Voices From The Bench

Join us at the Ladies of the Mill Summit - Nashville - July 21 & 22 (https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/) Live, hands-on course using anaxgum pink composite and PREAT Corp. implant components to create lifelike gingiva on implant prosthetics - During LOTM on Saturday July 22 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pink-esthetics-with-anaxgum-at-the-ladies-of-the-mill-summit-registration-314758911377) We love our stories of family taking over the family lab. One such family is the Perricone's. Andrew Perricone grew up in his mother's lab. Even after going to dental technology school, Andrew still started in the model room and worked his way up. Getting involved early in digital, Andrew knew it was the future. Now running GPS Digital Dental Lab (https://gpsdental.com/), Andrew talks about the history of the lab, staying relevant with technology, and the next thing GPS is working on to take the lab to the next level of success. The fastest growing product at Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) are the Gro3X Aligners. Gro3X Align

DONATE to Barb Warner or Team Voices From the Bench for the Race For the Future 8.0 (https://fdlt.memberclicks.net/donor-form#!/) Participate or cheer the racers at the Race For the Future 8.0 - August 28th - Chicago (https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/) Come to the FIRST and FREE Education Day - August 27th - Chicago (https://dentallabfoundation.org/education-day/) Most labs have 3shape (https://www.3shape.com/) running a majority of their digital workflow. Do you know the history of 3shape? Do you know why 3shape does what it does? Rune Fisker comes on the podcast to tell us that and so much more. Rune was the very first employee of 3shape after the two founders stated the company, so he knows his stuff. Rune talks about the history and timeline of 3 shape, what and who has helped shape the company to what it is now, getting into intraoral scanners, and what 3shape is working on next that Rune feels are the hot trends in dentistry. Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) introduces

Join us at the Ladies of the Mill Summit - Nashville - July 21 & 22 (https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/) Live, hands-on course using anaxgum pink composite and PREAT Corp. implant components to create lifelike gingiva on implant prosthetics - During LOTM on Saturday July 22 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pink-esthetics-with-anaxgum-at-the-ladies-of-the-mill-summit-registration-314758911377) Imagine having to teach over 80 students partial design during covid. That is exactly what Dr. Wendy Clark had to do. Heading up the Pre-doctoral Removable Prosthodontics at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill (https://dentistry.unc.edu/), Dr. Clark knew she needed something that the school could afford and would allow for remote lessons. She leaned on her longtime friend and lab technician, Craig Holland. Craig is no stranger to odd and unusual cases, but during the shutdown, Craig found the time from his usual work at 3 Point Dental Studio (https://www.3pointdentalstudio.com/) to self-teach himself coding. Along

The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (https://dentallabfoundation.org/): Race For the Future 8.0 August 28th (https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/) Most technicians are very dedicated and passionate about what they do. That is what makes our industry so amazing. But sometimes there is a technician that we run into that is so passionate that it really stands out and shows really how amazing we are. Nicole Jackson came into this industry be seeing a patient reaction getting a crown. Finding a school in her area in Milwaukee, Nicole graduated and started in a lab. It wasn’t long before she was changing workflows and increasing productivity. After a few labs a opportunity came about to go back to the school that started it all and run the program. Nicole is now the Lead faculty and program chair of the dental technician program at Milwaukee Area Technical College (https://www.matc.edu/course-catalog/manufacturing-construction-transportation/dental-technician.html). This is h

The Maine Licensed Denturist Association June 10 - 11 (https://mainelda.com/) National Denturist Association October 12 - 14 (https://nationaldenturist.com/) We’ve had many Denturists on the podcast in the past. It’s a great career path for dental technicians looking for the next step. Unfortunately, Denturism is not legal in many states. Luckily for the residents of Maine, Denturism is legal there. We are joined again by multi-episode guest, Patrick Allen. Patrick is a Denturist in at Central Maine Denture (https://centralmainedenture.com/) and he has invited two other Denturist from Maine to join us for the conversation. Austin Carbone learned dental technology in the Navy. Moving to Canada and finding Denturism, Austin has been educating the population and being the part of many boards to bring awareness to the profession. Getting closer to retirement, Austin brought on Ashley Soucy to Jetport Denture Center (https://www.jetportdenturecenter.com/) to carry on the practice. Ashley, a recent graduate of The

