DON'T MISS the dental event of the year, November 7-8. Nowak Dental Supplies is hosing NOLA Lab Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana. Head over to nolalabfest.com to see the line up and to register.
A HUGE thanks to Aidite North America for hosting the podcast at their booth. Come find us and be on the podcast!
Yet even more conversations that Elvis and Barb got while in the exocad booth at IDS 2025..... back in MARCH!! First up is a visit from on one our favorite companies that make bars, Panthera. Instead of our usual guest we get to meet Pierre-Luc Duchesne and Dereck Donnelly. PL is their Director of Marketing and Derek is head of Global Customer Experience. Together the talk about being at their second IDS show, how they make their product an experience for the customer, the Fusion Bar that only needs 5mm of clearance, their partnership with VITA, and the second coming of The Master Cup.
Then we got to talk to an Irish dentist that practices in Scotland, Dr. Eimear O’Connell. She was plastered on the walls of the exocad booth 20 feet tall because she was one of the "Heroes of Digital Dentistry" and her journey is astounding. Dr. O'Connell talks about learning that Cerec was harder than it looks back in 2007, learning to work with amazing labs, using exocad to help her sell treatment by using the ART function, and a very concerning trend in the UK that makes it harder to be a dentist.
Special Guests: Dereck Donnelly, Dr. Eimear O’Connell, and Pierre-Luc Duchesne.
It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:
All the money goes to The Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology: https://dentallabfoundation.org/
All about the Race: https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/
Race website: https://fortworth.californiatriathlon.org/
Select: Race for the Future
Enter the name of the racer you want to support: BARB WARNER or THE CROWN JEWELS
Enter the amount (One Million Dollars)
August 14 & 15: PrograMill CAM Academy: A Hands-On Introduction to Digital Milling for Dental Professionals
Ivoclar Academy – Amherst, NY : https://www.ivoclar.com/en_ca/course/programill-cam-academy-module-i-introduction/251438?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Pardot&utm_campaign=Academy+Newsletter&utm_term=July
This episode is featuring two conversations that Elvis and Barb got while in Gemany at the exocad booth at IDS 2025. First up is Paul Dowling & Jacqueline Ffrench who come from PD Ceramics in Ireland. Paul grew up in a dental family and played in the shed in the backyard that was the lab. After attending lab school in London, Paul came back to Ireland and opened his own lab. Knowing teeth and not business, Paul recruits Jacqueline from a dental office to help. Jacqueline is good with business and saw the struggles in the lab and set out to make it a better place. Now she and Paul are starting to do it all over Ireland.
Then from many miles away (at IDS it seems that way) we are joined by Thomas Baaske, the Global Technical Product Manager at Ivoclar Vivadent AG. That means he oversees a lot of the digital materials and equipment for Ivoclar and there is a lot. Thomas talks about his lab background, being with Ivoclar for over 14 years, the evolution of the milled denture, their new inventory system, and the new Ivotion Based Printed denture.
Special Guests: Jacqueline Ffrench, Paul Dowling , and Thomas Baaske.
It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:
All the money goes to The Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology: https://dentallabfoundation.org/
All about the Race: https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/
Race website: https://fortworth.californiatriathlon.org/
Select: Race for the Future
Enter the name of the racer you want to support: BARB WARNER or THE CROWN JEWELS
Enter the amount (One Million Dollars)
It's hard to believe that IDS 2025 happened over 4 months ago and we are still bringing out conversations we got while at the exocad booth. This one is jam-packed with three conversations with 4 different people in the dental industry that really are making huge impacts. First up is two dentist that are using their time and talent to teach other clinicians from around the world how to implement the digital workflow in their practice. Dr. Milad Shadrooh (The Singing Dentist!) and Dr. Robbie Hughes are from opposite ends of England but both share the passion of education. They talk about their careers, what kind of courses they offer at Avant Garde Dentistry and how through a mentorship program, dentist can go digital both efficiency and confidently.
