Glidewell

What Glidewell does

Glidewell is the largest US-based full-service dental laboratory, headquartered in Irvine, California, and founded in 1976. The company manufactures custom dental restorations—including crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, dentures, occlusal appliances, clear aligners, and sleep dentistry devices—and serves approximately 80,000 dentists annually across the United States. Its core technology platform combines AI-powered restoration design systems, integrated since 2014, with CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and intraoral scan processing infrastructure that handled over 3 million scans in 2024.

The product portfolio spans a chairside in-office digital workflow (glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution and the newly launched fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner), proprietary material brands such as BruxZir® Zirconia and Glidewell HT™ Implants, and a consumables catalog sold through the Glidewell Direct e-commerce platform. Glidewell monetizes through per-case lab service pricing (next-day crowns starting at $89), in-office equipment sales, a No Charge Implants promotional program, and AGD PACE certified clinical education delivered via live symposia, webinars, and digital courses (73,000+ CE units awarded to 31,000+ participants).

Distribution combines direct lab services (digital case submission and physical pickup/delivery), self-serve e-commerce, in-office equipment deployment, and a partner referral program. The privately held company has no public ticker or institutional investors identified and continues to operate as an independent dental lab with five decades of operating history.

Name

Glidewell

Legal name

Glidewell

Website

https://glidewell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Glidewell is the largest US-based full-service dental laboratory, serving approximately 80,000 dentists annually with custom restorations, AI-powered design, in-office digital workflow solutions, and AGD PACE certified clinical education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Laboratory Services

NAICS

Dental Laboratories (339116), Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (339114), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Crown & Bridge (Fixed Prosthetics) Fabrication (HLABAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

CAD/CAM Digital Design & Milling Centers (HLABAJAE), Implant Prosthetics & Abutment Fabrication (HLABAJAC), Aesthetic/Cosmetic Restorative Dentistry (Smile Design) (HLABAFAE), Orthodontic Appliances & Aligners Fabrication (HLABAJAD), Maxillofacial Prosthetics & Craniofacial Appliances (HLABAJAH), Medical & Dental 3D Printing Services (patient-specific devices, dental labs) (IMAAADAG)

Keywords

• Dental laboratory services
• Custom dental restorations
• Digital dentistry solutions
• Dental implant products
• Dental continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Restorative Dental Lab Services: Core revenue stream providing custom dental restorations including crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, dentures, and occlusal appliances. Services include next-day crowns, AI-designed restorations, and a worry-free no-fault remake policy. Priced at $89 starting for next-day crowns.
2. Digital Dentistry Products & Equipment: Sale of in-office technology solutions including glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution, fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner, in-office thermoforming machines and discs, and dental materials. Also includes bruxZir® Zirconia and Glidewell HT™ Implant products.
3. Clinical Education & CE Courses: Glidewell provides AGD PACE certified dental continuing education including live courses, online courses, webinars, and symposium events. Awarded over 73,000 CE units to more than 31,000 participants. Programs include in-person symposia, Glidewell TV, and digital platforms.
4. Glidewell Direct E-commerce: Glidewell Direct Store operates as a separate e-commerce platform for clinical and lab products, thermoforming materials, and education courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Glidewell operates America's largest full-service dental laboratory, manufacturing custom dental restorations including crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, dentures, and occlusal appliances for approximately 80,000 dental practitioners annually. The company also provides digital dentistry solutions through its glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution (CAD/CAM chairside workflow) and the fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner, alongside AGD PACE certified continuing education programs for dental professionals.

Product overview

Glidewell is America's largest dental laboratory offering a comprehensive portfolio of dental products and services. The company operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution for digital chairside workflows, complemented by an extensive range of restorative products including BruxZir® Zirconia, Glidewell HT™ Implants, clear aligners, and complete crown & bridge solutions. The product ecosystem includes occlusal appliances (Comfort H/S™ Bite Splint), dental sleep medicine devices, implant solutions, and removable prostheses. Recent innovation includes the fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner launched in April 2026 for enhanced aesthetic treatment planning. Glidewell differentiates through AI-powered restoration design systems integrated since 2014, next-day crowns starting at $89, and an extensive clinical education program offering AGD PACE certified courses through live events, webinars, and digital platforms. The company serves approximately 80,000 dentists annually and has processed over 3 million intraoral scans in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• glidewell.io™: In-office digital dentistry solution enabling same-day crown milling and restoration design
• BruxZir® Zirconia
• Comfort H/S™
• Glidewell HT™ Implant
• Glidewell™ Clear Aligners
• Glidewell™ Digital Full-Arch
• Vivaneer™
• fastsmile.io™

