Voices From The Bench

So many great dental lab shows to look forward to in 2022: Vision 21: https://nadl.org/events/v21/2022/ Cal-Lab: https://cal-lab.org/ LMT Lab Day Chicago: https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday DLAT Southwest Conference: https://members.dlat.org/membership/ FDLA Southern States Expo: https://www.fdla.net/symposium Ladies of the Mill: https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/ This week we are talking to two amazing ladies who came together during the pandemic to open the lab of their dreams. Vicki Thomas and Carolynn Capps come from different laboratory backgrounds but found a common ground with their unique skills they each bring. That’s why they opened up She Designs Dental Studios (https://www.instagram.com/shedesignsdental/?hl=en) in Matthews, North Carolina. This all pink, female owned, and operated lab is different than the labs you usually see out there. Vicki and Carolyn talk about their backgrounds, how they met, and how they put together a different experience for their clients and patients, all under the light of a gi

We told you that the Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) Digital Forum was amazing! This is the 4th episode we got from the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth talking to so many amazing people. First up is Patrick Strohkirch from Oqton (https://www.oqton.com/). Oqton is a interesting software company that allows AI to nest your mills and prints almost instantly. Then we chat with Tom Houle, who has a great path in our industry on the sales side to end up as the West Coast Digital Technology Specialist for Whip Mix. THEN, stepping away from the Digital Forum, we have a conversation Elvis got while at the Eastern Conference of Dental Laboratories (http://www.eastern-conference.com/index.html) in Winston-Salem, NC. Two students from the Durham Technical College (https://www.durhamtech.edu/), Nathan DiBiase and Nathan Stainnack, that talk about why they got into the dental technology program and where they hope it takes them after. Did you know that most inLab MCX5 users that have ordered burs from Gro3X once, kee

Gingival Artistry for Analogue and Digital Dentures with Nina Frketin - February 10th Webinar (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gingival-artistry-for-analogue-and-digital-dentures-tickets-179391774627?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb) Check out her episode on the podcast- 171: Pretty Acrylic In Pink with Nina Frketin (https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/171) We love live events where we get to talk to people face-to-face. At the end of October Elvis and Barb talked to so many people from the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth at the Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) Digital forum. This week we talk to two technicians that went to the event for two different reasons. First up with Rich Green from B&D Dental Technologies (https://www.bnddental.com/). Rich has been a dental technician is whole career and is now using his experience and expertise to help the industry understand zirconia better by education and a few jokes. Then we chat with Hu

In every industry, when a company that come into it that disrupts the usual way of doing things, people start to talk. Rumors go around and misinformation grows. This week we welcome the Head of R & D at Dandy (https://www.meetdandy.com/), Kenn Butler. Kenn hears all the talk online and at dental shows about Dandy and being a fan of the podcast, Kenn agreed to come on and talk about how and why Dandy came to be, what they have learned along the way, and he answers some of the rumors that have spread over the last few months. Did you know that most inLab MCX5 users that have ordered burs from Gro3X once, keep on ordering Gro3X burs over and over again? Because Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) burs are engineered by some of the folks who have been providing burs to some of the largest US production labs for years. Did you also know, that most Roland and DGShape users have no idea what they are missing out? To give Roland and DGSHAPE users the opportunity to find out for themselves how good Gro3X burs work also f

DARE to say NO to bad impressions the shirt! Order one today! (https://www.bonfire.com/dare-to-say-no-to-bad-impressions-shirt-1/) 100% of the profits go towards The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (https://dentallabfoundation.org/) We love it when we can talk to people in our industry face-to-face. Last October we got that chance at the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth while attending the Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) Digital Forum. This annual event was on its 9th year and so far it was its best. This time we had a chance to talk to a wonderful digital technician Whitney McCarty. Whitney talked about starting as an expanded assistant, dedicating all her free time to learn digital dentistry, and taking what she has learned to become a pivotal CAD/CAM technician at Midwest Dental Arts (https://www.midwestdentalarts.com/) doing a full arch digital workflow. Then we sit down and chat with Gene Peterson CDT from Stearngold (https://www.sterngold.com/). Gene has a rich dental lab background wi

