For a simplified method for heating a pre-warmed muffle used for dental ceramics in a dental furnace, wherein a saving of time in heating before the pressing and also a parallel heating of the muffles should be made possible, the following steps are suggested: a) heating of the muffle to a maximal temperature (Tmax), which is above the pressing temperature (Tpress), in which pressing is carried out, b) possibly keeping the muffle at a maximal temperature (Tmax) during a first pause (t-1), c) cooling of the muffle to a minimal temperature (Tmin), which is at most as high as the pressing temperature (Tpress), and d) keeping the muffle at a minimal temperature (Tmin) during a second pause (t2). In addition, a corresponding control device for the dental furnace and a furnace equipped with this kind of control device are produced.