Voices from The Bench

Join Ivoclar (AND US!) this February at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Ivoclar will be offering 16 different educational lectures over the three-day event, giving dental professionals plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Visit labday.com/Ivoclar to view the full schedule and register, and be sure to stop by and see the Ivoclar team in the Windy City. Walking the Lab Day Chicago floor? Make it worth it. Stop by the FOLLOW-ME! hyperDENT booth (E-27, East Hall) and take part in their Milling Roadmap—a quick, scavenger-hunt-style activity that leads you to key milling partners like Axsys, Imagine, DOF, and Roland. Collect stamps at booths you’re likely visiting anyway and get entered to win some great giveaways—including this year’s grand prize: a foldable Honda electric scooter. You’re already walking the floor. Now it might carry you. Come see and talk to Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows coming up in 2026* Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/ exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026 This week Elvis and Barb sit down with Helen Tanaka — a removable, implant, and digital workflow specialist whose career started in one of the most relatable ways possible: as a dental lab driver. What began as a job delivering cases quickly turned into a full-blown passion once she stepped inside the lab and saw what technicians were creating. From trimming dies and waxing copings to managing labs, supporting implant surgeries, teaching doctors chairside, and leading removable and implant teams, Helen shares a journey built on curiosity, persistence, and a deep drive to understand the why behind everything in dental technology. Helen talks about working her way through crown and bridge fundamentals before discovering her true passion in removables, dentures, implants, and occlusion. After getting real-world lab experience, she attended dental technology school, studied all six specialties, and continued expanding her knowledge through advanced occlusion training and continuing education. She explains why understanding morphology, materials, and occlusal principles is critical — especially today — and why technicians must know more than just the steps of fabrication. For Helen, dentures and implant prosthetics offer the ultimate puzzle, combining anatomy, function, and problem-solving in ways that keep her constantly engaged. The conversation dives deep into digital dentistry, guided surgery, and removable workflows, with Helen sharing her early experiences launching digital denture and sleep appliance programs long before the workflows were polished. She discusses digital record capture, stackable surgical guides, implant planning, photogrammetry, and where digital still needs improvement — especially for removable prosthetics. While she embraces technology, she stresses that software is only as good as the technician behind it, and that skipping fundamentals creates bigger problems later. Digital is powerful, but it doesn’t replace understanding. Education is a major theme throughout the episode. Helen regularly teaches doctors and technicians, speaks at courses, supports live implant conversions, and works with dental students. She emphasizes that many clinicians today lack confidence in dentures and removable workflows, often because fundamentals are under-taught, and she sees technicians as essential partners in closing that gap. She and the hosts discuss how removable cases are frequently rushed, underpaid, and misunderstood — even though they replace a critical body function — and why slowing down, capturing correct records, and returning to basics solves many of the “mystery” failures labs see every day. Helen also shares stories from her time with large organizations and clinical teams, including MicroDental, ClearChoice, Arklign, and implant education centers, where she has worked in technical service, management, training, and quality oversight roles. She talks about networking, mentoring, never burning bridges, and investing in people coming up in the industry. Her approach to both dentistry and life centers around curiosity and accountability — always asking why, always backing decisions with data, and always trying to do the right thing even when no one is looking. Throughout the episode, the energy stays fun and honest, with stories about speeding delivery runs, early digital growing pains, chairside save-the-case moments, and the reality of fixing cases that skipped key steps. Helen brings passion, technical depth, and a strong belief that knowledge should be shared, not guarded. It’s a conversation about growth, fundamentals, digital evolution, and why great technicians still matter more than ever. If you want to grow your business, you need clear insight into what’s happening inside your operation and across your customer journey. That’s where Icortica comes in. At Canadian Dental Labs, Icortica has become a cornerstone of how we operate—giving us at-a-glance visibility into performance, helping us focus our efforts, spot opportunities early, and solve problems before they grow. It takes the guesswork out of decision-making and shows us what to do next. Plus, the Icortica team is incredibly responsive and feels like a true partner in our success. If you’re serious about growing your business and understanding your customers better, Icortica can get you there. Learn more at icortica.com/voices — Icortica, helping dental labs grow. Join us at exocad Insights 2026, happening April 30–May 1, 2026, on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. This two-day event features powerhouse keynotes, hands-on workshops, live software demos, and top-tier industry showcases—all in one unforgettable setting. Barb and Elvis will be on site bringing you exclusive interviews, plus don’t miss the FIRST 5k run on the coast! And of course, cap it all off with the legendary exoGlam Night under the stars. Tickets are limited. Visit exocad.com/insights-2026 and use code VFTBPalma15 for 15% off.Special Guest: Helen Tanaka.

