry
- Custom crown and bridge fabrication from dental impressions
- Complete and partial denture manufacturing
- Orthodontic appliance production (retainers, aligners, expanders)
- Dental implant component manufacturing and customization
- Porcelain and ceramic veneer fabrication
- CAD/CAM milled dental restoration production
- Dental model and die preparation from impressions
- Night guard and occlusal splint manufacturing
- 3D-printed dental prosthetic production
- Metal casting for dental frameworks and substructures
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339 |
| Industry Group | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 3391 |
| NAICS Industry | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 33911 |
| National Industry | Dental Laboratories | 339116 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 339114 | Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | Dental equipment and supply manufacturing produces the instruments, chairs, and materials that dental laboratories depend on daily |
| 339112 | Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing | Surgical and medical instrument manufacturing shares precision fabrication methods and medical device regulatory classification with dental labs |
| 339113 | Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing | Surgical appliance manufacturing uses similar custom fabrication workflows producing patient-specific medical devices to practitioner specifications |
| 621210 | Offices of Dentists | Offices of dentists generate the prescription work orders and patient impressions that drive all dental laboratory production volume |
| 621310 | Offices of Chiropractors | Offices of chiropractors share the healthcare practitioner service model where custom devices support clinical treatment plans |
| 423450 | Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | Medical and dental equipment wholesalers distribute raw materials, alloys, ceramics, and consumable supplies to dental laboratory operations |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 15.2% | 747 |
| 2 | Florida | 8.8% | 434 |
| 3 | New York | 6.2% | 305 |
| 4 | Texas | 5.6% | 276 |
| 5 | Illinois | 4.2% | 207 |
| 6 | Washington | 3.9% | 192 |
| 7 | Georgia | 3.6% | 180 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 3.4% | 166 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 2.7% | 134 |
| 10 | Virginia | 2.7% | 131 |
% Of Establishments
0%
15%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
416
Total SBA Loans
$238.2M
Total Loan Volume
$573K
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.90%
Average Interest Rate
3,416
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] assigns NAICS 339116 a size standard of 500 employees. Most dental laboratories fall well below this threshold, with the majority operating fewer than 20 employees. Qualifying small labs can access 7(a) loans for CAD/CAM equipment purchases and facility upgrades. The 504 loan program supports real estate acquisition for labs expanding production capacity. Federal contracting opportunities exist through VA and military dental programs.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banc of California | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 2 | First Business Bank | 8 | $37.0M | $4.6M |
| 3 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 8 | $19.8M | $2.5M |
| 4 | Hanmi Bank | 16 | $19.4M | $1.2M |
| 5 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 48 | $18.0M | $374K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 339116?
NAICS 339116 covers dental laboratories that manufacture custom prosthetic devices including crowns, bridges, dentures, orthodontic appliances, implant components, and veneers. These labs work from prescriptions provided by licensed dentists and orthodontists. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies them within medical equipment manufacturing.
How are dental laboratories structured?
Most dental labs operate as small custom job shops with fewer than 20 employees. Technicians specialize in areas like ceramics, metal casting, dentures, or orthodontics. Several large national chains have consolidated smaller operations, though independent labs still outnumber corporate facilities. Labs increasingly split between traditional handcraft methods and digital CAD/CAM production workflows.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 339116?
The SBA sets the size standard at 500 employees for dental laboratories. Given that most labs employ fewer than 20 workers, nearly all dental laboratories qualify as small businesses. The SBA size standard table[7] applies this threshold for federal contracting and lending eligibility determinations.
What NAICS codes are related to dental laboratories?
Key related codes include 339114 (dental equipment and supplies manufacturing), 339112 (surgical and medical instrument manufacturing), and 339113 (surgical appliance manufacturing). Service-side codes include 621210 (offices of dentists) and distribution code 423450 (medical and dental equipment wholesalers). The Census Bureau[5] groups dental labs with other medical device manufacturers.
What industries are closely related to dental laboratories?
Dental equipment manufacturing (339114) supplies production equipment and materials. Dental offices (621210) generate all prescription orders. Medical supply wholesalers (423450) provide raw materials. Surgical appliance manufacturers (339113) compete for skilled fabrication technicians. Electromedical equipment makers (334510) produce digital scanning systems used in modern lab workflows.
What activities are included in NAICS 339116?
Covered activities include crown and bridge fabrication, denture manufacturing, orthodontic appliance production, implant customization, veneer creation, CAD/CAM milling, dental model preparation, night guard manufacturing, 3D-printed prosthetics, and metal casting for dental frameworks. The Census Bureau[5] defines these as custom manufacturing operations performed to dental practitioner specifications.
Can dental laboratories qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, dental labs with 500 or fewer employees qualify as small businesses under SBA guidelines[7]. The 7(a) loan program covers CAD/CAM equipment, 3D printers, and working capital needs. Industry 504 program supports facility purchases and expansions. Labs serving VA medical centers or military dental clinics may also access federal contracting set-asides.
Where are dental laboratories concentrated in the United States?
Dental laboratories cluster near large population centers that generate high volumes of dental practitioner orders. California, New York, Texas, and Florida host the largest concentrations of lab establishments. Urban areas with dense dental practice networks support more specialized labs. The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns[8] provides state-level establishment counts for this industry code.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns census.gov
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