CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for dental laboratories in Nashville, TN
Dental laboratories in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area: 25 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 26-person team.
- Establishments
- 25CBP 2023
- Employees
- 641mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.2U.S. 1.4
- Rank
- 34th of 274areas by count
How many dental laboratories are in Nashville, TN?
There were 25 dental laboratories in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 339116, Dental Laboratories). Together they reported 641 mid-March employees and $33.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 34th of the 274 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 2.2 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 1.2 dental laboratories per 100,000 people, 17.3% below the national rate of 1.4. Establishments average 25.6 employees, 190.6% above the U.S. average of 8.8. Payroll per employee comes to $52,406, 4.6% below the national $54,943.
| Measure | Nashville, TN | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 25 | 77 | 4,782 |
| Mid-March employees | 641 (moderate noise) | 1,232 | 42,188 |
| Annual payroll | $33,592,000 (moderate noise) | $73,903,000 | $2,317,941,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 25.6 | 16.0 | 8.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $52,406 | $59,986 | $54,943 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.2 | 1.1 | 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.
Establishment size: dental laboratories in Nashville, TN
Of the dental laboratories in Nashville, TN that had employees in March 2023, 61.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 62.7%). 100.0% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 13 | 61.9% | 62.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 38.1% | 20.4% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 8.8% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 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.
Why the phone matters for dental laboratories in Nashville, TN
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 Nashville, TN:
- A dental office calls to ask when a crown will be ready.
- A new practice calls to ask about turnaround times.
- The lab calls an office about an impression that needs to be retaken.
Calls after closing time
After-hours calls are rare and usually routine, so voicemail with transcription is usually enough.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for dental laboratories in Nashville, TN
The average dental laboratory in Nashville, TN has 25.6 employees, so a 26-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $648.70 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $780.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 26 people cost $519.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,132. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $519.00 | $6,228.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $494.00 | $5,928.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $598.00 | $7,176.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $648.70 | $7,784.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $702.00 | $8,424.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $780.00 | $9,360.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Nashville, TN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 615 has the most, with 716 of 937 exchanges (76%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your dental practices recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 615 | 716 | Central | 1954 | 629 |
| 629 | 174 | Central | 2015 | 615 |
| 931 | 47 | Eastern and Central | 1997 | none |
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.
Setting up Callata for a dental laboratory in Nashville, TN
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Nashville, TN, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many dental laboratories are there in Nashville, TN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 25 dental laboratories in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area in 2023. They employed 641 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 26-person dental laboratory?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 26 users cost $780.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $648.70 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $519.00.
What area code should a dental laboratory in Nashville, TN use?
Area code 615 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 629 and 931. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a dental laboratory?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.