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    <fireside:genDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:29:24 +0000</fireside:genDate>
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    <title>Voices from The Bench - Episodes Tagged with “Dental Trends”</title>
    <link>https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/tags/dental%20trends</link>
    <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <description>A weekly podcast dedicated to the dental laboratory industry. Featuring anyone associated with the profession from all over the world. Host are in their own dental laboratory every day making teeth and interviewing people from the industry on their time off. New episodes every Monday morning.</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:subtitle>A Dental Laboratory Podcast</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Elvis Dahl &amp; Barb Warner</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>A weekly podcast dedicated to the dental laboratory industry. Featuring anyone associated with the profession from all over the world. Host are in their own dental laboratory every day making teeth and interviewing people from the industry on their time off. New episodes every Monday morning.</itunes:summary>
    <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/e7665600-2cb9-4cb2-b0ba-2eada9f69007/cover.jpg?v=3"/>
    <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
    <itunes:keywords>Dental Laboratory, Dentistry, