According to Dr. Ed McLaren, “Of all the zirconia’s he's tested, the optical properties of Ivoclar’s e.max zirconia are the closest to natural teeth.” (And I second that with everything I’ve see – if Barb does the read)

Discover what’s redefining the possibilities with IPS e.max Zirconia.

Join Dr. Ed McLaren for Zirconia Reimagined—an informative webinar exploring the latest advancements, clinical insights, and practical applications of zirconia in modern dentistry.

October 5th @ 7:00 pm. Register today at Vivalearning.com

As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one.

This week we head across the pond to Leeds, England, for a conversation with Phil Reddington of Beever Dental Technology lab. Phil’s journey into dental technology is one of those stories that sounds completely made up until you hear him tell it. At 15 years old, Phil skipped school, wandered into a dental laboratory, and convinced them to give him a bench test. Armed with a scalpel and a bar of soap, he carved an ornate little bottle and somehow impressed them enough to land himself a job. From that accidental introduction to dentistry, Phil has spent more than 35 years learning, building, and evolving in the dental laboratory world.

Phil takes us through his early days working in the lab, learning ceramics and refractory techniques, and eventually taking over his own laboratory. As offshore competition began putting pressure on lab pricing, Phil and his wife made a conscious decision not to compete by simply becoming cheaper. Instead, they invested in equipment, education, and relationships with dentists who wanted to provide high-quality restorative and implant dentistry. That philosophy eventually helped transform the laboratory and allowed Phil to focus on doing the best work possible rather than chasing the lowest price.

A huge part of Phil’s story is the team he has built around him. We talk about what happens when a laboratory develops a blame culture, why people leave toxic work environments, and how changing that culture can completely change a business. Phil shares his approach to hiring for attitude, creating an environment where people can learn from mistakes, bringing educators into the lab for customized training, and giving his team opportunities to grow. He also talks about remaining fiercely independent when it comes to materials and techniques, allowing different technicians to use the systems that work best for them rather than becoming tied to a single manufacturer.

The conversation also dives deep into the technical side of the laboratory, including digital workflows, full-arch restorations, printed try-ins, implant solutions, and the different full-arch options Phil’s team provides. One of the highlights is the laboratory’s work with thimble bars, a restoration they have become known for and one that Phil considers their premium full-arch product. With a focus on repairability and long-term service, the lab even offers a lifetime guarantee on their thimble bar cases.

We also get into the business side of running a laboratory, including marketing through social media and word of mouth, setting realistic turnaround times, knowing when to say no to a case, and the importance of getting the information needed before starting a restoration. Phil explains why sometimes saying “no” is actually one of the most valuable tools a laboratory can have.

Dental lab owners and managers — are you spending too much time chasing paperwork, checking portals, tracking cases, and answering doctors asking, “Is my crown done yet?”

You didn’t start a dental lab to become a full-time paperwork wrangler. LabNCloud is the all-in-one, cloud-based platform built by techs, for techs, with 90+ features to streamline your entire lab — from case tracking and invoicing to shipping, time tracking, doctor portals, and automatic digital file routing.

Stop managing chaos and start managing your lab. Visit LabNCloud.com to book your free personalized demo. And mention “Elvis is Handsome” to get your first month free.

LabNCloud — the operating system for dental labs. Built by techs, for techs.

Hey, listeners—ever wonder what Elvis is doing when he’s not recording Voices from the Bench?

He’s a client rep for Derby Dental Laboratory, out in the field every day doing chairside visits and building relationships. His job is simple—keep doctors happy and keep them coming back.

And he couldn’t do it without icortica.

Right from his phone, Elvis can see sales, remake rates, account notes, risks, and cross-sell opportunities—even before he walks through the door. No spreadsheets. No surprises. Just the info he needs to grow accounts.

Stop digging for data and start taking action.

Head to icortica.com and schedule your demo today.

Special Guest: Phil Reddington.

At exocad Insights in beautiful Mallorca, we finally caught up with Felix from Imagine USA—and the timing couldn’t have been better. As an exocad dealer on the front lines of digital dentistry, Felix shared his excitement about the strong turnout, the familiar faces, and most importantly, the innovation coming from exocad. What stood out most? The new exocad Hub and its cloud-based capabilities, along with powerful AI-driven tools inside DentalDB designed for efficient batch processing. For Felix and the Imagine team, it’s not just about seeing what’s new—it’s about putting it to the test. By running new features through their own production facility first, they ensure real-world performance before bringing solutions to their customers.

While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb sit down with Beth Collington, President of Exocad America, to talk about the growth of digital dentistry and how Exocad continues to evolve to meet the needs of technicians, laboratories, and clinicians. Beth shares her thoughts on education, accessibility, and the importance of creating tools that help bring more people into digital workflows while maintaining the flexibility that has made Exocad a favorite throughout the industry.

Then Josh Jakson and Robert Norton join the podcast to discuss their roles as Exocad educators, trainers, and laboratory professionals. The conversation covers some of the biggest announcements from Exocad Insights, including AI Crown, Crown Finalization, and ExoHub, and what these developments could mean for the future of laboratory workflows. They also share how real-world production experience influences the way they teach, why Exocad's flexibility remains one of its greatest strengths, and how the software is being used for everything from high-volume crown production to custom grills, jewelry, and even automotive parts. It's a fun conversation filled with practical insight, industry perspective, and a glimpse into where digital dentistry is headed next.

Special Guests: Beth Collington, Joshua Jakson, and Robert Norton.