Join Ivoclar (AND US!) this February at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Ivoclar will be offering 16 different educational lectures over the three-day event, giving dental professionals plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Visit labday.com/Ivoclar to view the full schedule and register, and be sure to stop by and see the Ivoclar team in the Windy City. Walking the Lab Day Chicago floor? Make it worth it. Stop by the FOLLOW-ME! hyperDENT booth (E-27, East Hall) and take part in their Milling Roadmap—a quick, scavenger-hunt-style activity that leads you to key milling partners like Axsys, Imagine, DOF, and Roland. Collect stamps at booths you’re likely visiting anyway and get entered to win some great giveaways—including this year’s grand prize: a foldable Honda electric scooter. You’re already walking the floor. Now it might carry you. We welcome back longtime friend of the podcast John Wilson of Sunrise Dental Lab, returning for the first time since 2021—and this time as a fellow podcaster himself. What starts as a warm reunion quickly turns into a deep, honest conversation about passion, purpose, integrity, and what it really takes to survive (and stay sane) in today’s dental lab world. John reflects on the evolution of his lab, sharing why he made the intentional decision not to chase endless growth, but instead to protect his team, his values, and his love for the craft. He talks candidly about “yesterday thinking,” adapting to digital dentistry without abandoning fundamentals, and why aligning with the right clients—not just more clients—changed everything. The discussion dives into what true lab–doctor partnerships look like, why trust is earned (not given), and how saying “no” can sometimes be the most powerful business decision you make. John also explains why single units matter just as much as full-arch cases, how education keeps technicians relevant, and why racing to the bottom on price is a losing game. Later, the conversation turns personal as John shares the inspiration behind his new solo podcast, Margins & Meaning—a storytelling-driven project created to document his journey, connect with technicians who feel alone, and leave something meaningful behind for the next generation. He opens up about legacy, creativity, fear, change, and why being heard matters just as much as having something to say. Join us at exocad Insights 2026, happening April 30–May 1, 2026, on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. This two-day event features powerhouse keynotes, hands-on workshops, live software demos, and top-tier industry showcases—all in one unforgettable setting. Barb and Elvis will be on site bringing you exclusive interviews, plus don’t miss the Women in Dentistry Lunch, celebrating career growth, wellbeing, and the real stories shaping our profession. And of course, cap it all off with the legendary exoGlam Night under the stars. Tickets are limited. Visit exocad.com/insights-2026 and use code VFTBPalma15 for 15% off.Special Guest: John Wilson.

Join Ivoclar (AND US!) this February at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Ivoclar will be offering 16 different educational lectures over the three-day event, giving dental professionals plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Visit labday.com/Ivoclar to view the full schedule and register, and be sure to stop by and see the Ivoclar team in the Windy City. Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday Almost three years after his last appearance, Rob Nazzal returns to Voices From the Bench, this time joined by Mike Alessio of Bonadent Dental Laboratory. The conversation dives deep into lab leadership, culture, transparency, and how data—when used the right way—can empower teams instead of policing them. Mike shares his 32-year journey with Bonadent, from starting as a pickup-and-delivery driver to leading the Danaren division, and explains how a family-owned lab has grown into a multi-location organization without losing its people-first culture. Rob and Mike unpack the realities of tracking productivity on the lab floor, the challenges of sharing metrics openly, and why transparency builds trust, alignment, and accountability when done with intention. The discussion shifts to quality vs. productivity, the difficulty of truly measuring “quality,” and why labs must lead with craftsmanship before numbers. They also explore how digital workflows, QC processes, and proactive communication with doctors impact remakes, efficiency, and relationships. On the sales side, Rob breaks down how icortica helps labs grow by focusing on existing customers, improving retention, and giving sales teams real-time insights into what conversations they should be having—right before they walk into an office. Mike and Elvis share firsthand experiences using icortica, highlighting how real-time data, centralized notes, and smart alerts change the way sales reps prepare, prioritize, and perform. The episode wraps with a look at Bonadent’s unique culture (including their famous converted Walmart lab), long employee tenure, and why investing in people, transparency, and the right technology is the real key to sustainable growth in today’s dental lab landscape. If you want to grow your business, you need clear insight into what’s happening inside your operation and across your customer journey. That’s where Icortica comes in. At Canadian Dental Labs, Icortica has become a cornerstone of how we operate—giving us at-a-glance visibility into performance, helping us focus our efforts, spot opportunities early, and solve problems before they grow. It takes the guesswork out of decision-making and shows us what to do next. Plus, the Icortica team is incredibly responsive and feels like a true partner in our success. If you’re serious about growing your business and understanding your customers better, Icortica can get you there. Learn more at icortica.com/voices — Icortica, helping dental labs grow.Special Guests: Mike Alessio and Rob Nazzal.

Join Ivoclar (AND US!) this February at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Ivoclar will be offering 16 different educational lectures over the three-day event, giving dental professionals plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Visit labday.com/Ivoclar to view the full schedule and register, and be sure to stop by and see the Ivoclar team in the Windy City. In this episode, Elvis and Barb sit down with Dr. Miles Cone, a prosthodontist whose path into dentistry is anything but traditional. From a childhood obsession with dinosaurs and living out of his Jeep, to serving in the Army and becoming a CDT, Dr. Cone shares how persistence, humility, and an appreciation for the lab side of dentistry shaped his career. Along the way, he opens up about failing the CDT exam, learning the true value of dental technicians, and why collaboration—not ego—is the key to better patient outcomes The conversation also dives deep into photography, storytelling, and seeing dentistry as both science and art. Dr. Cone explains how discovering dental photography transformed not only how he documents cases, but how he connects with patients and technicians alike. He and Barb and Elvis discuss raising your skills by putting your work out there, ignoring the trolls, and using critique to grow. The episode wraps with a preview of Dr. Cone’s upcoming Ivoclar presentation at Lab Day Chicago, where he and technician Janelle will show how dentures and removables can be “hidden in plain sight” when done with intention, artistry, and respect for the entire dental team. A new year is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and set your dental business up for success. January isn’t just about new goals—it’s about working smarter with efficient, reliable systems that keep production running smoothly and predictably. Roland DGSHAPE milling solutions deliver the consistency and automation labs depend on to control costs, reduce remakes, and maximize every hour. With trusted Japanese engineering and mills like the DWX-53DC working even when you’re not, you spend less time fixing problems and more time growing your business. Start the year strong with solutions built for productivity and profitability. That’s the Roland DGSHAPE difference. Learn more at rolanddental.comSpecial Guest: Dr. Miles Cone.