Then we meet the CTO of Align Technologies, Zelko Relic. Zelko talks about getting into dental, the history of Align Technologies and when they merged in Invisalign, Itero, and exocad. He also talks about the resources they put towards R&D, scaling a company to make over 1 million parts A DAY, what new technologies are currently being worked on, and how they are making the ultimate in providing the comprehensive solution to all.
We wrap up the episode with Ben Weber from ModuleWorks. What is ModuleWorks, well it's kind of hard to explain. You see, it's in about 90% of the manufacturing in the world. It's not the CAM, it's not the user interface, but it's in the background making it all come together. Ben talks about what ModuleWorks is, how it works, and why we can't live without it.
Special Guests: Ben Weber, Dr. Milad Shadrooh, Dr. Robbie Hughes, and Zelko Relic.
It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:
All the money goes to The Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology: https://dentallabfoundation.org/
All about the Race: https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/
Race website: https://fortworth.californiatriathlon.org/
Select: Race for the Future
Enter the name of the racer you want to support: BARB WARNER or THE CROWN JEWELS
Enter the amount (One Million Dollars)
We are back with two great conversations that Barb and Elvis got while attending IDS 2025 in the exocad booth. First up is a Canadian Denturist who was just on the podcast back September but has a LOT to update us on. Jade Connors found some time (and found us) to update us on all the adventures she has been on since your last episode, her entry in the Candulor KunstZahnWerk competition, creating a work/life balance, and making sure patients get care beyond just a denture.
Then we meet Lisa Aguirre, the Marketing Manager for DGShape, the makers of the Roland mill and so much more. Lisa talks about her history working on the clinical side, being with Spear Education, and getting up to speed on all things DGShape. She also talks about some of the new mills and printers that they were launching at this year’s IDS.
Special Guests: Jade Connors, DD, RDT and Lisa Aguirre.
When you think of huge advances in digital dentistry, a lot of companies and names come up. But there are two that are really making a huge impact on how we get things done and they continue to do it with the passion of the lab industry supporting it.
First up is Björn Zäuner. Björn grew up in a dental family and wanted nothing to do with teeth. We've all heard this story, right? It wasn't long before Björn had a milling center and even an ortho lab. But he noticed that miss mounted cases were a problem and a main cause to most of his remakes. So he developed Bite-Finder to use AI to find the true bite and not the one "captured" with a blue bite or iOS scanner. He talks all about what it is, how it works, how to integrate it, and how you can try it for FREE for 2 weeks.
Then we meet the CEO and co-creator of exocad, Tillmann Steinbrecher. We have talked to literally hundreds of people on this podcast that all sing praises for the "purple program" and this time we get to hear the origin story. Tillmann talks about how is started as a research project where he and his partner saw potential for so much more. From walking around IDS 15 years ago with a laptop with a early version to being one of the leaders in dental design, Tillmann in his team has really changed the way labs stay ahead of the every changing workflow. He talks about the early versions, where the name and purple come from, how it's important to stay an open platform, and the importance of user feedback to keep getting better.
Special Guests: Björn Zäuner and Tillmann Steinbrecher.
DON'T MISS the dental event of the year, November 7-8. Nowak Dental Supplies is hosing NOLA Lab Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana. Head over to nolalabfest.com to see the line up and to register.
A HUGE thanks to Aidite North America for hosting the podcast at their booth. Come find us and be on the podcast!
We are once again showcasing some wonderful conversation that we got while in the exocad booth at IDS 2025. It's funny to travel all the way to Germany to talk to two Americans, one of them even works with Barb!
First up is the CEO of the Leixir Dental Group, John Krier. John talks about coming to dental from orthopedics and the differences he is noticing. Only 18 months into his new role, John has already visited every lab in the Leixir group and has started to change the culture of over 1000 employees to empower them to take ownership of the work they do.
