Dental laboratory presses use hydraulic or pneumatic force to compact materials into a mold under controlled pressure — most commonly for packing heat-cure acrylic into denture flasks, or for heat-pressing ceramic ingots such as lithium disilicate into crown and veneer patterns within a furnace's pressing unit. Consistent, repeatable pressure is essential to avoid porosity in acrylic dentures or incomplete ingot flow in pressed ceramics, either of which can compromise strength and fit. Presses form the mechanical link between the wax or investment stage and final material processing in both conventional denture and pressed-ceramic workflows.