Join Ivoclar (AND US!) this February at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Ivoclar will be offering 16 different educational lectures over the three-day event, giving dental professionals plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Visit labday.com/Ivoclar to view the full schedule and register, and be sure to stop by and see the Ivoclar team in the Windy City. Come see and talk to Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows coming up in 2026 Vision 21 in Las Vegas Jan 15-17 https://www.nadl.org/nadl-vision-21 Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/ exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026 This week we sit down with Stuart Steinbock for a wide-ranging conversation that blends dental industry history, innovation, and personal resilience. As a fourth-generation member of the Steinbock family, Stuart shares the origin story of Whip Mix—from an egg beater with patented features to a global dental manufacturer—and his own unlikely path into the family business, including international expansion, lean manufacturing, and product development that helped shape how labs think about efficiency and quality The conversation follows Stuart’s journey beyond Whip Mix into startups, direct-to-consumer aligners, 3D printing with Carbon, pandemic-era manufacturing, and running a high-volume orthodontic lab, before landing at Digital Dental as president. Along the way, Stuart offers candid insights on entrepreneurship, digital workflows, ortho vs. restorative mindsets, leadership through change, and the human side of the dental industry—ending with a powerful personal update on family, recovery, and finding balance after adversitySpecial Guest: Stuart Steinbock.

This week, we dive deep into the evolving world of digital dentures with George Cowburn, along with denturist Robert MacLeay and digital designer Kaylee Jilbert. George shares his unconventional path from engineering into dentures, the early challenges of bringing CAD/CAM into removables, and why his company Perfit has evolved into Lab Pilot—a cloud-based approach designed to meet labs and denturists where they are, not where software companies wish they’d be. Robert and Kaylee bring the real-world perspective, explaining how combining analog fundamentals with digital design unlocked predictable, better-fitting dentures and titanium partial frameworks that actually snap into place. From monolithic milled partials to same-day digital relines and cloud-based CAM without subscriptions, this conversation explores how “trad-digital” workflows could finally make digital dentures accessible, scalable, and practical for everyday labs—without sacrificing fit, function, or sanity. Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! As the year comes to a close, all of us at Ivoclar want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Voices From the Bench community. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the support you’ve shown throughout the year. From our Ivoclar family to yours, we wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season. May your days be merry, your nights be bright, and your smiles shine like freshly fallen snow. Ho, ho, ho — Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! Big news is coming your way in the world of CAM. Our friends at Ivoclar have teamed up with FOLLOW-ME! Technology to bring the Ivotion Denture System into the HyperDent CAM workflow. That’s right—your favorite pre-shaded, two-layer Ivotion discs, the ones that let you design and mill a complete denture in one seamless process with no bonding and no mess, are now moving beyond closed systems. Thanks to this new partnership, Ivotion can finally be milled on open machines through HyperDent. And it gets better: you’ll first see this powerful workflow available on the Roland DWX-53 series mills—already a staple in so many labs—as well as the Imagine iMills. If you’ve been waiting for a faster, cleaner, more flexible way to produce full dentures, this is it. Ivoclar and FOLLOW-ME! just made the future of denture manufacturing wide open. Get ready—HyperDent is about to change the way you mill Ivotion.Special Guests: George Cowburn, Kaylee Jilbert , and Robert MacLeay .