DARE to say NO to bad impressions the shirt! Order one today! (https://www.bonfire.com/dare-to-say-no-to-bad-impressions-shirt-1/) 100% of the profits go towards The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (https://dentallabfoundation.org/) October 2021 Elvis and Barb FINALLY got to record at a LIVE event together for the first times since February 2020. Lucky it was at the Whip Mix Digital Forum (https://www.whipmix.com/special-events/2021-digital-forum/), a packed event full of fantastic speakers, vendors, and attendees that were super excited just to be out enjoying the dental lab industry. This first episode for the event has Elvis and Barb talking to the CEO of Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) herself, Anne Steinbock. Anne talks about the family history, her past jobs at the company and becoming CEO, and some great tales of Whip Mix past. Then we talk to Pat Higgins and Bryce Hiller about the new Whip Mix VeriONE Digital (https://www.verionedigital.com/) workflow for clinicians. This workflow, w

When we discovered a Instagram account by a "gentleman" named @mrawwesome (https://www.instagram.com/mrawwesome/), we knew that he would be a interesting guest. Justin Gerard is a removable technician that tells it like it is. Entertaining and slightly offensive, Justin comes on the podcast to talk about getting into the industry, characters that help shape him in the profession, opening his own lab (Colonial Dental Lab (https://colonialdentallaboratories.com/)) with a partner, and starting his Instagram account to share his unique take on dental lab technology. 2022 NADL Vision 21 meeting: Las Vegas January 20 - 22 (https://nadl.org/events/v21/2022/) Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) is very excited to announce the new PRO 4K large format 3D printer from Asiga (https://www.whipmix.com/products/asiga-pro-4k/). The open-material printer for 385nm and 405nm resins features renowned Asiga reliability, and super-fast print mode for large batch printing of virtually all print resins. It’s ideal for printing any

When has anyone ever said life in a dental lab is easy? It's not. There are many struggles and challenges every day. Todd Blankenbecler and Andy Stark from EasyRX (https://easyrxcloud.com/) have a solution for a few of the issues. Easy Rx is a software that can run production in the lab, but it also has a clinician aspect that allows the two to communicate efficiently. Oh, did we mention that it can also prep your digital scans for model printing? They talk about how two different software companies combined, how they deal with the different business models, and what makes EasyRx stand out over the other production software. Denture Babes website (https://www.denturebabes.com/) The first 500 orders placed between November 1st and November 14th will all get a FREE LIMITED EDITION Metallic Voices From the Bench sticker! Swiss School of Prosthetics 2022 course dates! (https://www.ssop.swiss/en-us/all-dates-venues) Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is a dental supply, service, and marketing company. It is to help

We love to talk to people that are so passionate about dental labs that they take their unique weirdness and turn it into a business that gives other technicians exactly what they want. Jenelle Tabaković (https://www.instagram.com/jtlabqueen/) and MacKenzie Mayer (https://www.instagram.com/toothfairyknz/) are both removable technicians with different career paths. But they didn’t like the options of clothing for dental technicians. After a lot of planning and hard work they have now created a huge following of technicians that share their passion, weirdness, and toothcreepness. They come on the podcast to talk about getting into the industry, meeting each other on Instagram, and building a business they both do out of love for their profession. Plus plenty of fart jokes. It’s a lot of fun that no one should miss. Denture Babes website (https://www.denturebabes.com/) The first 500 orders placed between November 1st and November 14th will all get a FREE LIMITED EDITION Metallic Voices From the Bench sticker! Wh

They say behind every famous person is the true group that makes them famous. John Archibald has been the in-office dental technician to the famous Dr. Gordon Christensen (https://www.pccdental.com/). This gave John a chance to be on the forefront of a lot of new products and procedures. Seeing an opportunity to teach the lab industry, he started the country's only full time apprenticeship school. Raising his son Jed Archibald (https://www.archibalddigital.com/) in the school, Jed was soon teaching in the school and continuing the name in the industry as a leader with the development to the digital workflow. Clinicians Report (https://www.cliniciansreport.org/) Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is a dental supply, service and marketing company that was founded by Norbert Ulmer and their goal is to help dental labs, and especially small labs to lower their cost for supplies, provide business opportunities, and generate growth. Attend their upcoming Gro3X Gem Talks on November 5th in Charlotte, NC (https://www.gr

