12 August 2026

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Dandy’s Polychromatic Shade Delivers Aesthetics and Affordability

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Breakthrough innovation delivers natural-looking zirconia crowns and bridges at a fraction of the cost of hand-painted porcelain.

Digital dental lab Dandy recently unveiled Polychromatic Shade, a patented technology designed to produce crowns and finishes with the aesthetics of porcelain, but with the durability and affordability of monolithic zirconia.

With the Polychromatic Shade process, dentists will have access to premium, lifelike zirconia prosthetics for as little as a quarter of the price of a hand-painted porcelain version, a process Dandy is calling a category-defining innovation in restorative dentistry.

Today, 90% of crown and bridge cases are made with zirconia. The material is popular because of its strength, biocompatibility, and highly competitive price point. But when it comes to aesthetics, zirconia can often appear lifeless and opaque. When a clinician requires a better aesthetic outcome, they opt for a material like PFZ (porcelain-fused zirconia) or IPS e.max, layered by skilled ceramists to achieve lifelike translucency, characterization, and depth. This solution can be more than 2 to 3 times the cost of the zirconia alternative, according to Dandy.

For the first time, Dandy’s patented Polychromatic Shade innovation introduces a third option. The product of a $100M+ investment and a global supply chain spanning 7 countries drawing on expertise from semiconductor-grade robotics, ceramic science, and machine learning, Polychromatic Shade is built around a patented robotic stain and glaze process that applies color to the tooth with micron-level accuracy. The result is a realistic finish with natural gradients, lifelike translucency, and gingival warmth on a high-strength zirconia substrate. At $99 per crown—compared to the $200 to $400 cost typical for crowns from a boutique dental lab—dentists no longer have to choose between beauty and affordability.

“There is no reason now for dentists or their patients to have to compromise. Everything we do focuses on bringing premium quality prosthetics and patient experiences at an affordable price point,” Daniel Hanover, co-founder at Dandy, stated in a press release. “That includes aesthetics, and we believe dentists should be able to provide the highest-quality aesthetic outcomes to every patient. Not just the ones who can afford it. Of course, realistic dental crowns are crucial for the well-being and confidence of the patient, but when a dentist can deliver a premium look at a fraction of the price, it will also drive patient retention and growth for their practice.”

Polychromatic Shade crown samples can be requested today at Dandy and the crowns are currently available for ordering.

Source: https://www.meetdandy.com/labs/polychromatic-shade/