We’re coming to you live from NOLA Lab Fest with two very different, but equally nerd-worthy conversations. A HUGE THANKS to Aidite North America that has made this all available. Go show them some serious love. First up, Elvis sits down with Rik Jacobs from Novenda Technologies to talk about a truly disruptive production-scale 3D printer that can print multi-material and multi-color—at the same time. We dive into voxel-based printing, integrated hard/soft gradients, no supports, water-soluble wax, massive denture and night guard output, and why centralized production labs should be paying very close attention to what Novenda is building next. Then we switch gears and catch up with Jess Gray, whose career journey is a masterclass in saying “yes,” learning fast, and building something special. From front desk at Aspen to running a rapidly growing in-house lab in the Finger Lakes region, Jess walks us through analog-to-digital dentures, Exocad self-education, facial scanning for All-on-X, in-office workflows, team building, and what it really takes to scale a lab while still loving the bench. This episode is packed with inspiration, tech talk, and real-world lab ownership lessons you don’t hear every day. Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! As the year comes to a close, all of us at Ivoclar want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Voices From the Bench community. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the support you’ve shown throughout the year. From our Ivoclar family to yours, we wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season. May your days be merry, your nights be bright, and your smiles shine like freshly fallen snow. Ho, ho, ho — Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! Big news is coming your way in the world of CAM. Our friends at Ivoclar have teamed up with FOLLOW-ME! Technology to bring the Ivotion Denture System into the HyperDent CAM workflow. That’s right—your favorite pre-shaded, two-layer Ivotion discs, the ones that let you design and mill a complete denture in one seamless process with no bonding and no mess, are now moving beyond closed systems. Thanks to this new partnership, Ivotion can finally be milled on open machines through HyperDent. And it gets better: you’ll first see this powerful workflow available on the Roland DWX-53 series mills—already a staple in so many labs—as well as the Imagine iMills. If you’ve been waiting for a faster, cleaner, more flexible way to produce full dentures, this is it. Ivoclar and FOLLOW-ME! just made the future of denture manufacturing wide open. Get ready—HyperDent is about to change the way you mill Ivotion.Special Guests: Jess Gray and Rik Jacobs.

A Special THANKS to Aidite North America for allowing the podcast to record at Nola LabFest. GO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE! aidite.com Duff Wilson’s journey in dental technology is anything but typical. From getting thrown into high-volume removable work at a major lab in the early ’90s to opening Wilson Dental Lab out of his home and building a lean, relationship-driven business, Duff’s story is rooted in grit, loyalty, and doing things the right way—even when it’s hard. Along the way, he shares how mentorship, state lab associations, and taking care of people shaped his career, including helping other technicians start their own labs and building a South Carolina–based milling center to support small labs. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of digital dentistry, zirconia, milling centers, design services, and why relationships—not products—are what truly matter in this industry. Duff explains how trust and support led him to work closely with Aidite, why being lean is the key to longevity, and how redefining success after a life-changing health scare helped him create a sustainable lab, a better lifestyle, and a clear path for the next generation of technicians Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! As the year comes to a close, all of us at Ivoclar want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Voices From the Bench community. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the support you’ve shown throughout the year. From our Ivoclar family to yours, we wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season. May your days be merry, your nights be bright, and your smiles shine like freshly fallen snow. Ho, ho, ho — Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! Big news is coming your way in the world of CAM. Our friends at Ivoclar have teamed up with FOLLOW-ME! Technology to bring the Ivotion Denture System into the HyperDent CAM workflow. That’s right—your favorite pre-shaded, two-layer Ivotion discs, the ones that let you design and mill a complete denture in one seamless process with no bonding and no mess, are now moving beyond closed systems. Thanks to this new partnership, Ivotion can finally be milled on open machines through HyperDent. And it gets better: you’ll first see this powerful workflow available on the Roland DWX-53 series mills—already a staple in so many labs—as well as the Imagine iMills. If you’ve been waiting for a faster, cleaner, more flexible way to produce full dentures, this is it. Ivoclar and FOLLOW-ME! just made the future of denture manufacturing wide open. Get ready—HyperDent is about to change the way you mill Ivotion.Special Guest: Duff Wilson.

This week we welcome back the dynamic duo of digital dentistry, Blake Roney and Patrick Dewey from S.I.N. 360 (Simplicity • Innovation • Nanotechnology) for a massive deep dive into implants, photogrammetry, and the ever-evolving world of full-arch workflows. Since their last visit in 2022, Blake has gone from new kid on the block to full-blown Exocad educator, and Patrick breaks down how S.I.N. has doubled down on innovation across implants, CAD/CAM, and photogrammetry. The guys walk us through the new Versalis implant line, why one connection for all indications is a big deal for labs, and how S.I.N. is pushing efficiencies for high-volume, complex full-arch clinicians. Then comes the star of the show: the MicronMapper—a lighter, faster, more accurate photogrammetry system that doesn’t just capture implants but verifies manufacturing accuracy, scans soft tissue, and reduces surgical guesswork. Blake breaks down real-world accuracy numbers, what RMSE actually means, why intraoral scanners aren’t cutting it for full-arch, and how FitCheck is saving labs from misfires, wasted zirconia, and bad days. They also reveal the newest frontier: Tissue Mapper, a photogrammetry-based, scanner-free workflow that pulls bite, tissue, and implant data without fiducials or messy post-op scans. It’s nerdy, innovative, and ridiculously cool for the high-volume teams ready to level up. If you love accuracy, numbers, full-arch workflows, or just really good dental tech nerding — this is your episode. Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! As the year comes to a close, all of us at Ivoclar want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Voices From the Bench community. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the support you’ve shown throughout the year. From our Ivoclar family to yours, we wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season. May your days be merry, your nights be bright, and your smiles shine like freshly fallen snow. Ho, ho, ho — Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! Big news is coming your way in the world of CAM. Our friends at Ivoclar have teamed up with FOLLOW-ME! Technology to bring the Ivotion Denture System into the HyperDent CAM workflow. That’s right—your favorite pre-shaded, two-layer Ivotion discs, the ones that let you design and mill a complete denture in one seamless process with no bonding and no mess, are now moving beyond closed systems. Thanks to this new partnership, Ivotion can finally be milled on open machines through HyperDent. And it gets better: you’ll first see this powerful workflow available on the Roland DWX-53 series mills—already a staple in so many labs—as well as the Imagine iMills. If you’ve been waiting for a faster, cleaner, more flexible way to produce full dentures, this is it. Ivoclar and FOLLOW-ME! just made the future of denture manufacturing wide open. Get ready—HyperDent is about to change the way you mill Ivotion. Year-end chaos is here. Labs are slammed, deadlines are brutal, and mistakes are not an option. That’s when dental technicians rely on the one thing that never quits: https://www.rolanddga.com/applications/dental-cad-cam. The DWX-53DC is a true workhorse—24-hour automated milling that keeps your lab running, your overhead down, and your ROI up. No redos. No downtime. Just consistent, precise results. Built on decades of Japanese engineering, Roland delivers the reliability that keeps labs sane, profitable, and on schedule. Finish the year strong with the mill you can trust. Choose Roland DGSHAPE. Precision. Reliability. Performance. Learn more at rolanddga.comSpecial Guests: Blake Roney and Patrick Dewey.