There are a few in our industry that create valuable content geared to the dental laboratory industry. If you have spent more than 10 minutes on a social media page for dental technology, you have probably heard of Minh Tran. Minh is a second generation lab technician that also has a passion for creating videos and sharing knowledge that he has picked up over the years on dentaltechtips.com (https://dentaltechtips.com/). Minh talks about his early days in the lab, discovering when it became a career, and how a hobby has turned him in to an expert in unbiased product reviews and lab tips that everyone can use. Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/)’s new VeriWhirl (https://www.whipmix.com/products/veriwhirl-dental-3d-printed-parts-cleaner/?product=technical_resources) resin cleaning station is the ideal piece of equipment to use in the 3D printed resin post process. It’s oscillating, multi-speed stirrer produces a tornado-like vortex every 30-seconds, and guarantees efficient, effective and powerful cleaning wh

Send us your audio thanks! Just record yourself on your phone or computer and email it to info@voicesfromthebench.com and we will play it in the month of June to celebrate CDT and Dental Technician Appreciation month! Have you got your limited edition VFTB shirt featuring the triathlon of dental lab? Click here to get a Race For the Future 8.0 VFTB shirt raising money for The Foundation For Dental Technology featuring art by Mackenzie Mayer ORDER BEFORE MAY 28, 2022 (https://bonfire.com/race-for-the-future-80-vftb-shirt) Participate or Cheer on the racers in Chicago at the Race For the Future 8.0 August 28, 2022 (https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/) It's not easy being a dental lab. Of course it's extremely rewarding, but it's also very hard. It's even harder for small to medium labs to compete with large labs and their buying power. Enter AmericaSmiles (https://americasmiles.net/). Keith Crittenden has a long history of knowing how labs work. From working in a few, to eventually

Have you got your limited edition VFTB shirt featuring the triathlon of dental lab? Click here to get a Race For the Future 8.0 VFTB shirt raising money for The Foundation For Dental Technology featuring art by Mackenzie Mayer ORDER BEFORE MAY 28, 2022 (https://bonfire.com/race-for-the-future-80-vftb-shirt) Participate or Cheer on the racers in Chicago at the Race For the Future 8.0 August 28, 2022 (https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/) We are STILL bringing y'all amazing Texas size recordings from the DLAT conference from last April. This week doesn't disappoint as we had 3 amazing conversations with 3 amazing people. First up is Kevin Dillion, the National Sales Manager for the Lab division for Desktop Health (https://www.desktophealth.com/). Kevin talks about the printers, the resins, and why they bought some labs to help labs. Then we chat with the then president of the ORG (Orthodontic Resource Group) (https://orthodonticresource.com/), Lance Dowdle. Lance talks about what's

Race For the Future 8.0 VFTB shirt raising money for The Foundation For Dental Technology featuring art by Mackenzie Mayer ORDER BEFORE MAY 28, 2022 (https://bonfire.com/race-for-the-future-80-vftb-shirt) Participate or Cheer on the racers in Chicago at the Race For the Future 8.0 August 28, 2022 (https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/) When Texans do anything, they do it big. This year’s conference definitely didn’t disappoint. The podcast was set up next to the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth all weekend recording some wonderful attendees, board members, and vendors. This week we talk to three amazing people in or around our field. First up is Wade Davenport from Alan’s Dental Lab in Austin. Wade and Barb nerd out over ceramics. Then we chat with then president of theDLAT (https://members.dlat.org/membership/), Richard Wills. And we end the episode with AJ Sheek from American Business Incentive Services (http://abisvs.com/) who is a member of the DLAT to bring tax savings to lab

One of the main points of the podcast is to feature anyone in our industry. Unbiased and uncensored. Too keep a clean rating on podcast apps, we bleep out words considered “bad”. That does not stop us from talking to technicians from around the world no matter their style of communication. When we discovered Sandra Puurits on Instagram, we knew it would be a “bleepful” episode that would be real and hilarious. Sandra didn’t disappoint. Sandra talks about getting into the industry, the state of education in Finland, life in a two-person lab, and being a bada$$ at bleeping everything. Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) introduces VeriGuide OS (https://www.whipmix.com/products/veriguide-os-dental-resin/), a Class I, CE certified resin material developed for the production of high precision surgical guides for use in dental implant surgery. The new material is formulated for 3D-printing systems (DLP, SLA, and LCD) at both 385 nm and 405 nm. VeriGuide OS™ has been successfully tested for biocompatibility and meet

