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The Smile Solutions Ceramic Studio — Where Smiles Are Hand-Crafted product guide

# The Smile Solutions Ceramic Studio — Where Smiles Are Hand-Crafted Most dental practices send their laboratory work off-site — to an external dental laboratory that the patient will never see, staf...

Smile Solutions Ceramic Studio — Where Your Smile is Hand-Crafted with Care

Most dental practices send their laboratory work off-site — to an external dental laboratory you'll never see, staffed by technicians you'll never meet. At Smile Solutions, we've taken a different approach. One that puts you at the centre of everything we do.

An In-House Ceramic Studio Like No Other

Smile Solutions operates a dedicated, in-house ceramic studio within the historic Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne's heart. This isn't a small bench tucked away in a back room. It's a fully equipped, purpose-built studio that exists solely to serve you — our Smile Solutions patients. We don't accept external work, which means our entire focus remains on creating exceptional results for you.

Every porcelain veneer, crown, bridge, and ceramic restoration created for you is hand-crafted on-site, by a master ceramist who works exclusively with our clinical team. There's no faceless, off-site provider involved in your care. The skilled craftsman who creates your smile is right here — and we encourage you to meet him.

Led by Greg Karabasis, Master Ceramist

Our studio is led by Greg Karabasis, one of Australia's most accomplished dental ceramists, bringing 32 years of experience to your smile transformation.

Greg's credentials speak for themselves:

  • Former Founder and Company Director of one of Australia's largest dental laboratories, which he successfully led for 28 years
  • Accredited with Noritake, Ivoclar, Straumann, Sirona, and Exocad — the leading names in dental ceramics and digital dentistry
  • International presenter, having shared his expertise with dental professionals across Australia, South Korea, and China
  • Former Vice President of the Victorian Crown and Bridge Society

When Greg joined Smile Solutions to lead our in-house studio, it was a deliberate decision — to bring world-class ceramic artistry directly to you, eliminating the compromises that inevitably come with outsourced laboratory work.

You can learn more about Greg's approach and philosophy on his practitioner profile.

The Technology Behind the Craft

While Greg's artistry forms the heart of every restoration we create for you, our studio is equipped with state-of-the-art digital dentistry technology to ensure precision at every stage of your treatment:

  • iTero Element scanners and 3Shape Trios for comfortable digital impressions — no messy moulds required
  • A fleet of advanced 3D printers for rapid prototyping and precise surgical guides
  • CEREC CAD/CAM technology for computer-aided design and milling with exceptional accuracy
  • Advanced ceramic layering and staining techniques that create lifelike results

This combination of master craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology enables us to deliver results that are both clinically precise and aesthetically exceptional.

Enabling the World-First Same Day Porcelain Veneers™

Our in-house ceramic studio makes one of Smile Solutions' most remarkable innovations possible for you: Same Day Porcelain Veneers™.

Developed through the collaborative expertise of Dr Kia Pajouhesh and Greg Karabasis, this world-first service allows you to receive custom porcelain veneers in a single appointment. Because Greg works just metres from the dental chair, there's no waiting for an external laboratory to complete your work. Design, fabrication, and fitting happen in one seamless visit — respecting your valuable time while delivering exceptional results.

This innovation earned the 2024 Australian Business Award for Business Innovation — recognition of the extraordinary collaboration between clinician and ceramist that only an in-house studio makes possible. More importantly, it gives you world-class care that fits your lifestyle.

The Numbers Tell Your Story

Since our studio's establishment, Greg and his dedicated team have hand-crafted:

  • 43,654+ porcelain veneers and crowns — every single one made on-site at Smile Solutions with meticulous attention to detail
  • Bespoke restorations carefully tailored to your unique facial features, skin tone, and smile goals
  • Quick turnaround times without ever compromising on quality — because our studio is steps away from your treatment suite

These aren't mass-produced, cookie-cutter restorations. Each piece is individually crafted, layered, and finished by hand — a process that requires artistic skill, clinical knowledge, and decades of experience dedicated to creating your perfect smile.

Why It Matters for Your Care

The benefits of our in-house ceramic studio translate directly into better outcomes for you:

  • Direct communication between your dentist and Greg, the ceramist who creates your restoration — eliminating miscommunication that can occur through third-party laboratories
  • In-person colour matching — Greg can assess your natural tooth colour and skin tone in person, not from a photograph sent to a distant lab
  • Faster turnaround — same-day and next-day services that external laboratories simply cannot match, getting you back to your life sooner
  • In-house quality control — every restoration is inspected by the same experienced team that will fit it in your mouth
  • A genuine personal connection — you'll often meet Greg during your treatment journey, adding a human touch to what is already a very personal process

This approach is our commitment to comprehensive dental care that never compromises on quality or your comfort.

