Ever so sorry that my first post is a contradiction to some of the statemnets made on this thread,
when we talk of dental ceramics abraiding natural dentition, it is not because of a ceramics hardness, it is caused by it's abrasivness, higher fuseing feltspatic porcelain's generally have much larger and more irreguar particle size's, Thus creating a more abrasive surface, even when glazed and polished, this is why the general trend is now moving toward lithium disilicate
and other synthetic varietie's of porcelain. These porcelains inherently have much more uniform particle shapes and size's therefore giving a much more homoginous surface, Hardness is in dental cermics = brittleness but all ceramics work harden over a period of time this factor made worse by uneven thickness's of ceramic caused by lack of support in framework designs.
In terms of structuring prices, This is a difficult thing to quantify and is surely dependent on what our overheads and markets dictate we charge. I have a very small business in London where the overheads are massive, But when I initially set up I looked at the principle of the pyrimid. (cost in one corner,Turnaround time in the other and quality in the other) As I understand it a business cannot operate in more than two corners of the pyrimid, For example if cost is low turn around times must speed up so therefore quality goes down but this rule may only be dependent on how many staff you have look forward to speaking to you all very soon
best wishes
Tony Atkins
visit laboratory site it is still under construction but I think you'll get the general idea
www.tonyatkins.ourocean.co.uk