This week, we sit down with Seth Smith, founder of the rapidly growing lab software company Greatlab.io, and Ryan Alexander from Vitality Dental Arts, who’s been living the GreatLab life since May and has plenty to say about it. Seth shares the long, winding road from e-commerce to dentistry, to clear aligners, to scanners, and finally to building what he hopes becomes the most modern, integrated, and speed-driven LMS in the industry. He talks workflow obsession, eliminating downloads, killing paper dockets, listening to lab pain points, and why he’s visited over 100 labs (and keeps going). Ryan brings the real-world perspective from a 100-tech lab that went through multiple LMS transitions before landing on GreatLab. He explains how their booking teams shrank, inbound calls dropped by 50%, audits disappeared, and technicians suddenly found computers they “didn’t have” once the system made their jobs easier. From the CRM that kills phone tag to ScanHub pulling every scanner into one feed, Ryan breaks down exactly what changed on the bench, in customer service, and across production. We also dig into bad scans (yes, 20% of them), doctor communication, automatic file routing, task automation, shipping integrations, data migration fears, and why some labs should not switch systems unless they’re truly ready to modernize. If you’ve ever wondered what a cloud-based, automation-heavy, lab-built-from-the-ground-up LMS looks like—or why another lab described GreatLab as “a Ferrari while everyone else is a Civic”—this episode lays it all out. Learn more or request a demo: greatlab.io Find them in Vegas at NADL Visions and in Chicago at Lab Day! Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! As the year comes to a close, all of us at Ivoclar want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Voices From the Bench community. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the support you’ve shown throughout the year. From our Ivoclar family to yours, we wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season. May your days be merry, your nights be bright, and your smiles shine like freshly fallen snow. Ho, ho, ho — Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! Elvis and Barb are gearing up for their chat with the HyperDent Dude himself, Jordan Greenberg from FOLLOW-ME! Technology. At LabFest, Elvis found out that every hyperDENT license comes with Template Editor Lite — a built-in feature that lets you make safe, customized tweaks to your milling strategies. Whether you want to prioritize surface quality or speed, this tool gives you the control to fine-tune your results while FOLLOW-ME! keeps everything validated and reliable. Because in the end, us lab techs love to tinker — and hyperDENT makes it easy to choose your own CAM-venture.Special Guests: Ryan Alexander and Seth Smith.

Join Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows coming up in 2026 Vision 21 in Las Vegas Jan 15-17 https://www.nadl.org/nadl-vision-21 Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/ exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026 This week, Barb and Elvis finally sit down for a long-overdue full episode with the man behind the Fans of Voices From the Bench Facebook group, second-generation lab owner, NADL President, and all-around industry cheerleader: Joe Young of Young Dental Laboratory. Joe shares his family’s incredible journey from Hong Kong to Philadelphia, how his parents built a small ortho lab out of a spare room, and how he grew up trimming models on a step stool before eventually returning to the lab after college. He walks us through the evolution of the business—from analog ortho, to adding fixed, to diving head-first into early CAD/CAM. Today, Young Dental is a 26-tech, multi-department full-service lab serving PA, NJ, and DE. Joe talks about the challenges of ortho work in a digital world, the need for wire-bending talent, the rise of aligners, and the struggle of balancing old-school techniques with new-school tech. He also reflects on family legacy, his dad’s 45 years as a CDT, and why keeping that generation’s knowledge alive matters more than ever. As NADL President, Joe dives into board service, workforce development, collaboration across organizations, and his goal of connecting labs and vendors more effectively. Plus, he gives an honest look at what it’s like to step into leadership, find your voice, and leave a legacy for the next wave of techs. Of course, it wouldn’t be a VFTB episode without gifts, jokes, accidental innuendo, and a rapid-fire Q&A that reveals Barb’s love of tomahawks and Elvis’s dream of 88-degree weather. Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! As the year comes to a close, all of us at Ivoclar want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Voices From the Bench community. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the support you’ve shown throughout the year. From our Ivoclar family to yours, we wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season. May your days be merry, your nights be bright, and your smiles shine like freshly fallen snow. Ho, ho, ho — Happy Holidays from Ivoclar! Elvis and Barb are gearing up for their chat with the HyperDent Dude himself, Jordan Greenberg from FOLLOW-ME! Technology. At LabFest, Elvis found out that every hyperDENT license comes with Template Editor Lite — a built-in feature that lets you make safe, customized tweaks to your milling strategies. Whether you want to prioritize surface quality or speed, this tool gives you the control to fine-tune your results while FOLLOW-ME! keeps everything validated and reliable. Because in the end, us lab techs love to tinker — and hyperDENT makes it easy to choose your own CAM-venture.Special Guest: Joe Young.