Check out A Very Dental Podcast: Shorts: Everyone Sucks at Their Job (except Elvis) (https://verydentalpodcast.com/episode/shorts-everyone-sucks-at-their-job-except-elvis) This week we welcome John Wilson from Sunrise Dental Laboratory (http://www.sunrisedentallab.com/) out in California to the podcast. He has been at this lab game for a while. Early on he saw the importance of putting his lab on the front line of implant restorations. John comes on the podcast to talk about his early days as a punk kid, mistakes he’s made, and more importantly the lessons he has learned. It’s just an added bonus that he shares the lessons in hope that he can prevent some others from making the same mistake. Whip Mix (https://whipmix.com/) is now providing its milling customers with Prima Milling Tools (https://whipmix.com/products/prima-milling-tools/), the high performance milling tools engineered specifically for Roland mills. This new tool range outperforms the competition. The results show not only that the tools last 2

Conversa à Bancada: a dental laboratory podcast out of Portugal (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversa-%C3%A0-bancada/id1564666913) Join Elvis and Barb at the Whip Mix Digital Forum October 29 & 30 in Louisville, Ky (https://www.whipmix.com/special-events/2021-digital-forum/) When you hear of people consulting in our industry, you would hope that they spent some time in our industry doing what they are "consulting". David Avery has done it all. Classically trained in school, worked in-house for a prosthodontist, owned his own lab, and help grow one of the largest labs on the east coast. David talks about the people who have influenced him along the way, how our profession has changes over the years, and what labs and technicians can do to prepare themselves for success in the coming years. Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is a dental supply, service and marketing company that was founded by Norbert Ulmer and their goal is to help dental labs, and especially small labs to lower their cost for supplies

Every lab is looking for technicians. We all know about the lack of talent in the employee pool. What can we do about it? One man outside of London is attempting to help technicians and labs "hook up". Andy Foster comes on the podcast to talk about running his one person lab while at the same time running his website recruit4technicians.com (https://recruit4technicians.com/). This site is dedicated to our industry. If you are a technician looking for a career or are a lab looking for your next employee, this is an ideal place to post. Andy also talks about some interesting things he has noticed in our industry, some great ideas for labs when looking, and also some great ideas for technicians when looking for their next "home away from home". Great stuff for everyone in our industry. Check out Andy's Blog for more great resources for both the lab and the technicians. (https://recruit4technicians.com/blog/) Whip Mix (https://whipmix.com/) is pleased to add VeriCast OS (https://whipmix.com/products/vericast-ge

After a year of many dental meetings being canceled, Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) has come back bigger and better with the Digital Forum (https://www.whipmix.com/special-events/2021-digital-forum/). This year in Louisville, Ky October 29 & 30, is sure to be the best forum yet. Bernie Jaroslow comes on the podcast to talk about all the amazing speakers they have lined up along with some fun evening events that you will not want to miss. Also joining the episode is a father and two sons that have been to ALL 9 digital forums. Michael Emerick opened Emerick Crown and Bridge Lab (https://emerickdentallab.com/) in Cincinnati, Oh. After raising two sons in the lab, Austin and Alex are now full integrated in the digital workflow bringing a new and welcome passion to their family business. Gro3X (https://www.gro3x.com/) is a dental supply, service and marketing company that was founded by Norbert Ulmer and their goal is to help dental labs, and especially small labs to lower their cost for supplies, provide

When you think of world-famous Denturist, who comes to mind? Because of the lack of legal states in America, the list is short. But there is one gentleman out of Windsor, Canada who has been promoting the profession for years online. Eric Kukucka, from the Denture Center (https://thedenturecenter.ca/), comes on the podcast to talk about finding out that he wanted to be a denturist at a young age, getting in to school, partnering with Ivoclar (https://www.ivoclarvivadent.com/en_US) and 3shape (https://www.3shape.com/en-us), opening a few practices, and helping develop the complete digital workflow when it comes to removables. Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/)’s new Veriwash (https://www.whipmix.com/products/veriwash/) 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 whether the units are individual or still attach