Come see Elvis at the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth during LMT Lab Day West May 20 - 21 (https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabdaywest) Register for Elvis' course "Using Your Awkwardness to Market Your Lab" (https://lmtmag.com/seminars/using-your-awkwardness-to-market-your-lab-122404) This week brings a great removable technician out of Leicester, UK. Deepa Bharakhda didn't know what she wanted to do with her life. After finding a dental technology course at a university and studying a year in India, Deepa found her passion for removables. She talks about the various labs she has worked at, finding her dream job at Dencraft (https://www.dencraftuk.com/), working directly with patients, and her love for Anaxdent (https://www.anaxusa.com/) composite and the ability to make natural looking dentures. If you want to save, and also grow, Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is, where you should go! Resins (https://www.gro3x.com/collections/print) to print night guards, for high-impact and flex, look no further, because we have the

Join Elvis at the Washington Denturist Association annual conference May 12 -14 in Leavenworth. (https://wadenturist.com/wda-2022-conference/) Everyone has a story about how they got into the industry. Not everyone wants to share that story. For Kelly Weliky the story is not a highlight of her life. Kelly learned dental technology while in a correction facility. Many people learn the craft this way. For years Kelly didn't talk about publicly, but after her success of starting her own lab, she wants to tell the world that the past does not define you. After taking the program, being mentored at a work release lab, and getting into implants and fixed hybrids, Kelly now owns her own lab and doing the work she wants to do with the clients she wants to work with. Be sure to come see Kelly on stage at Ladies of the Mill July 22-23 in Nashville (https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/)! The Asiga MAX (https://whipmix.com/products/asiga-max/), the world’s most advanced lab 3D printer, offers exceptional productivity. Well

When we see unique and interesting labs online, we get to have them on the podcast and talk to them. That is exactly what we did when we saw The Hive (https://www.thehivedental.co.uk/) on Instantgram (https://www.instagram.com/hive_dental_laboratory/). Turns out it owned by Eleanor and Emily Pittard. Together they have created an amazing award winning (really) dental laboratory (https://www.thehivedental.co.uk/the-dentistry-awards-2021/) in Dorset, UK. Emily is a Clinical Dental Technician (think denturist) and Eleanor is the mastermind behind the business and marketing. They talk about creating The Hive, taking it mobile during the pandemic, setting it up to see patients directly, and making sure they are giving back to the environment. If you want to save, and also grow, Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is, where you should go! Resins (https://www.gro3x.com/collections/print) to print night guards, for high-impact and flex, look no further, because we have them at Gro3X. Burs (https://www.gro3x.com/collectio

Did you miss LMT Lab Day Chicago (https://lmtmag.com/)? Want to feel like you were there? Did you go and want to go back? We do too! This is the next best thing to it. Three amazing conversation we got while at the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth. First up is Randi & Scott James from Renstom Dental Studios (http://www.renstrom.com/) talking about all the growth they have had since the last time we talked to them and what the two are doing while at the show. Then we talk to the ONLY female lab owner in all of Aruba. Lorene Flores, owner of Bio Dental Lab (https://www.biodentallab.info/), is doing big things in the industry on a small exotic island. When she's not hosting Cool FM 98.9 (http://coolaruba.com/), Aruba's hottest radio show, she's always striving to improve and offer products the other labs don't offer. Then we wrap up the whole episode talking to the only removable lab technician at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry (https://dentistry.vcu.edu/), Jennifer Cowherd. Jennifer tal

It is so good to be among our fellow lab friends. After having no show in 2021, LMT Lab Day Chicago (https://lmtmag.com/) happened with a great vibe in 2022. While less people attended, the ones that came where ready to be out and about and many stopped by the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth. This week we talk to four people that attended. First up is wife and husband team from Georgia, Christina and Brian Heaslip (http://www.digitaldentallabs.com/default.html). They talk about working together, presenting together about B & D Dental zirconia (https://www.bnddental.com/zirconia.html), and the upcoming Ladies of the Mill Summit (https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/). Then we talk to Katie Boteler from Aspen Dental (https://www.aspendental.com/). Newish to the industry, Katie talks about working at Affordable Dentures (https://www.affordabledentures.com/), Aspen, and the real reason Katie came to Lab Day. Then we wrap up the episode talking to past guest Jonathan Thompson about the importance of a good CAM softwar