Join Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows coming up in 2026 Vision 21 in Las Vegas Jan 15-17 https://www.nadl.org/nadl-vision-21 Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/ exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026 This week, we finally bring on a guest who has been six years in the making: the one and only Jordan Greenberg, the North America Managing Director of FOLLOW-ME! Technology—better known as the HyperDent guy. Jordan takes us on a wild ride through the world of CAM software, milling strategies, toolpaths, and the surprisingly fascinating story of how dental CAM even became what it is today. From his early days as a third-generation “dental nepo baby” to running a zirconia milling center with his dad, all the way to helping launch titanium-bar milling on Datron D5 machines, Jordan’s journey hits every corner of digital dentistry’s evolution. He breaks down what CAM actually does in the simplest possible terms (yes, even Elvis-level simple), explains the magic behind toolpaths, tools, post-processors, and how HyperDent “drives the car” for hundreds of different mills. You’ll hear how materials get validated, why some ideas labs come up with are physically impossible, and why you should ALWAYS talk to your CAM provider before releasing new materials or components into the world. Jordan also shares a behind-the-scenes look at solving problems like angulated screw channels, milling lithium disilicate pucks, and HyperDent’s upcoming work on milled dentures—including Ivoclar’s Ivotion processes coming to open CAM. Whether you mill every day or still think CAM is just “putting a crown in a puck,” Jordan demystifies it all with humor, honesty, and more tech insights than we've ever had on the podcast at once. * Dental Labs—The Ivoclar Flash Sale Is On! * From November 3rd to 14th, Ivoclar is bringing you unbeatable deals on the equipment that will set your lab up for success in 2026. * Upgrade your mill, your furnace, or expand your workflow—and save big while doing it! * Plus, when you purchase a milling machine, you’ll get delivery, installation, and training—all included. That means your lab will be production-ready from day one. * But hurry—these savings vanish after November 14th! * Contact your Ivoclar sales rep today and power up your lab for the year ahead. Elvis and Barb are gearing up for their chat with the HyperDent Dude himself, Jordan Greenberg from FOLLOW-ME! Technology. At LabFest, Elvis found out that every hyperDENT license comes with Template Editor Lite — a built-in feature that lets you make safe, customized tweaks to your milling strategies. Whether you want to prioritize surface quality or speed, this tool gives you the control to fine-tune your results while FOLLOW-ME! keeps everything validated and reliable. Because in the end, us lab techs love to tinker — and hyperDENT makes it easy to choose your own CAM-venture. Year-end chaos is here. Labs are slammed, deadlines are brutal, and mistakes are not an option. That’s when dental technicians rely on the one thing that never quits: https://www.rolanddga.com/applications/dental-cad-cam. The DWX-53DC is a true workhorse—24-hour automated milling that keeps your lab running, your overhead down, and your ROI up. No redos. No downtime. Just consistent, precise results. Built on decades of Japanese engineering, Roland delivers the reliability that keeps labs sane, profitable, and on schedule. Finish the year strong with the mill you can trust. Choose Roland DGSHAPE. Precision. Reliability. Performance. Learn more at rolanddga.comSpecial Guest: Jordan Greenberg.

Join Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows coming up in 2026 Vision 21 in Las Vegas Jan 15-17 https://www.nadl.org/nadl-vision-21 Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/ exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026 This week, we sit down with a guest whose journey hits all the right notes—literally! Meet Jonathan Bourke, a jazz guitarist turned dental technician who went from pouring models to designing full-arch restorations and running his own in-office lab. Jonathan shares how a chance gig driving for a denturist opened the door to a career he never expected, taking him from analog dentures to digital workflows, photogrammetry, and Exocad wizardry. Now a lab owner working directly with clinicians, Jonathan talks about collaboration in full-arch cases, teaching with Jensen Dental and MiYO, and what it’s like to see his work come to life chairside. From learning CAM milling to demoing in front of dental rockstars, Jonathan’s story is a reminder that artistry comes in many forms—sometimes from six strings, sometimes from six implants. * Dental Labs—The Ivoclar Flash Sale Is On! * From November 3rd to 14th, Ivoclar is bringing you unbeatable deals on the equipment that will set your lab up for success in 2026. * Upgrade your mill, your furnace, or expand your workflow—and save big while doing it! * Plus, when you purchase a milling machine, you’ll get delivery, installation, and training—all included. That means your lab will be production-ready from day one. * But hurry—these savings vanish after November 14th! * Contact your Ivoclar sales rep today and power up your lab for the year ahead. Elvis and Barb are gearing up for their chat with the HyperDent Dude himself, Jordan Greenberg from FOLLOW-ME! Technology. At LabFest, Elvis found out that every hyperDENT license comes with Template Editor Lite — a built-in feature that lets you make safe, customized tweaks to your milling strategies. Whether you want to prioritize surface quality or speed, this tool gives you the control to fine-tune your results while FOLLOW-ME! keeps everything validated and reliable. Because in the end, us lab techs love to tinker — and hyperDENT makes it easy to choose your own CAM-venture.Special Guest: Jonathan Bourke.