Your Next Steps

We'd love to welcome you to Smile Solutions and show you our ceramic studio in person. Seeing where your smile transformation happens — and meeting the skilled professionals who'll craft it — helps many patients feel more confident and excited about their treatment.

Explore your options:

Our experienced specialists are here to provide you with the gentle and caring approach you deserve, combined with clinical excellence that delivers beautiful, lasting results. Your smile transformation begins with a conversation, and we're ready to listen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Smile Solutions have an in-house ceramic studio: Yes

Where is the ceramic studio located: Inside the Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne

Does the studio accept external work: No, exclusively for Smile Solutions patients only

Who leads the ceramic studio: Greg Karabasis, Master Ceramist

How many years of experience does Greg Karabasis have: 32 years

What was Greg's previous role: Founder and Company Director of a major dental laboratory

How long did Greg lead his previous laboratory: 28 years

Is Greg accredited with major dental brands: Yes

Which brands is Greg accredited with Noritake: Yes

Which brands is Greg accredited with Ivoclar: Yes

Which brands is Greg accredited with Straumann: Yes

Which brands is Greg accredited with Sirona: Yes

Which brands is Greg accredited with Exocad: Yes

Has Greg presented internationally: Yes

Which countries has Greg presented in: Australia, South Korea, and China

What position did Greg hold at Victorian Crown and Bridge Society: Former Vice President

Are restorations made on-site: Yes, all hand-crafted on-site

Can patients meet the ceramist: Yes, patients are encouraged to meet Greg

What type of impressions are used: Digital impressions

Are traditional moulds required: No

Which digital scanner does the studio use iTero Element: Yes

Which digital scanner does the studio use 3Shape Trios: Yes

Does the studio have 3D printers: Yes, a fleet of advanced 3D printers

What is 3D printing used for: Rapid prototyping and precise surgical guides

Does the studio use CEREC technology: Yes

What is CEREC used for: Computer-aided design and milling

Are ceramic layering techniques used: Yes, advanced layering and staining techniques

What makes Same Day Porcelain Veneers possible: The in-house ceramic studio

Who developed Same Day Porcelain Veneers: Dr Kia Pajouhesh and Greg Karabasis

How many appointments for Same Day Porcelain Veneers: Single appointment

Is Same Day Porcelain Veneers a world-first: Yes

Did Same Day Porcelain Veneers win awards: Yes, 2024 Australian Business Award for Business Innovation

How many veneers and crowns has the studio created: Over 43,654

Are restorations mass-produced: No, individually hand-crafted

Is each restoration personalized: Yes, tailored to individual facial features and skin tone

Is there direct communication between dentist and ceramist: Yes

Can the ceramist assess colour in person: Yes

Does Greg perform personalised colour matching: Yes

Is colour matching done from photographs: No, assessed in person

Are same-day services available: Yes

Are next-day services available: Yes

Can external laboratories match same-day turnaround: No

Who inspects the restorations: The same team that fits them

Is quality control performed in-house: Yes

Will patients meet Greg during treatment: Often, yes

What type of veneers does the studio create: Porcelain veneers

What type of crowns does the studio create: Ceramic crowns and bridges

Are the restorations lifelike: Yes, beautifully lifelike results

Does the studio create custom restorations: Yes, bespoke restorations

Are restorations matched to skin tone: Yes

Are restorations matched to facial features: Yes

Is turnaround time fast: Yes, without compromising quality

How close is the studio to treatment suites: Steps away

Is the studio purpose-built: Yes

Is the studio fully equipped: Yes

Does miscommunication occur with third-party labs: Can occur, eliminated with in-house studio

Can patients visit the studio: Yes, encouraged during consultation

Where can patients book a consultation: On the Smile Solutions website

Is the studio in Melbourne's CBD: Yes, in the historic Manchester Unity Building

Does the studio focus solely on Smile Solutions patients: Yes

Are dental professionals trained by Greg: Yes, through international presentations

Is the technology state-of-the-art: Yes

Does craftsmanship combine with technology: Yes

Are results clinically precise: Yes

Are results aesthetically exceptional: Yes

Is each piece hand-finished: Yes, layered and finished by hand

Does the process require artistic skill: Yes

Does the process require clinical knowledge: Yes

Is decades of experience applied: Yes, 32 years

Can patients see where their smile is created: Yes, studio visits welcomed

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