An Angled Approach: 90° Milling with DGSHAPE's C-Clamp Adapter for DWX-52D WEBINAR with Whitney Courtney McCarty and Ian O'Neill (https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A0wM1gYJQX2klJdW_rxueA?fbclid=IwAR0QOM5PRJvIfZ5niV0QoR_4AzDDGqdZf5Kjyg6QyC6KUwdyBNogl2RDURI) DLAT Southwest Conference and Expo April 1 & 2: Dallas / Fort Worth Airport Mariott (https://members.dlat.org/membership/2022-conference-portal/) Let's do the math. 52 weeks a year. 208th episode. Never missed a week. It's the 4th year anniversary of the podcast! Amazing we are still going and still loving every minute of it. And it wouldn't be a celebration unless we bring back our good friend that was on episode 1 and 52 and 156, Renata Budny. Renata leads the Restorative Dentistry program at the New York City College of Technology. Joining her is past student and now Professor Jamie Rubin. Jamie talks about getting into the program, her experiences going through the classes, and what it's like being in front of the students and working full ti

Every week we talk to technicians that share their journey to where they are today in the in industry. This week we talk to a gentleman whose journey is an interesting one that allowed him to re-light his passion for the industry. Dennis Kalashnick started on the clinical side of dentistry. It didn’t take long for him to discover he liked the laboratory work more. After years of doing Medicaid type dentures, Dennis went off on his own and continued to learn and grow. After a time of thinking about leaving the industry, Dennis found the passion again and is now specializing in full-arch implant work. It’s a journey worth listening to. If you want to save, and also grow, Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is, where you should go! Resins (https://www.gro3x.com/collections/print) to print night guards, for high-impact and flex, look no further, because we have them at Gro3X. Burs (https://www.gro3x.com/collections/mill) for your mills, Zirconia (https://www.gro3x.com/collections/aidite) for your crowns, with Gro3X

Have you struggled getting out there and getting more work from dental offices? Not every lab has the resources from a sales team, but you can learn a lot from a lab that does. Lauren Crowe came to Blue Box Dental Lab (https://www.blueboxdental.com/) with a lot of clinical experience. Always working hard, Lauren worked her way up to manager and eventually became the Director of Sales for Leixir (https://www.leixir.com/) (a group of 5 labs). Lauren talks getting lab sales, struggles of selling to dentists, selling to DSOs, and how with a team of 13 salespeople, training and providing services and not products. There are 3D Print resins for models that do a decent job, then there is Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) VeriModel OS. Dr. Michael Scherer, a prosthodontist from Sonora, CA says “Whip Mix VeriModel OS is one of the finest model resins I have ever worked with. It’s amazing”. The popular resins offer the dental laboratory a high quality, smooth surface finish, extreme precision, reliable accuracy, and

Join Elvis and Barb at the DLAT Southwest Conference and Expo March 31 - April 2nd. Good times Texas style in Dallas! (https://members.dlat.org/membership/) Dental technicians spend a lot of time making restorations that match the natural beauty of human teeth. But what if you could make a full arch of gold? What if you could make it so it could be removed and put in at any time? This week talk to Jay Goodman (thecheshiresgrin on Instagram) (https://www.instagram.com/the_cheshires_grin/) from Melbourne Australia who wanted his own grill and decided to find out how to make his own. With some help from a dental technician and a jeweler, Jay now makes many of these grills for famous models and musicians. Jay talks about the process, the materials, and the different types he has made over the years. If you want to save, and also grow, Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is, where you should go! Resins (https://www.gro3x.com/collections/print) to print night guards, for high-impact and flex, look no further, because

LIVE and IN-PERSON: Elvis Dahl at LMT Lab Day Chicago: Using Your Awkwardness to Market Your Lab Saturday 9:45am - 10:45am Acapulco Room · West Tower, Ballroom (Gold) Level (https://lmtmag.com/seminars/using-your-awkwardness-to-market-your-lab) We love us some labs that have a rich family story behind them. Barksdale Dental Lab (https://barksdaledentallab.com/) is the newest lab to share their family's history. Betty and Steve Barksdale opened their lab in 1980. They made sure two things were always done, good quality work done right and to always treat their technicians like family. Blake Barksdale joined the lab during high school and pushed the lab to improve workflow and efficiency by adapting to digital technology. Betty and Blake talk about the history of the lab, how they find and retain technicians, and name drop all the wonderful people in our industry that has helped along the way. Whip Mix (https://whipmix.com/) is now providing its milling customers with Prima Milling Tools (https://whipmix.com