Shirts, long sleeves, and hoodies are back for a limited time! This batch has the podcast logo on the back and on the front is a simple name tag saying "Dental Technician". Be proud of what you do and show the WORLD that we exist. Shirts on sale until November 8, 2025. As always 100% of the profits go towards the Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology! https://www.bonfire.com/its-all-in-the-name160/ This week, Elvis and Barb cross the globe to chat with the legendary Marc Rondeau—a Sydney-based dental technician, educator, and yes, nightclub DJ. From being one of 30 accepted out of 300 applicants into Australia’s only dental tech program, to running one of the country’s top labs, Marc’s journey is packed with hard work, humor, and heart. He shares how a near-fatal car accident—and the brain tumor it uncovered—completely reshaped his perspective on work-life balance, pushing him to give back through teaching and advocacy. Now the Vice President of the Australian Dental Technicians Association, Marc talks about the fight to keep technicians recognized, the shift from analog to CAD/CAM, and why he believes every tech should know how to “wax before they CAD.” * Dental Labs—The Ivoclar Flash Sale Is On! * From November 3rd to 14th, Ivoclar is bringing you unbeatable deals on the equipment that will set your lab up for success in 2026. * Upgrade your mill, your furnace, or expand your workflow—and save big while doing it! * Plus, when you purchase a milling machine, you’ll get delivery, installation, and training—all included. That means your lab will be production-ready from day one. * But hurry—these savings vanish after November 14th! * Contact your Ivoclar sales rep today and power up your lab for the year ahead. The right CAM software can completely transform your lab’s workflow — and no one understands that better than FOLLOW-ME! Technology, creators of hyperDENT. That’s why Roland DGA has partnered with FOLLOW-ME! North America to offer the Roland DGA x hyperDENT Bundle for their DWX-53D series mills. This collaboration gives labs optimized performance, smoother milling, and incredible efficiency gains — with some users reporting up to two hours saved per case cycle without sacrificing quality. And here’s the best part: Roland is making this available to everyone through a hyperDENT trade-in promo for existing users. It’s the perfect opportunity to upgrade your CAM and take full advantage of the technology you already have. Plus, Nowak Dental Supplies is participating in the promotion and adding an exclusive bonus for NOLA Lab Fest attendees: the Multiple Instances feature at no additional cost. Don’t miss your chance to see the difference in person! Join Jordan Greenberg — the “hyperDENT dude” himself — at NOLA Lab Fest, November 7–8, and discover how CAM can redefine what your Roland mill can do.Special Guest: Marc Rondeau.

Shirts, long sleeves, and hoodies are back for a limited time! This batch has the podcast logo on the back and on the front is a simple name tag saying "Dental Technician". Be proud of what you do and show the WORLD that we exist. Shirts on sale until November 8, 2025. As always 100% of the profits go towards the Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology! https://www.bonfire.com/its-all-in-the-name160/ This week, Elvis and Barb sit down with two amazing ladies who turned tragedy into triumph. When a devastating fire destroyed Denture Crafters a few weeks ago, lab manager Amber Rosema and general manager Daniele Collard didn’t waste a single moment. From the parking lot of their burned-down lab, they began rebuilding—calling suppliers, securing space, and rallying their team to get dentures back in patients’ mouths. Hear the incredible story of how these two leaders kept their employees working, rebuilt their systems, and leaned on the kindness of another lab to get back up and running in just days. They also share what it’s like being part of an employee-owned dental lab, their quick move into digital dentures, and the importance of mental health when life—and your lab—literally goes up in flames. It’s an inspiring episode of resilience, teamwork, and what makes the dental lab community truly amazing. If you want to help, Daniele and Amber would love your opinion on any of the following items. Feel free to email them at info@denturecrafters.net Drop your favorites below: Boil-out tanks / dewaxers (Electric if possible) CAM milling units Alcohol distiller Acrylic polishers / pumice stations Steam cleaners Sandblasters / Shell Blaster Air compressors (oil-free, quiet) Dust collectors (single and central systems) Vacuum systems (for 3D printers, model trimmers, etc.) Fume extractors / ventilation systems Air purifiers (HEPA, carbon filter, or ionizer type) Monomer / polymer storage Vacuum mixers Resin dispensers Workbenches (lab-grade, suction-integrated if possible) Magnifying lamps / task lighting Autoclave / sterilizer Disinfectant systems / UV cabinets Easy to clean flooring (think clean wax) Laser welders Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today. The right CAM software can completely transform your lab’s workflow — and no one understands that better than FOLLOW-ME! Technology, creators of hyperDENT. That’s why Roland DGA has partnered with FOLLOW-ME! North America to offer the Roland DGA x hyperDENT Bundle for their DWX-53D series mills. This collaboration gives labs optimized performance, smoother milling, and incredible efficiency gains — with some users reporting up to two hours saved per case cycle without sacrificing quality. And here’s the best part: Roland is making this available to everyone through a hyperDENT trade-in promo for existing users. It’s the perfect opportunity to upgrade your CAM and take full advantage of the technology you already have. Plus, Nowak Dental Supplies is participating in the promotion and adding an exclusive bonus for NOLA Lab Fest attendees: the Multiple Instances feature at no additional cost. Don’t miss your chance to see the difference in person! Join Jordan Greenberg — the “hyperDENT dude” himself — at NOLA Lab Fest, November 7–8, and discover how CAM can redefine what your Roland mill can do.Special Guests: Amber Rosema and Daniele Collard.

