Make sure you visit Ivoclar at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2025. Ivoclar will be in their usual spot at Grand Ballroom A&B in the East Tower, on the Gold Level. Right across from the registration desk.

Register today!

Make sure you come see VOICES FROM THE BENCH recording from the Ballroom all weekend!

Attend the 99th Annual Cal-Lab Meeting Feb 20 & 21 at the Swissôtel in Chicago. (Connected to the Hyatt and Lab Day)
Elvis & Barb will be *recording there Thursday night during the "Cocktail Hour" from 4:00 to 6:30 *
Register today: https://cal-lab.org/annual-meeting

This week we had the privilege of sitting down with the dynamic team from Amann Girrbach. We kicked off the conversation with CEO Keith Clements, who shared his remarkable journey to AG. With over 20 years of experience in the dental sector, Keith transitioned from semi-retirement to leading Amann Girrbach, emphasizing the importance of a strong distribution model, highlighting the company's commitment to building trust with their dealer partners.

Director of Operations Nick Pizzo followed up with insights into his extensive background in supply chain and logistics. After spending over a decade with Amazon, Nick brings to the company unmatched customer service experience.

Industry veteran Maurice "Mo" Whitlock, who has been with AG for nearly a decade, brought a wealth of knowledge to the discussion. He emphasized the importance of customer experience with the motto "The relationship to me starts after the sale." This sentiment resonates deeply in a market where service can make or break a company’s reputation.

Throughout the episode, the team discussed the innovative changes they are implementing to enhance customer service. From remote repairs utilizing high-resolution cameras to a focus on technician training, AG is setting new standards in the dental milling space. Keith shared their vision of creating a customer-centric approach, all while celebrating every mill install they do.

This episode is not just about the products; it's about the passion and commitment behind them.

You are invited to Ivoclar’s IPS e.max Panel Discussion Friday, February 22nd stating at 3:00 at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Our very own Barb Warner will be on stage with Jessica Birrell, Stephenie Goddard, Mike Roberts, Jed Archibald and Dr. Ken Malament as they dive into the world of e.max. After the panel discussion, Ivoclar will host a Happy Hour to commemorate this 20-year milestone. So, please join us by registering at Labday.com/Ivoclar.

Make sure you visit Aidite at Booth E-26 during your visit at LMT Lab Day Chicago! They will be there showcasing their exciting new products and cutting-edge solutions in digital dentistry. Attendees can explore hands-on demonstrations of Biomic stain & glaze techniques and some of their other innovative technologies. Aidite will also host engaging lectures in Grand Suite 2, East Tower, covering topics such as EZneer, 3D Pro-Zir, Digital Dentures, and their Aidite Cloud design service. Even before you go, you can stay updated by following @AiditeNorthAmerica on all social media platforms. Don’t miss the opportunity to see how Aidite is shaping the future of dental labs!

Special Guests: Keith Clements, Maurice “Mo” Whitlock, CDT, and Nick Pizzo.

When you think of companies that have changed dentistry for the better, Ivoclar is always on that list. From the world’s first pressed ceramic to emax, from heat injected acrylics to milled dentures, Ivoclar has been innovating and making teeth better. This week Elvis and Barb talk to their VP of Product Marketing for North America Don Bell. Don was on the podcast almost 4 years ago and comes on to update us on what's been happing with the company. He talks about coming out of covid, learning from customer feedback, the evolution of dentures and the upcoming Ivotion print, living in the age of digital treatment planning through communication and collaboration, Ivoclar Academy, and end of the year promotions.

If you are in the market for purchasing a new milling machine or a furnace, Voices From the Bench invites you to connect with an Ivoclar sales associates. They have several great deals and financing options now available for you to take advantage of. These robust and dependable machines were designed to make your laboratory more efficient and profitable. They are work horses when it comes to processing IPS e.max lithium disilicate and the amazing Prime Zirconia. The PM7 mill also allows you to do digital dentures with their game changing Ivotion puck. Head over to ivoclar.com, voicesfromthebench.com/ivoclar, or call them at 1-800-533-6825.

Special Guest: Don Bell.

On August 27th many brave and fearless dental technicians will take to the water and road to participate in the 2023 Chicago Triathlon. They don't do it for fame or personal gain, but to raise money for the Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology.
PLEASE head over to dentallabfoundation.org and click the DONATE TODAY button. Log in and choose the “Race for the Future” option. There you can put the name of a racer you want to sponsor. You can put:

Barb Warner
Team Abutments (Elvis Dahl, Mark Williamson, Bobby Kennedy)
Voices From the Bench (50/50 split between Barb and Elvis' team)

We love it whenever technicians support technicians. And when we found out that 4 past podcast guests started a group to showcase female technicians, we just had to have them back on to learn more. Joining us again are Nina Frketin from Mango Dental Technologies, Deppa Bharakhda from Dencraft Dental Lab, Deppa Bharakhda, and Emily and Eleanor Pittard from The Hive Dental Lab. All four update us on what they have been up to since their previous episodes and how they have grown since. Nina explains the reason for starting Nightshift and how she needed the help of everyone to help grow it. They explain their roles in the group, what the purpose of Nightshift is, and their BIG plans for the future.

Check out all their previous episodes:

Nina: https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/171
Emily and Eleanor: https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/211
Deepa: https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/213

Did you know that Ivoclar has Digital Equipment Sales Specialists?

These experienced professionals are here to help make your transition to digital, a smooth one. They help provide customized solutions, analyze your ROI, provide hands on assistance and localized support. All of this, catered to your needs. Contact a Digital Equipment Sales Specialist today by emailing Digitalspecialists@ivoclar.com. Tell them you heard it on the podcast!

Special Guests: Deepa Bharakhda, Eleanor Pittard, Emily Pittard, and Nina Frketin.

100 years ago a company started making denture teeth. Now Ivoclar is known for some of the best products and equipment for both labs and clinical offices. To celebrate their century of helping us make restorations, they are going all out at this year’s LMT Lab Day Chicago. Laura Gilbert, their North America Marketing Director, comes on to talk about Ivoclar and what they have planned in their Grand Ballroom A&B. It’s going to be the place to be! Joining Laura, and also in Chicago, is Dr. David Rice. Dr. Rice founded a group called IgniteDDS that helps newly graduated dentist succeed after school. He sits in the hot seat to answer some common questions labs have for dental offices and how we can approve our relationships.

Sign up to see all of the speakers during Lab Day Chicago 2023!

The new PrograScan PS3 and PS5 provide true-to-detail, high-resolution and accurate scans for coordinated digital workflows that are precise, fast, and always accurate.

The PS3 and PS5 are powered by the popular and intuitive DentalCAD software from Exocad. Whether you are looking for your first scanner, to upgrade or add to your existing scanners, the PrograScan may be the one for you.

Reach out to your friendly Ivoclar sales representative to select a scanner that matches the needs of your lab Today and tell them you heard about it on the podcast!

Does your lab use Magic Touch? If not, you should think about switching just so you can use icortica. Icortica is a program that uses all the data you already collect in Magic Touch and puts it in one easy to see, use, and understand dashboard. Look at every account and see trends, sales, notes, payments, and even remake percentages. Use the data you already have to take your lab and your customer service to the next level. Elvis uses it daily and swears it is a huge part to his success working at the lab. Head over to icortica.com/voices to learn more or send an email to Rob Nazzal at rob@icortica.com and tell him you heard about it on Voices From the Bench!

Special Guests: Dr. David Rice and Laura Gilbert.