Every day. Every day we improve people's lives. From single tooth to full mouth, we get to make a difference in the oral health and wellbeing of patients. But imagine if you could do more with very little extra work. Now you can! Hollie Stevenson from the Dental Lifeline Network (Donated Dental Services) (https://dentallifeline.org/) comes on the podcast to talk about how labs, along with dentist and specialist, can take less fortunate patients and turn their lives around. Hollie talks about how the program works, how labs can get involved, and shares a few stories from patients who have benefited from the generosity of those to participate. SIGN UP YOUR LAB TODAY! (https://dentallifeline.org/our-volunteers/volunteer-now/) COME SEE RECORD WITH US: At the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth during the Eastern Conference of Dental Laboratories = September 24 & 25, 2021 in Winston-Salem, NC (http://www.eastern-conference.com/index.html) Again at the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth during the Whip Mix Digital For

Located near the 2nd most visited house in the world, Daxton Grubb took over his father's fixed lab and has grown it into a full service, digital, large lab in the Memphis area. Daxton talks about learning management from a rental car company, hiring dental assistants to be the communication between the lab and offices, and why not every product and process is a win for every lab. Daxton freely shares with Elvis and Barb a lot of information that most lab owners would be afraid to talk about on a podcast. Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) offers you the ultimate in ease, material flexibility and unattended production with the Roland DGA DWX-52DCi (https://www.whipmix.com/products/roland-dwx-52dci/) milling machine. The popular mill’s automatic disc changer expands your lab production and profit, using a 6-slot Automatic Disc Changer, 15-station Automatic Tool Changer and several other automated features. The DWX-52DCi dental milling machine now comes with performance visualization software and other intell

We are sad that this week ends the conversations we got while at the Ladies of the Mill Summit (https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/). While a great show, we now must wait almost a whole year before it happens again! But we are going to end the whole collection with two great conversations. First up is super step-mom Kelly Fincher who married into a lab, gave up nursing, and helped raise Hannah Fincher to grow up in the industry and make it a career. It’s important to note (and say thanks) that when the pandemic hit, Kelly decided to go back to nursing and help the ones that needed it the most. We apologize to Hannah for the mess up during recording. Then we are joined once again by Tay Harvey, the fearless leader of Anaxdent USA (https://anaxdentusa.com/). We talk to Tay back on episode 151, but she sits down with Elvis during the summit and they talk about almost everything from why she came to the summit to adding outside sales to her team to why a vision board isn’t for everyone. All that, more, and a bunch

We are excited to bring more conversations that we got at the Preat booth while at the Ladies of the Mill summit. This week has us talking with Mary Valentine who has an amazing background with Nobel Procera and her daughter, Emily Valentine, who is making sure the lab carries on to the next generation. Then we are pleased to chat with two ladies of Whip Mix. Sherri Weatherby and Cassandra Dombrowski are two sales reps covering most of the east side of the US and talk about their Asiga printer and why they made sure Whip Mix was a part of LOTM. And we end the episode with Mary Nosal from DIL Dental Lab. Mary is a dental assistant turned lab manager and has to combine both skills to run it all successfully. Whip Mix (https://whipmix.com/) is now providing its milling customers with Prima Milling Tools (https://whipmix.com/products/prima-milling-tools/), the high performance milling tools engineered specifically for Roland mills. This new tool range outperforms the competition. The results show not only that t

Remember when we kept talking about the Ladies of the Mill Summit (https://www.ladiesofthemill.com/)? Well it's time to start releasing some of the amazing converstions we got while at the Preat (https://preat.com/) booth. First, we want to thank Jill Swafford and Christina Heaslip for making sure that the podcast got to be a part of such a fantastic event. This week we talk to two sisters who were also on stage talking about communication. Anne Kersenbrock Koelzer is a technician from AMK Dental Lab (https://www.facebook.com/people/AMK-Dental-Lab/100028120884702/) who has her sister as a client, Dr. Mary Kersenbrock. Then we chat with two ladies from Desktop Health (https://www.desktophealth.com/), the ones that bring us the EnvisionTec printer (https://dental.desktophealth.com/), Denisse Padilla and Casey Steale talk about new resins and why they participated in the LOTM summit. Then we wrap up the episode with a conversation with Sarah Williamson, who is a in-office technician at Denver Restorative Dentis