Then we meet fellow podcaster, Dr. Jeff Horowitz. Dr. Horowitz has two practices in South Carolina, GP and Sleep and airway. He talks about the importance of creating the space in the arches for better sleep and how they are even expanding the palate on adults. Dr. Horowitz is also 1/3 of the podcast Dentist IN the Know and tells us all about how a couple of dentists got together during the pandemic to chat about what they all love so much.
Special Guests: Dr. Jeff Horowitz and John Krier.
Elvis and Barb are back (once again) with more amazing conversations that they got at the exocad booth during the 4 days at IDS 2025 in Cologne, Germany. First up is two gentlemen out of Columbia that their lab 70 years ago decided that it was easier if they just started manufacturing their own materials. Juan David Jaramillo and Luis Diego Monsalve talk about the history of New Stetic, the regulation of getting it into 65 different countries, the world of making dental anesthesia, and how they use IDS as a way to connect with customers from around the world.
Then we bring back the wonderful Steve Campbell from Nexus Dental Laboratory in the UK. Steve is at IDS speaking for exocad and the new exocad ART. He talks about how with exocad, AI, and a video of a patient talking, we can create a video of the patient talking with their new teeth that haven't even been made yet. Steve also updates on Nexus since the last recording and the importance of encouraging your technicians to do better then you.
Lastly we talk to Dr. Nicolas Rohde from VHF Milling Machines. Dr. Rohde started with a business degree and a PhD in Organizational Practices. While in Maryland during school, he meets his wife and takes a job with a implant company and that's how he into dental. That company was a reseller for VHF mills and that is how he found them Dr. Rohde talks about moving back to Germany to run the US division, what sets their mills apart from others, and why they take the time to have their own CAM software to run their mills.
Special Guests: Dr. Nicolas Rohde, Juan David Jaramillo Gómez, Luis Diego Monsalve Hoyos, and Steve Campbell RDT.
Check out the article in the latest issue of JDT about Barb and Elvis' visit to IDS: https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnadl.memberclicks.net%2Fassets%2Fjdt%2FJDTJJ25%2FFeature%2520JDT_7_25.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CElvis%40derbydental.com%7Cc33fea7508384105f07a08ddad0e04e9%7C6fa28314e906466889bfaddab1c310c2%7C0%7C0%7C638856998445771892%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=a64QAz1D6fk6BQEJASihLI%2FzjALozgRhkauA4gpLzpE%3D&reserved=0
We all know and love Nowak Dental Supplies for not only their products and services, but for everything they do for our industry. This week we talk to two people from Nowak Dental Supplies that are bringing the conference/party of the year to New Orleans in November. Brandi Nowak is one half of the owners and she tells the story of starting in 2000. Taking over her grandfather's legacy that started in the 40s, she has helped the company become what it is today. At the beginning of 2025, they brought on Marybeth Starr to help them grow even more. Marybeth is a veteran of the vendor side of dental laboratories and brings experience to get the job done. Together they have put together NOLA Lab Fest that is happening in New Orleans on November 7 & 8. This is a must attend event because it is going to be what these two are, fun.
Register today at: https://www.nolalabfest.com/
THANK YOU to Aidite for sponsoring us! Go buy their stuff from Nowak... win/win for everyone!
Special Guests: Brandi Nowak and Marybeth Starr.
While fresh back from the Florida Dental Lab Association meeting in Orlando, THANKS JENSEN DENTAL… we are still bringing you conversations from the exocad booth from the largest dental show in the world, IDS in Cologne Germany. But first…
We are many, many months away from Chicago in February, but our very own Barb Warner is going to be the very first female Chair of the Cal-Lab Association that is over 100 years old. Let’s make this the most well-attended event ever. Head over to Cal-Lab.org and sign up for this amazing meeting that takes place the Thursday and Friday of the same weekend as Lab Day Chicago. Let’s all plan to go and support Barb!