Products and services

• glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution In-office CAD/CAM solution enabling dental practitioners to design, mill, and deliver dental restorations within a single visit via a fully connected chairside digital workflow from scan to design to same-day milling.
• fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner Compact 3D facial scanning device that captures full-face scans to enhance aesthetic dental treatment planning by combining facial data with intraoral scans; outputs industry-standard file formats for digital workflow compatibility.
• Crown and Bridge Restorations Full range of crown and bridge restoration options including zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), glass ceramics, composite, and full-cast materials, with next-day delivery starting at $89 using AI-powered design systems.
• BruxZir® Zirconia Solid zirconia dental restorations offering durability and aesthetics for dental patients.
• Veneers (including Vivaneer™) Dental veneer solutions including Vivaneer™ BruxZir® Esthetic Veneers and diagnostic wax-ups for cosmetic dental treatment.
• Glidewell HT™ Implant Dental implant solution designed to provide affordable implant options for dental practitioners and patients.
• Implant Solutions Complete implant solutions including digital treatment planning, implant restorations, full-arch solutions, and implants & biologics for dental practitioners.
• Glidewell™ Clear Aligners Clear aligner orthodontic solution for dental practices seeking in-practice orthodontic treatment options.
• Glidewell™ Digital Full-Arch Digital full-arch dental restoration solution for comprehensive restorative treatments.
• Comfort H/S™ Bite Splint Most widely prescribed bite splint for occlusal appliance therapy.
• Occlusal Appliances Bite splints, retainers, sports mouthguards, and migraine prevention devices for occlusal therapy and dental protection.
• Dental Sleep Medicine Devices Mandibular advancement devices for treating sleep-related breathing disorders.
• Removable Prosthesis Dentures, partials, combination crowns & partials, and flippers for removable dental prostheses.
• Provisionals Provisional dental restorations for temporary use during multi-visit treatment workflows.
• In-Office Thermoforming Equipment Thermoforming machines and discs for in-office fabrication of dental appliances by dental practices.
• Glidewell Direct Store E-commerce platform for clinical and lab products, thermoforming machines, thermoforming discs, and education courses sold directly to dental practices.
• Glidewell Clinical Education & CE Courses AGD PACE certified dental continuing education including live courses, online CE courses, webinars, symposium events, Glidewell TV, and the Chairside Live Podcast for dental professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Next-day crowns delivered at $89 starting price point
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner Ecosystem PartnerscoreTechnology or Integration · 13 April 2026The fastsmile.io™ 3D Facial Scanner is designed to integrate with glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution, enabling a fully connected chairside digital workflow from scan to design to same-day milling. Outputs industry-standard file formats for compatibility with digital workflows.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Patterson Companies: Major dental and animal health distributor offering supplies, equipment, and software to dental practices. Competes with Glidewell Direct Store and glidewell.io equipment distribution through established sales channels.
• Henry Schein: Largest distributor of dental supplies and equipment in North America, serving dental practices with products comparable to Glidewell Direct's e-commerce offerings and indirectly competing for lab and equipment budgets.
• Straumann Group: Global leader in dental implants and prosthetics. Competes with Glidewell HT™ Implants and digital full-arch solutions while offering broader premium implant lines to the same clinician base.
• Ivoclar Vivadent: Global manufacturer of dental materials, ceramics, and CAD/CAM equipment (including PrograMill). Competes with Glidewell's BruxZir® Zirconia materials, in-office materials, and milling workflows.
• Dentsply Sirona: The world's largest manufacturer of dental equipment and consumables, including CAD/CAM milling systems (CEREC) that directly compete with glidewell.io™. Sells through the same dental practitioner channel Glidewell serves.
• Envista Holdings: Holding company for Nobel Biocare, Ormco, and KaVo Kerr — spanning implants, orthodontics, and dental equipment. Overlaps with Glidewell's implant, aligner, and equipment categories.
• ZimVie (Zimmer Biomet Dental): Spun off from Zimmer Biomet, ZimVie sells dental implants, abutments, and digital dentistry solutions. Directly comparable to Glidewell HT™ Implant line and digital full-arch offerings.

Direct peers

• National Dentex Labs (NDX): One of the largest US dental laboratory networks offering crowns, bridges, implants, and removable prosthetics. Direct competitor to Glidewell's centralized lab services across overlapping product categories.
• 3Shape: Developer of TRIOS intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM software widely used in dental practices and labs. Competes directly with Glidewell's intraoral scan processing infrastructure and fastsmile.io™ 3D scanner.
• Align Technology: Manufacturer of Invisalign clear aligners and iTero intraoral scanners. Competes head-on with Glidewell™ Clear Aligners and fastsmile.io™, and its iTero scanner locks practices into a competing digital workflow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/glidewelldental
• Facebookfacebook.com/glidewelldental
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glidewell
• Instagraminstagram.com/glidewelldental

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Glidewell