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! This week, Elvis and Barb sit down with Lori Margiotta, the founder of Bookkeeper for Dentists, to talk about how labs and dental offices can grow together by focusing on one key number: case acceptance. Lori shares her journey from high school “recall girl” to practice manager, lab sales rep, and now consultant helping dental offices understand their business metrics. She breaks down how labs can help their clients track simple data like lab expenses and unbooked treatment to reveal hidden opportunities. With decades in the dental industry, Lori shows that when dentists increase their case acceptance, everyone wins — including the labs. From real-world examples to actionable advice (and a few laughs along the way), this episode is all about bridging the gap between the front desk and the bench. Check out Lori's On Demand Webinar: Want More Cases? Just Ask This One Question https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xNRsVE85Ql6PNa-weLkhPw Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today.Special Guest: Lori Margiotta.

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! MICRONMAPPER from SIN360: https://sin360.us/micronmapper/ This week we chat with the hilarious and inspiring Will Varda, a second-generation dental technician, lab owner, and president of the Dental Technicians Association of BC. Will takes us on an incredible journey from his father’s early days crafting crowns for Iranian royalty — complete with goat-horn hammers and plaster impressions — to the modern world of digital design, milling, and 3D printing. Along the way, he shares stories of growing up in a lab, learning every step the hard way, and how a Facebook study group and a few friends completely changed the course of his career. He also talks about the importance of community in the lab world, the balance between art and obsession, and how the right attitude (and maybe a little wine in a furry purse) can make even the toughest lab days a little brighter. Now leading the charge in his province, Will is bringing technicians together — literally — with the first-ever Dental Boat Cruise, where hhe taught about digital fundamentals through his “recipe for design” approach. From scones to splines, Will explains how mastering the basics can give you true digital freedom no matter what software you use. Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today.Special Guest: Will Varda.

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! In this episode, Elvis and Barb welcome Ed Molina, a dental technician and trainer with a fascinating journey from retail work to becoming an influential figure in digital dentistry. Ed shares how his brother and mentors like Dr. Art Mirelez and Fernando Polanco guided him into the dental field, eventually leading him to help pioneer digital workflows and facially driven design systems such as InstaRisa. With a background in both clinical and lab settings, Ed discusses the evolution of his career — from assisting with surgical guides and imaging to mastering Exocad and teaching offices how to transition from analog to digital dentistry. He explains the importance of facial scanning, photogrammetry, and digital workflow efficiency while emphasizing the human side of adapting to new technology in dental practices. Now running his own training business, Ed helps clinicians integrate digital design and facially driven workflows into their practices, balancing his passion for innovation with a strong appreciation for mentorship and collaboration. Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today.Special Guest: Ed Molina .

This week we are joined by Jed Archibald for his first solo interview, and he didn’t disappoint. Coming from a family deeply rooted in dentistry, his father worked closely with Dr. Gordon Christensen. Jed has built his own reputation as an innovator. In 2006 he launched Archibald Digital, embracing CAD/CAM at a time when most technicians were skeptical. His philosophy? Don’t just ask what digital can do now—ask what it could do. Jed also shared insights on materials, praising the underrated Empress Multi for its beauty and reliability, and highlighting Ivoclar’s ZirCAD Prime zirconia for solving problems that plague other multilayer products. Not content with what the market offered, Jed even created his own line of 3D printing resins—including a stone-like model resin and a lavender-infused cast resin that makes a lab smell like a spa. Now, as the new Director of Development at Utah Valley Dental Lab, Jed is taking on a role testing new ideas and pushing innovation without disrupting production. Check out the amazing resins from Jed: https://www.archibalddigital.com/category/all-products IPS Empress CAD® from Ivoclar: https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-processes/ips-empress-cad Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today.Special Guest: Jed Archibald.

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! Who wouldn't want to become a Master at the staple of the most common abutment in overdentures, the locator? This week we welcome back to the podcast, Todd Hydock, who updates everyone on the new Angled Locator abutments and Locator Fixed. For the first time on the podcast is Zest Dental Solution's Director of Education, Amy Helayel. Amy talks about her journey from clinical to lab to eventually Zest. Discovering a passion for education, Amy travels constantly to teach labs and clinics the proper way to use the Locator system. NOW, they have created the Zest Lab Mastership program to take your skill to the next level. REGISTER HERE: https://info.zestdent.com/labmastership Use the code: VOICESLAB to get $100 off! Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands-on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today.Special Guests: Amy Helayel and Todd Hydock.