Now, first up we chat with a dentist from India, Dr. Manish Chhabra. After going though the school, Dr. Chhabra discovered that he really had a fondness for digital design. So he opened a lab. Eventurally he meets the owner of Leixir Dental Lab Group and formed a partnership to open a design center in India to support the group of labs. Starting with 2 employees and taking it to 300, Dr. Chhabra learned all about training and scaling. Now he has set off and created dgadental.com to train clinicans and technicians using VR headsets.
Then we sit down with someone from Ivoclar that has a lot to do with their success, Tobias Specht. Tobias came on the podcast about 2 years ago and this time stops by to update us on celebrating 20 years of emax , their new Ivotion Printed Base and how easy it is to reline, what Ivoclar has going on at IDS in their two booths, and a new way to mill emax faster. So much is covered, it’s hard to believe it all new from Ivoclar.
Special Guests: Dr Manish Chhabra and Tobias Specht.
Come join us THIS WEEK at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
We return to the "Olympics of Dental", IDS in Cologne Germany. Set up very nicely in the exocad booth, Elvis and Barb got to talk to three more amazing people from around the world. THANK YOU EXOCAD!!
We start the episode with Amy Tate who joined her uncle a year ago at nexus dental laboratory because she saw all the amazing places it has taken him. Now enrolled in a 3 year online course, a mentorship, and also working in the lab, Amy is all in with dental technology and shares her hopes for the future.
Then we chat with Rami Gamil, who years ago saw a need for dental technology in Egypt. After getting a degree in it in France, Rami now owns multiple locations called TriScan that provides iOS, CBCT, and bunch of other digital services to local dentists. His next focus is all about education.
We wrap up the episode with the dental technician to Denturists, Pam Rehm. Growing up in Canada, Pam spent a fair amount of time in a dental chair. That drove her to become a dental technician and she found out how great the Denturist community was. After getting into teaching, she truly found her passion. She’s now with Argen Canada and her focus is making sure Denturists get a digital workflow that works for their practice.
Special Guests: Amy Tate, Pam Rehm, and Rami Gamil.
Come join us at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
Back in March, Barb & Elvis traveled all the way to Cologne, Germany to set up and record at the biggest dental show in the world, IDS. A special thanks to exocad for giving us the space to record so many amazing people over the course of 4 days.
First up is a dentist turned exocad designer, Hajir Shamil. Hajir talks about dentistry in Iraq and how she went to school just outside of Russia. Going back to a country that is hard to find a practice, she goes about working at a lab and falls in love with the "purple program". Find out what she thinks of her first time at IDS and why she came.
Then we chat with Daniel Portal and Gerson Prada. Daniel has a history of working with but eventually opened his own lab doing only designs for labs and dentists. He partnered up with Gerson Prada in Utah to do any fabricating of the cases. Together they talk about working together from a far, good communication with the doctors, Daniel being a part of exocad's "Heroes of Digital Dentistry", and what they are doing at IDS.
Then we wrap up the episode with a dentist that more letters after his name than in it, Dr. Diogo Viegas. Dr. Viegas went to the Lisbon Dental School to become a dentist. When that wasn't enough, we got his Masters. When that wasn't enough, we went back to get his degree in dental technology. Now, Dr. Viegas has a practice in Lisbon, does his own lab work, still having time to teach other clinicians, and being a member in Bio-Emulation.
Special Guests: Daniel Portal, Dr. Diogo Viegas, Gerson Prada, and Hajir Shamil.
Come join us at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
Dr. Andrew Turchin knew he wanted to be a dentist as soon as he shadowed one many years ago. After spending years in New York, he moved to Aspen, Colorado and opened his own practice where he created the Ageless Smile. To do this, he created a simple mathematical equation that works on almost every patient. Simple and always keeping the end in mind, he wanted to teach other doctors this method and opened Cosmetic Confidence Coaching. He comes on to talk about how the formula works, working with in-office technicians, and how occlusion goes beyond just the teeth.
