CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for dental laboratories in Kentucky
47 dental laboratories operated in Kentucky in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 47CBP 2023
- Employees
- 390mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.0U.S. 1.4
- State rank
- 29th of 50by count
Dental laboratories in Kentucky by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 47 establishments in Kentucky classified as Dental Laboratories (NAICS 339116) for 2023. They employed 390 people in mid-March and reported $17.0 million in annual payroll. That is the 29th highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. Dental laboratories make up 0.05% of the 94,402 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Kentucky has 1.0 dental laboratories, 27.1% below the national rate of 1.4. The average establishment has 8.3 employees against 8.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $43,515, 20.8% below the U.S. figure of $54,943.
| Measure | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 47 | 4,782 |
| Mid-March employees | 390 | 42,188 |
| Annual payroll | $16,971,000 | $2,317,941,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.3 | 8.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $43,515 | $54,943 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.4 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Kentucky's largest markets for dental laboratories
Census published dental laboratory counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Kentucky. The largest is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, with 18 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 19% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 18 | 126 | 0.8 |
| Louisville, KY-IN | 17 | 296 | 1.2 |
| Lexington, KY | 6 | — | 1.1 |
| Huntington, WV-KY-OH | 4 | 19 | 1.1 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 4 | — | 1.2 |
| Richmond, KY | 3 | — | 2.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at dental laboratories in Kentucky
70.5% of Kentucky's dental laboratories with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 62.7% nationally. 93.2% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 31 | 70.5% | 62.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 10 | 22.7% | 20.4% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 8.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 6.8% | 5.5% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.7% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a dental laboratory in Kentucky has to catch
Dental labs work almost entirely for dental offices, and their calls center on case status checks, shade questions and delivery dates. Quick, accurate answers keep referring dentists loyal.
A few of the calls that come in to dental laboratories in Kentucky:
- A courier calls about a pickup.
- A dental office calls to ask when a crown will be ready.
- A dentist calls to discuss a shade or design detail.
What dental laboratories text about
Labs text case-ready and pickup notices to dental offices.
Texting from a local number in Kentucky requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for dental laboratories in Kentucky
Dental laboratories in Kentucky average 8.3 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. Priced per seat, 8 users would run $240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for a dental laboratory in Kentucky of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $159.00 | $1,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $152.00 | $1,824.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $184.00 | $2,208.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $199.60 | $2,395.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $216.00 | $2,592.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $240.00 | $2,880.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Kentucky
Kentucky has 5 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a dental laboratory can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270 | 769 | Eastern and Central | 1999 | 364 |
| 502 | 735 | Eastern | 1947 | 761 |
| 606 | 639 | Eastern and Central | 1955 | none |
| 859 | 563 | Eastern | 2000 | none |
| 364 | 72 | Eastern and Central | 2014 | 270 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for dental laboratories in Kentucky
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Kentucky is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many dental laboratories are in Kentucky?
47 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 390 people in mid-March.
Which Kentucky metro area has the most dental laboratories?
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, with 18 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 8-person dental laboratory?
$240.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $199.60 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $159.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Kentucky number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.