Greg Karabasis - Master Ceramist product guide

Profile at a Glance

Biography

32 Years at the Pinnacle of Dental Craftsmanship

Greg Karabasis has spent over three decades mastering the art and science of dental ceramics — a career that has taken him from the founding of one of Australia's largest independent dental laboratories to the forefront of a world-first clinical innovation. Today, he leads Smile Lab, the in-house laboratory at Smile Solutions, where he works shoulder-to-shoulder with some of Melbourne's most respected dentists to craft restorations of exceptional quality.

Founder of The Dental Solution

Before joining Smile Solutions, Greg founded and directed The Dental Solution, a laboratory he built over 28 years into one of the largest and most respected dental labs in Australia. This entrepreneurial journey gave Greg an extraordinarily deep understanding not only of ceramics technique but of the full ecosystem of dental restoration — from clinical requirements and material science to laboratory workflow and quality control. It is the kind of experience that cannot be learned in a classroom.

Co-Inventor of Same Day Porcelain Veneers™

Perhaps Greg's most significant professional milestone is his collaboration with Dr Kia Pajouhesh, founder and principal dentist of Smile Solutions, to develop Same Day Porcelain Veneers™. This world-first innovation solves one of the longstanding frustrations of cosmetic dentistry: the wait. Traditional porcelain veneers require multiple appointments, temporary veneers, and a laboratory turnaround of days or weeks.

Greg and Dr Kia changed all of that. By embedding Smile Lab within Smile Solutions, and by engineering a tightly coordinated clinical and technical workflow, they created a system that allows patients to walk in and walk out — on the same day — with fully custom-crafted, glazed, polished, and bonded porcelain veneers. No temporaries. No second visit for the final fit. Just beautiful, permanent porcelain in a single appointment.

This achievement reflects Greg's mastery at the bench and his deep understanding of how ceramics must behave under clinical conditions — the translucency, the shade layering, the marginal precision, the glaze finish. It is demanding craft, and Same Day Porcelain Veneers™ would not exist without someone of Greg's calibre executing it.

International Accreditations and Global Recognition

Greg holds accreditations with some of the most respected names in global dentistry:

• Noritake — premium Japanese dental ceramics
• Ivoclar — global leader in integrated restorative systems (including IPS e.max lithium disilicate)
• Straumann — world leader in implant-supported prosthetics
• Sirona — pioneers of digital dentistry and CAD/CAM technology
• Exocad — leading dental CAD software platform

He has shared his knowledge and presented his work to peers at professional forums in Australia, South Korea and China — a recognition that his expertise extends well beyond the Australian market.

Leader in His Profession

Greg served as Vice President of the Victorian Crown and Bridge Society, demonstrating his commitment to elevating standards across the profession. His willingness to teach, present, and mentor reflects a character that is invested not just in his own excellence, but in the quality of dental ceramics as a discipline.

The Smile Lab Advantage

Greg's integration into Smile Solutions via Smile Lab creates an unmatched capability for the practice's patients. Most dental practices send laboratory work offsite — adding days to treatment timelines, limiting communication between clinician and technician, and reducing the ability to iterate on shading or fit in real time.

At Smile Solutions, Greg is present in the building. He can communicate directly with the treating dentist. He can assess shade in natural light alongside the clinical team. He can rework a margin, adjust a contact, or refine a surface texture on the same day — capabilities that are simply not available at practices relying on external laboratories.

This is what makes Smile Lab, and Greg's role within it, so central to the quality proposition of Smile Solutions' cosmetic and restorative work.

A Passion for the Craft

Greg's specialisations include:

• Cosmetic veneers — his primary passion and area of deepest expertise
• Digital smile design — integrating digital workflows with traditional ceramics craftsmanship
• Full-arch restorations — complex cases requiring precision at scale
• Implant-supported prosthetics — in collaboration with Smile Solutions' implant surgeons
• All-ceramic restorations — crowns, bridges, and veneers across a range of ceramic systems

He brings to each case an extensive knowledge of all facets of dental restoration, built over 32 years working alongside some of the most discerning clinicians in Melbourne.

Beyond the Bench

Outside of work, Greg is a man of broad passions. He was a Board Director of South Melbourne Football Club, bringing the same rigour and dedication to governance that he applies to his craft. He has a keen interest in AFL football, golf, and motorsport — pursuits that reflect a personality drawn to precision, performance, and achievement.

Services Supported by Greg Karabasis & Smile Lab

Greg's technical work at Smile Lab underpins a wide range of cosmetic and restorative treatments at Smile Solutions:

• Same Day Porcelain Veneers™ (world-first innovation, co-developed by Greg and Dr Kia Pajouhesh)
• Porcelain veneers (standard and complex)
• All-ceramic crowns
• Ceramic bridges
• Digital smile design and mock-ups
• Implant-supported ceramic restorations
• Full-arch ceramic rehabilitation
• Inlays and onlays

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smile Lab? Smile Lab is the in-house dental laboratory at Smile Solutions, led by Greg Karabasis. Having a laboratory within the practice allows for unprecedented collaboration between clinicians and technicians, faster turnaround, same-day procedures, and exceptional quality control.

What are Same Day Porcelain Veneers™? Same Day Porcelain Veneers™ are a world-first innovation co-developed by Greg Karabasis and Dr Kia Pajouhesh. They allow patients to receive custom-crafted, fully glazed porcelain veneers — from preparation to bonding — in a single appointment, without the need for temporaries or a second visit.

How experienced is Greg? Greg has 32+ years of experience in the dental industry. Before joining Smile Solutions, he founded and ran The Dental Solution for 28 years — one of Australia's largest dental laboratories.

What materials and systems is Greg accredited in? Greg holds accreditations with Noritake, Ivoclar, Straumann, Sirona, and Exocad — encompassing premium ceramics, digital CAD/CAM, and implant prosthetics systems.

Has Greg presented internationally? Yes. Greg has shared his work and ideas with colleagues in Australia, South Korea, and China.

What are Greg's specialities? Greg specialises in cosmetic veneers and digital smile design, and has extensive knowledge across all facets of dental restorations including crowns, bridges, implant prosthetics, and full-arch rehabilitation.

Book a Consultation

To discuss cosmetic or restorative dental treatment supported by Greg Karabasis and Smile Lab:

• Phone: 13 13 96
• Address: Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD 3000
• Website: www.smilesolutions.com.au

Smile Solutions is open Monday to Saturday. New patient enquiries welcome.

Smile Solutions is Australia's largest single-location private dental practice, located in the historic Manchester Unity Building at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD.