Voices from The Bench

432: Felix Chung: Imagine That an Aerospace Engineer Turned into a Dental Nerd

July 6th, 2026  |  1 hr 3 mins

3d printing, 3shape, 98mm puck, additive manufacturing, aerospace engineering, cad design, cad/cam, compatible implants, crown and bridge, custom abutments, datron d5, dental business, dental cad, dental cam, dental innovation, dental lab, dental laboratory, dental manufacturing, dental materials, dental podcast, dental software, dental technology, digital dentistry, digital transformation, digital workflow, dof scanner, engineering, entrepreneurship, exocad, exocad insights, felix chung, georgia tech, hyperdent, imagine, imilling, implant bars, implant components, implant dentistry, implant restorations, ims icore, in-house milling, innovation, jordan greenberg, keystone dental, lab day, laboratory efficiency, laboratory growth, laboratory workflow, milling, milling center, milling machines, milling strategies, mist, nasa, oem, open systems, outsourcing, prosthetics, restorative dentistry, scan bodies, sic implants, technical support, ti-base, titanium bars, titanium nitride, united states navy, voices from the bench, walter reed, zirconia, zirconzahn

This week we sit down with Felix Chung from Imagine to hear the incredible story of how an aerospace engineering graduate and NASA intern unexpectedly found his passion in dental technology. From building one of the industry's leading digital dentistry companies to discussing milling, CAD/CAM, implant components, and the future of laboratory workflows, Felix shares the lessons, risks, and innovations that have shaped his journey over the past 15 years.

Episode 431: exocad Insights 2026 Part 5: Beth Collington, Josh Jakson, & Robert Norton

June 29th, 2026  |  56 mins 10 secs

3d design, 3d modeling, advanced dental technology, advanced workflows, ai crown, ai dentistry, ai in dental labs, ai-assisted dentistry, ai-powered design, artificial intelligence, automotive parts design, bench talk, beth collington, cad design, cad designer, cad workflow, cad/cam, clinicians, continuing education, creative cad applications, crown and bridge, crown design, crown finalization, crown production, custom grills, custom jewelry, custom restorations, dental automation, dental business, dental cad, dental cad community, dental cad experts, dental cad software, dental cad training, dental collaboration, dental community, dental conference, dental craftsmanship, dental design, dental design innovation, dental design software, dental design techniques, dental discussion, dental education, dental educators, dental engineering, dental expertise, dental future, dental industry, dental industry leaders, dental industry podcast, dental innovation, dental innovation summit, dental jewelry, dental lab, dental lab future, dental lab professionals, dental lab technology, dental laboratory, dental laboratory management, dental laboratory podcast, dental laboratory workflows, dental leadership, dental manufacturing, dental manufacturing technology, dental podcast, dental professionals, dental prosthetics, dental restorations, dental scanning, dental software, dental software experts, dental software innovation, dental software platform, dental software training, dental software updates, dental solutions, dental technician, dental technician life, dental technician training, dental technology, dental technology conference, dental technology education, dental technology experts, dental technology trends, dental trends, dental workflow efficiency, dental workflow management, dental workflow solutions, dental workflows, digital dental education, digital dental laboratory, digital dental revolution, digital dental solutions, digital dentistry, digital dentistry podcast, digital design solutions, digital impressions, digital lab, digital manufacturing, digital prosthetics, digital restoration design, digital solutions, digital tools, digital transformation, digital workflows, emerging technology, exocad, exocad america, exocad community, exocad ecosystem, exocad innovations, exocad insights, exocad training, exocad users, exocad users meeting, exohub, freeform design, future of dentistry, future-ready dentistry, industry insights, industry leaders, industry networking, innovation in dentistry, intraoral scanning, josh jackson, lab technology, lab-to-clinic communication, laboratory best practices, laboratory conversations, laboratory digital transformation., laboratory education, laboratory education and training, laboratory efficiency, laboratory excellence, laboratory growth, laboratory innovation, laboratory management, laboratory operations, laboratory perspective, laboratory productivity, laboratory support, laboratory technicians, laboratory technology, laboratory technology trends, mallorca, mallorca conference, modern dental laboratory, modern dentistry, next generation dentistry, podcast, production laboratory, production workflows, professional development, restorative dentistry, restorative technology, restorative workflows, robert norton, software development, software flexibility, technician education, technician insights, technician perspective, technician training, technician-led innovation, technology adoption, technology and dentistry, technology in dentistry, vftb, voices from the bench, workflow automation, workflow improvements, workflow integration, workflow optimization, workflow technology

While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb catch up with Beth Collington, President of Exocad America, to discuss the continued growth of digital dentistry, the importance of education, and how Exocad is helping make digital workflows more accessible across the industry.

Then Josh Jackson and Robert Norton join the conversation to share insights from the lab and training side of Exocad. From AI Crown and Crown Finalization to creative applications beyond dentistry, they discuss the latest innovations, real-world workflows, and where digital technology is taking the profession next.

428: exocad Insights 2026 Part 2: Pinhas Adar, Javier Perez Lopez, & Dora Rodrigues

June 8th, 2026  |  1 hr 4 mins

advanced dentistry, advanced workflow, aesthetic cases, aesthetics, analog artistry, analog skills, analog workflow, arkansas, artistry, atlanta, bite adjustment, cad/cam, ceramics, ceramist, certified trainer, chairside conversion, collaboration, continuing education, conversions, craftsmanship, custom prosthetics, customization, dental accuracy, dental artistry, dental cad, dental collaboration, dental communication, dental community, dental craftsmanship, dental design, dental education, dental events, dental excellence, dental family, dental future, dental industry, dental innovation, dental innovation summit, dental inspiration, dental lab, dental laboratory, dental leadership, dental materials, dental mentors, dental milling, dental networking, dental passion, dental passion project, dental philosophy, dental podcast, dental software, dental speakers, dental support, dental symposium, dental technician, dental technology, dental workflows, digital dentistry, digital evolution, digital impressions, digital lab, digital solutions, digital technician, digital tools, digital workflow, dts, education, education platform, esthetic dentistry, exocad, exocad insights, exocad trainer, fixed prosthetics, friendship, full arch, full arch workflow, full mouth restoration, global dentistry, hands-on courses, high-end dentistry, high-end restorations, human connection, implant bridge, implant cases, implant dentistry, implant planning, implant prosthetics, implant retained prosthetics, implant workflow, in-house milling, innovation, inspiration, international speakers, intraoral scanner, io connect, lab life, lab management, lab owner, lab technician, lab workflow, laboratory education, learning, learning environment, lectures, legacy, london, mallorca, mentorship, milling, milling center, milling machine, modern dentistry, networking, new jersey, no-prep veneers, occlusion, oral design, oral rehabilitation, partial cad, passion, passive fit, photogrammetry, pink porcelain, portugal, precision dentistry, precision fit, problem solving, prosthetic design, prosthetics, removable prosthetics, restorative dentistry, restorative design, restorative excellence, restorative materials, restorative workflow, screw-retained prosthetics, seoul symposium, sharing knowledge, smile design, spain, split bar, split file, switzerland, teaching, teamwork, teamwork culture, teamwork dentistry, technician community, technician life, technician respect, technician training, technology integration, titanium bars, trainer, trento memorial, veneers, voices from the bench, willi geller, workflow efficiency, workflow integration, workflow optimization, zirconia, zirconia bridge, zirconia workflow

At exocad Insights 2026, we talk with members of Oral Design International Foundation, Pinhas Adar and Javier Perez Lopez about the lasting legacy of Willi Geller and the importance of passion, mentorship, and community in dental technology. Then Dora Rodrigues shares her journey into advanced digital workflows, becoming a certified exocad trainer, and teaching full-arch dentistry around the world.

426: DLAT 2026 Part 3 with Tiffany Prater, Sydney Ribera, Marlin Gohn

May 25th, 2026  |  1 hr 2 mins

acrylic, acrylic designs, acrylic pouring, aesthetic dentistry, analog dentistry, anterior crowns, argen, bonding, cad/cam, calibration, cantonese, conference lectures, continuing education, crown aesthetics, crown failures, crown milling, crown retention, custom retainers, dental artistry, dental assisting, dental business, dental cad, dental cements, dental collaboration, dental community, dental conference, dental craftsmanship, dental creativity, dental digital transformation, dental education, dental equipment, dental finishing, dental frameworks, dental future, dental humor, dental industry, dental innovation, dental lab, dental lab podcast, dental labs in china, dental lectures, dental manufacturing, dental materials, dental materials science, dental mentors, dental mentorship, dental milling, dental networking, dental podcast, dental presentations, dental regulations, dental stories, dental support, dental technician, dental technicians, dental technology, dental technology trends, dental troubleshooting, dental workflow, digital dentistry, digital dentures, digital workflow, dlat, easyrx, entrepreneurship, fda, full arch zirconia, furnaces, glow in the dark acrylic, gradient translucency, gt zirconia, guangzhou, hands-on learning, hawley retainers, hygiene school, implant crowns, implant dentistry, implant platforms, incisal translucency, industry trends, invisalign, jbc acrylics, lab efficiency, lab life, lab management, lab owner, lab technology, laser welder, laser welding, mandarin, mentorship, milled gold crowns, milling burs, milling machines, milling strategies, multilayer zirconia, nesting, nesting supports, occlusion, org, ortho community, ortho tech, orthodontic appliances, orthodontic conference, orthodontic creativity, orthodontic education, orthodontic lab, orthodontic mentorship, orthodontic resource group, orthodontic retainers, orthodontic workflow, orthodontics, pfm, polishing, porcelain fused to metal, posterior crowns, primers, printed dentures, printed models, private labs, private practice, public speaking, restorative dentistry, retainers, saline cleaning, selective laser melting, sintering, slm, small business, soldering, texas freeze, tie-dye retainers, training, translators, translucency, vendor booths, voices from the bench, wire bending, zirconia, zirconia crowns, zirconia discs

At the 2026 DLAT meeting, Tiffany Prater and Sydney Ribera talk about mentorship, orthodontic lab work, and blending creativity with today’s digital workflows. Then Marlin Gohn from Argen shares insights on new zirconia technology, milling strategies, and what labs around the world are doing to stay ahead.

425: DLAT 2026 Part 2 with Tony Aliatim, Rebekah Serrago, Chris Wilson, Antoine Coppens, & Christian Saurman

May 18th, 2026  |  1 hr 13 mins

3d printed models, 3d printing, 3shape, ai calibration, ai dentistry, ai design, ai learning, ai scan analysis, ai workflow, aligners, amann girrbach, apis, artificial intelligence, automated design, automated workflows, axis dental, barcoding, biomedical engineering, cad/cam, calibration, cam software, cbct, ceo, chairside milling, clinicians, cloud workflow, crown design, ct scan, custom solutions, customer support, customization, dental ai, dental ai software, dental automation, dental business, dental business growth, dental cad, dental community, dental conversations, dental conversations podcast, dental craftsmanship, dental culture, dental e-commerce, dental education, dental engineering, dental entrepreneurship, dental equipment repair, dental excellence, dental future, dental implants, dental industry, dental innovation, dental innovation podcast, dental lab, dental lab technician, dental labs, dental manufacturing, dental materials, dental milling, dental nerds, dental networking, dental ovens, dental parts, dental podcast, dental prescriptions, dental printing, dental repairs, dental scanners, dental scanning, dental service, dental service center, dental software, dental support, dental systems, dental technician, dental technology, dental tools, dental trends, dental workflow, design presets, detroit, digital cases, digital dentistry, digital impressions, digital lab, digital manufacturing, digital models, digital orthodontics, digital transformation, digital workflows, dlat, doctor portal, e.max, engineering, engineering solutions, equipment service, exocad, family business, fda compliance, fda validation, future of dentistry, garland dental, handpiece repair, hyperdent, implant abutments, implant crowns, implant milling, implant workflow, in-house lab, industrial milling, intraoral scanner, invisalign, lab automation, lab efficiency, lab equipment, lab growth, lab life, lab management software, lab operations, lab productivity, lab solutions, lab systems, lab workflow, lms, lmt chicago, machine learning, mandibular canal, manufacturing technology, margin lines, michigan, midwinter meeting, milling, milling accuracy, milling burs, milling centers, milling machines, milling tools, modjaw, mri, neolab, nesting software, new england orthodontic laboratory, night guards, online dental sales, orthodontic appliances, orthodontic lab, orthodontics, ovens, panoramic radiograph, pediatric dentistry, plug and play, pmma, pnp, preventive maintenance, production workflow, productivity, relu, repair technicians, repeatability, resin printing, restorative dentistry, robotic surgery, roland, rxwizard, scan alignment, scan quality, segmentation, silicone printing, smart mills, social media marketing, splints, stem cells, stl files, stl workflow, straumann, surgical guides, surgical planning, takema, tech support, technician workflow, tissue printing, titanium, trade shows, training, validated workflows, versamill, vhf, voices from the bench, women in dentistry, workflow automation, workflow efficiency, workflow integration, workflow optimization, workflow solutions, zirconia, zirconia crowns

At the Dental Laboratory Association of Texas Meeting 2026, Elvis and Barb sat down with Tony Aliatim from Axis Dental Milling, Rebekah Serrago and Chris Wilson from Garland Dental Services, and Antoine Coppens from Relu alongside orthodontic lab owner Christian Saurman from New England Orthodontic Laboratory. The conversations covered everything from industrial dental milling and equipment repair to AI-driven workflows that are changing how labs design and manufacture restorations. From preventive maintenance and milling strategies to fully automated AI design systems, this episode is packed with insight into where dental technology — and the lab industry — is headed next.

424: DLAT 2026 Part 1: Ortho Outlaws and Vulcanite Veterans with Jason Dyas & Jim Collis

May 11th, 2026  |  1 hr 16 mins

3d printing, 3shape, 3shape automate, aao, acrylic dentures, acrylic work, additive manufacturing, ai dentistry, ai design, ai orthodontics, ai workflow, analog dentistry, aos wire bender, appliance fabrication, articulators, automated design, automated wire bending, bay area, bench grinder, bridge design, build plate, california, cdt, certified dental technician, chicago midwinter, cloud storage, clyde, collins dental consulting, construction work, crown and bridge, crown and bridge technician, crown design, crozats, dental archives, dental artistry, dental automation, dental branding, dental cad, dental cam, dental collaboration, dental community, dental conferences, dental consulting, dental content creator, dental craftsmanship, dental design, dental education, dental education courses, dental entrepreneurship, dental equipment, dental equipment reviews, dental evolution, dental future, dental history, dental humor, dental industry, dental influencer, dental innovation, dental innovation community, dental instructors, dental lab, dental legacy, dental manufacturing, dental materials, dental mentorship, dental photography, dental podcast, dental printers, dental printing setup, dental r&d, dental reviews, dental safety, dental sales, dental scanning services, dental school, dental software, dental stories, dental teamwork, dental technician, dental technicians, dental technology, dental trade show, dental troubleshooting, dental videos, dental workflow, dental youtube, denture design, denture printing, denture repairs, denture workflow, dentures, desktop scanner, digital adoption, digital dentistry, digital dentures, digital lab, digital learning, digital models, digital ortho pros, digital orthodontics, digital scanning, digital transition, digital workflow, dlat, dlat 2026, dremel, dreve, entrepreneur, exocad, facebook, fax marketing, fep screen, fishing, frozen printer, future of dental labs, future of dentures, future of orthodontics, gaming generation, garage lab, germany, golf, hands-on course, harley davidson, harvest materials, hawley retainers, ids, implant dentistry, implant restorations, impressions, industry veteran, influencer marketing, instagram, jackson magnets, jason dyas, jim collis, knoxville, lab burnout, lab consulting, lab craftsmanship, lab culture, lab day west, lab management, lab networking, lab owner, lab startup, lab stories, lab technology, lab workflow, laser welder, linkedin, lodi, magnet overdentures, modern dental lab, monomer, naturalized denture bases, next generation labs, non-alcohol cleaner, northern california, online learning, order forms, org, ortho appliances, ortho lab, ortho outlaw, ortho technology, orthodontic appliances, orthodontic community, orthodontic lab, orthodontic lab pros, orthodontic lab solutions, orthodontic meetings, orthodontic resource group, orthodontics, orthodontists, photogrammetry, podcast guest, porcelain teeth, pre-magnets, print calibration, printer camera, printing resins, product reviews, removable dentistry, removable lab, removable prosthetics, resin heating, resin odors, resin printing, rhino cleaner, roi, sacramento, scanning, seo, social media marketing, social media merch, sonic xl, startup lab, stl files, stockton, stone models, storage sheds, study model scanning, sunstone laser welders, technology adoption, technology in dentistry, tennessee, traditional dental lab, transmandibular implants, triton college, trucking, voices from the bench, vulcanite dentures, wash and cure, wash station, wayne zaruba, wire bender, wire bending, workflow optimization, younger technicians, youtube education, youtube videos

Live from DLAT, this episode features two incredible conversations with Jason Dyas and Jim Collis. Jason shares how Ortho Outlaw grew from a garage ortho lab into a social-media-driven tech platform focused on digital workflows and wire-bending technology, while Jim reflects on 45 years in dental technology, teaching digital dentures, 3D printing, and the evolution from Vulcanite dentures all the way to photogrammetry.