Special Guest: Dr. Andrew Turchin.
Come join us at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
Elvis loves him some surgical guide design software. For years he has used a bunch of them, but it was when he started using RealGuide from ZimVie, he learned he found the best. Luckily a past podcast guest, Paolo Lubrano is using RealGuide everyday with his role at Implant Concierge. He is joined by Tiffany Schreppler who is the Product Manager at ZimVie. They both talk about their history with dental, how RealGuide came to be, what it does, and how it can help any lab take on a bunch of various cases easily with a more affordable option.
See Paolo demo RealGuide on June 3rd at 7:00pm eastern:
https://education.zimvie.com/events/course:3540796_3642934
Special Guests: Paolo Lubrano and Tiffany Schreppler.
Come join us at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
We save a conversation from the Ivoclar Ballroom at Lab Day Chicago to release this week so if you are at Lab Day West you can go meet Mark Hidde from WINWINGO.com. Mark comes on to talk about owning a lab and seeing the struggles to find good talent. So he created a website where labs can create a profile to look for technicians and technicians can post that they are looking for a good lab. It's a different approach to a much-needed service in our industry.
Then we have a conversation with Chris Nevarez. Chris started his dental career with Patterson. From warehouse to customer service, Chris started to really understand the ins and outs of clinical dentistry. After his mother needed some dental work, Chris found a way for her medical insurace to help cover a lot of the cost. Now he is doing this for patients and clinics. The best part about all of this is that if more people have access to care, then that is more cases coming to the labs.
Special Guests: Mark Hidde and Chris Nevarez.
Come join us at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
Is the debate still going on for digital dentures? It is here and there is no going back. So as we move forward, how are we going to make sure that they are still done correctly? This is exactly what a dental technician and dentist are setting out to do. Robert Kreyer is an icon in the world of removables. From analog to the very first digitally manufactured denture, Robert has seen it all. Dr. Stephen Wagner has been doing removables for years and has embraced digital early in it's life. Together they talk about how digital dentures have evolved over time, the importance of knowing and using the fundamentals, and how the ultimate goal of digital dentures needs to be better and not faster.
Bigjawbone.com
Special Guests: Dr. Stephen Wagner and Robert Kreyer CDT.
Come join us at the Jensen Dental booth during the FDLA Southern States Symposium & Expo -
June 13-14 at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL
Register today at: FDLA.NET
This week we wrap up the episodes that we got while in the Ivoclar Ballroom at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2025. First up is Federico Manes from MODJAW. Federico talks about discovering the world of dental, using his digital background to help a lab get digital, and how they have worked out a system to bring accurate jaw motions to all design software.
Then we meet Mellissa Everett. Mellissa loves being a dental technician. She loves it so much, she is usually working at two labs at the same time. She talks about finding out about dental, her desire to become a ceramist, and how her crazy work schedule has actually helped her become a better technician.
We then wrap up the episode with a different conversation. Two past podcast guests come on to give us a follow up. Sandra Puurits is from Finland. Jay Work is from Pennsylvania. Last year they meet at Lab Day 2024 for the first time. Now they are engaged and enjoying being them..... together.
Sandra's episode: https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/214
Jay's episode: https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/271
Special Guests: Federico Manes, Jay R. Work III, Mellissa Everett, and Sandra Puurits.
This week we bring 3 great conversation from the great Cal-Lab Association meeting that happened in February during Lab Day Chicago. First up is someone that has to put up with Elvis on a regular basis at Derby Dental Lab, Liam Johns. Liam talks about growing up with a technician father, becoming the removable manager at a young age, and how digital excites him for the future of dental technology.
Then we chat with two gentlemen from Wiand Dental Lab, Tom Wiand and Scott Lowrey. Tom tells the story of starting the lab in the early 90s, organically growing through the years, and keeping up with technology. Scott talks about going from selling burs to selling restorations 10 years ago. Now he does education, chairside support, and helps the lab succeed.
We wrap up the episode with former player for the Pittsburg Steelers, Matt Cushing. Once done, a buddy asked if he would do sales for his lab. Not knowing anything about teeth, it wasn't long before Matt found a passion for the industry and opened First Choice Dental Lab and is now (17 years later) a lab that has acquired other labs, grew to full service, and has a satellite lab in another state.
Special Guests: Matt Cushing, Liam Johns, Scott Lowrey , and Tom Wiand CDT.
The amazing people we talked to in the Ivoclar Ballroom during the 40th anniversary of LMT Lab Day Chicago just keep coming and this week we have a stellar line up.
First up is Eric Kukucka. Eric came on the podcast years ago to talk about his multiple denturist practices in Canada. But he has since sold them and has joined the Aspen Dental group as their Vice President of Clinical Removable Prosthetics & Design Technologies. Eric talks about going from making dentures for hundreds of patients to working with a team to produce quality dentures for millions.
Then we chat with Chelsea Homire, who has years of dental assistant experience, but when given the oppritunity to learn the in-office lab work, she took off. With a passion for printing, Chelsea is now teaching other offices (and even a few labs) how they can optimize their digital workflow.
We wrap up the episode with Brittany Mitchell. You might know her becuase she designed (and made the denture) on our "Just Say No to Brushing" shirt, but she's also a talented removable technician. Brittany talks about starting in at the front desk, drawing a picture that got notices and placed in the lab, falling in love with it, and making digital dentures for a 12 doctor dental group.
Special Guests: Brittany Mitchell, Chelsea Homire, and Eric Kukucka DD.
Way back in February, thousands of dental technicians gathered in Chicago for the 40th anniversary of LMT Lab Day Chicago. While stationed in the Ivoclar Ballroom, we got to talk to many wonderful people that make up our industry. We start this episode with a technician that followed his dentist uncle in Mexico and went to dental technician school. Christopher Hernandez soon found himself making sleep apnea devices for years before finding his new home at Clear Choice doing All-on-X cases.
Then we welcome back to the podcast, Greg Everett. Last time we talked to Greg, he was with a company that manufactured milling burs. Now he works on the whole mill with his new company Denteon. Specializing in Roland Mills, Greg provides a service to complete rebuild or repair your mill so you can continue to get your monies worth for years longer than expected. We suggest visiting denteon.com if you have any Roland Mills.
We wrap up the episode with Ivoclar's own Joe Braxon. Still talking about mills, but this time exclusively with Ivoclar mills. Joe is responsible for the installation, training, and service for all of the PrograMills. Joe talks about his background, finding Ivoclar, and what sets their mills above the rest.
Special Guests: Christopher Hernandez, Greg Everett, and Joe Braxton.
We are back from IDS in Cologne, Germany. THANK YOU exocad for hosting us and everyone, be prepared for some amazing new features coming to you soon! Along with a TON of crazy good conversations.
So when we got an email from the creators of a device that Elvis uses all the time asking to be on the podcast, we jumped at the opportunity. Luckly we were all going to be at the Cal-Lab Association meeting that happens the same week at Lab Day Chicago. This time, Elvis sits down with Danny Yao and Dr. Russell Crockett. Danny has a long history in sales with implants and full arch workflows. Dr. Crockett is a practicing Prosthodontist that loves to design better ways to do dentistry. Meeting awhile ago, Danny saw Dr. Crockett’s prototype for a way to get accurate full arch records using just an iOS scanner. Together they created OptiSplint and ArchTracer. Simply put, they screw onto MUAs, lute together, and you can get a series of scans pretty much guaranteed to perfect. Want to know more about this amazing workflow? Take a listen as we dive deeper into all that Digital Arches does.
Special Guests: Danny Yao and Dr. Russell Crockett.
