The Art Behind The Smile
Steve Hunter and his wife, Kim, launched Hunter Dental Laboratory on Valentine’s Day 2000, turning a dream rooted in craftsmanship, integrity and family into reality.
At the time, Steve had already spent 26 years in the dental laboratory industry and was a part-owner of another lab in Indianapolis. A perfectionist, artist and skilled technician, he loved the work. But Kim says they were ready to create something of their own — a place where employees were valued just as much as the dentists they served.
“We wanted to open a business where our employees were treated as special as our accounts were,” Kim says. “We dreamed of a lab family.”
Twenty-six years later, that dream has become the foundation of Hunter Dental Laboratory, a locally owned Carmel business known for high-quality work, consistency and lasting relationships with dentists throughout the area.
Though many patients may never hear the name Hunter Dental Laboratory, its work plays an important role in their lives. When a patient visits a dentist for a crown, bridge, veneer or implant restoration, the dental office often sends either a digital scan or a physical impression to a lab like Hunter. From there, the team designs and fabricates the final restoration that will ultimately be placed in the patient’s mouth.
“I didn’t know what a dental laboratory was before I walked in the doors here 25 years ago,” says Brett Hansen, implant coordinator at Hunter Dental Laboratory. “I thought the dentist made the teeth.”
Hunter Dental Laboratory is a fixed lab, meaning it focuses on crowns, bridges, implant restorations and similar products rather than removable dentures or partials. The lab also creates night guards, aligner trays and a significant amount of implant work.
The materials and methods have changed dramatically since the lab opened. Early in Hansen’s career, much of the work was done by hand. He remembers sitting at his desk using wax to shape a crown on a model, carving it to match the patient’s mouth before it was cast or pressed.
Today, technology has transformed nearly every part of the process. Using CAD/CAM software, including 3Shape, technicians can design restorations digitally with remarkable precision.
“The technology is everything,” Hansen says. “It allows you to diagnose issues so much faster.”
Digital dentistry has also changed communication between the lab and dentists. In the past, if a physical impression came in distorted or there was a concern about a case, a lab team member would call the dental office, wait for the doctor and try to explain the issue verbally.
Now, the lab can send quick videos or images directly from the software, providing dentists with detailed feedback instantly.
“I can shoot off a one-minute video and say, ‘Here’s the issue I’m seeing,’” Hansen says. “It’s such a better, easier way to communicate.”
In some cases, the lab can even export a digital link that allows the dentist to open the model in a web browser, rotate it, examine it and view the case in detail. For Hunter Dental Laboratory, that communication is one of the things that sets the business apart.
That willingness to communicate has helped the lab build strong relationships with dentists, many of whom rely on Hunter not only for restorations but also as a trusted resource. As materials, implants and fabrication methods continue to evolve, dentists often turn to the lab for guidance.
“There are hundreds of different implants out there,” Hansen says. “A dentist might see one or two implant cases a week or maybe a month, and I’m seeing five a day. It’s good to have that resource close by.”
Being local is another important part of the company’s identity. Steve and Kim have lived in Carmel for 34 years, and they have appreciated building their business in the community they call home. For dentists, having a local lab means being able to call, ask questions or even stop by when needed. It also allows patients to come in for custom shading when a crown — especially on a front tooth — needs to match the surrounding teeth as closely as possible.
The lab provides pickup and delivery service for dental offices. If a case is not digital, Hunter’s team picks up the physical impression from the dentist and later delivers the finished restoration.
Unlike some labs, Hunter Dental Laboratory distinguishes itself by not outsourcing any work.
“All of our crown and bridge restorations are made by our team,” Kim says.
That standard has remained especially meaningful as the dental laboratory industry has changed. Kim and Steve have seen many small and mid-sized labs purchased by larger corporations in recent years, with some cases being shipped overseas. Hunter Dental Laboratory has been approached multiple times about similar opportunities, but the answer has remained the same.
That family atmosphere extends inside the lab as well. Today, Hunter Dental Laboratory has 14 staff members, and several family members have worked in the business over the years. Hansen joined about a year after the lab opened and has witnessed the culture firsthand.
During COVID-19, when many labs lost employees, Hunter Dental Laboratory did not lose a single staff member.
“From my point of view, that’s a testament to how Steve and Kim treat their employees,” Hansen says. “They go out of their way to make sure we’re taken care of.”
Quality has always been central to the business. Hansen remembers Steve’s philosophy early on was that while perfection may not be possible every single day, consistency must be.
“Steve would say, ‘You may not be able to produce an A plus crown every time, but you will always achieve an A crown if you strive for that A plus,’” Hansen says. “That way, the doctor always knows what they’re going to get.”
That commitment comes from the top. Kim says Steve’s dream of owning a lab has always been deeply personal.
“The fact that Hunter is on the lab means absolutely everything to him,” she says. “There is not a crown that goes out of this lab that doesn’t have his stamp of approval on it.”
The lab continues to invest in modern equipment, including two state-of-the-art mills and two 3D printers. Looking ahead, Hansen says one area of growth is full-mouth reconstruction and implant-supported prosthetics, which bridge the gap between traditional fixed and removable dentistry. These solutions can allow patients who have lost teeth to receive a fixed prosthesis supported by implants, improving comfort, chewing and speech.
For Kim, the future is also about staying true to who they are.
“We want to stay right where we are, providing our dentists with the highest-quality work and the best customer service,” she says.
The work may happen behind the scenes, but its impact is often deeply personal. Over the years, dentists have shared stories — and sometimes photos — of patients whose lives were changed by their restorations. Many had spent years hiding their smiles. Others had lived with pain or difficulty chewing.
“We’ve seen lots of happy tears,” Kim says. “It is truly life-changing and makes our work very rewarding.”
Hunter Dental Laboratory also participates in Dental Lifeline Network’s donated dental program, providing crowns at no cost for patients in need, alongside dentists who donate their services.
For a business that has grown almost entirely through word of mouth, the reputation it has earned has been built one case, one relationship and one smile at a time.
“We all have the same philosophy in mind,” Kim says. “Each team member of Hunter Dental Laboratory is working toward the same common goal, which is to meet the dentist’s and patient’s expectations.”
For more information, visit hunterdentallaboratory.com.
