Our Story — Highland Dental Studio
Our Story

Forty Years of
Craft & Precision

What began at a single bench — a young technician, a set of hand tools, and an obsession with fit — grew into one of the region's most trusted full-service dental laboratories. Every restoration we make still carries that same founding discipline.

1984
Founded
40+
Years
Full
Service Lab
3yr
Warranty
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The Foundation

Built on the belief that
every restoration matters

James Park — known in the lab simply as "JP" — began his career in Seoul in the early 1980s, apprenticing under a master ceramist at one of Korea's premier prosthetic laboratories. He learned that dental craftsmanship was not merely technical; it was an act of care — each crown a small restoration of confidence and comfort to a real person.

When he immigrated and opened Highland Dental Studio in 1984, he brought that philosophy with him: no shortcuts, no compromises on fit, no tolerance for "close enough." For the first decade, the lab operated as a boutique crown-and-bridge shop, earning a reputation among local dentists for restorations that seated on the first try and shades that matched without remakes.

Four decades later, that ethos is embedded in every process — from the way cases are logged at intake to the final inspection under magnification before each case ships.

Four Decades

A Chronicle of Growth

The Beginning

A Single Bench in a Rented Suite

James Park opens Highland Dental Studio in a 400 sq. ft. rented suite with a single articulator, a porcelain furnace, and a handwritten client list of seven dentists. Every crown is waxed by hand. Every shade is built layer by layer.

Crown & Bridge Only
1984
1989
Reputation & Growth

Word Spreads Through the Dental Community

By the end of the '80s, the client roster has grown to over 60 dental offices. JP hires his first two technicians — both trained personally. The lab moves to a larger space and adds a second porcelain furnace. A reputation for single-appointment remakes of less than 3% sets Highland apart.

First Hires · 60+ Clients
Expansion

Removable Prosthetics Joins the Menu

Responding to growing demand from long-time clients, JP trains under a removable prosthodontics specialist and introduces full denture services. The lab expands to include a dedicated removable department — the first step toward becoming a true full-service laboratory.

Dentures Added
1996
2004
The Digital Shift

CAD/CAM Technology Enters the Lab

Highland becomes an early adopter of digital milling, integrating the lab's first CAD/CAM unit alongside traditional handcraft. JP's position is firm: technology accelerates production but does not replace artisanship. All milled restorations still undergo hand-characterization and finish by a senior technician.

CAD/CAM · Zirconia
Implants & New Materials

Implant Division Launches

As implant restorations become mainstream, Highland opens a dedicated implant department. Custom Ti-Base abutments, screw-retained zirconia crowns, and multi-unit implant bridges join the service catalog. JP attends international prosthetic conferences to stay ahead of evolving implant systems and materials science.

Implant Prosthetics
2010
2017
Modern Era

Full-Service Certification & Digital Scanning

Highland becomes a fully certified multi-discipline laboratory. The lab accepts IOS digital scan files, integrates intraoral scan compatibility for every major scanner brand, and launches a secure online case submission portal. Turnaround standards are codified: 5–7 days for fixed, 7–10 days for implants.

Full-Service · Digital
Today

Forty Years Strong — Still at the Bench

JP still arrives first each morning, headband loupe on, reviewing the day's cases personally. The team has grown to fourteen technicians — each mentored in the Highland way. The lab processes hundreds of restorations per month across all disciplines, with a remake rate that remains among the lowest in the region.

40 Years · 14 Technicians
2024
What We Stand For

Three Pillars of Highland Quality

Artisanal Craftsmanship

Every restoration passes through the hands of a skilled technician, not just a machine. Porcelain is hand-layered. Characterization is performed under 5× magnification. Our milled restorations receive the same hand-finishing attention as our pressed ceramics. Technology is a tool — artistry is the standard.

Modern Materials

From 5Y-TZP multi-layer zirconia and IPS e.max® lithium disilicate to Ti-Base implant abutments and flexible Valplast® partials — we source only from validated, industry-leading manufacturers. We adopt new materials only after rigorous in-house testing, never chasing trends at the expense of proven performance.

Competitive Turnaround

Quality and speed are not mutually exclusive. Our production schedule is engineered to deliver fixed restorations in 5–7 days and implant cases in 7–10 days — with a rush path available for urgent cases. We meet deadlines because our patients' appointments depend on it.

"A crown that doesn't seat perfectly, a shade that doesn't match — the patient notices, even if they say nothing. That has always been enough reason to get it right."
James Park  ·  Founder & Master Technician

Highland Today —
Full-Service,
Full Commitment

What started as a one-man crown-and-bridge shop now operates across four dedicated departments, serving dental practices throughout the region. The team shares JP's founding conviction: every case deserves a master technician's eye.

We accept analog impressions, digital scans, and implant-level models. We work with every major implant system, every major scanner platform, and every major material brand.

40+
Years in business
14
Certified technicians
<3%
Remake rate
3yr
Warranty on all work
Crown & Bridge
Ceramic, zirconia, e.max, full cast, veneers, inlays
5–7 days
Complete & Partial Dentures
Full, duplicate, Valplast®, metal framework
7–10 days
Implant Prosthetics
Custom abutments, screw-retained crowns, Ti-Base
7–10 days
Diagnostic & Ancillary
Wax-ups, custom trays, bite blocks, relines, relays
2–5 days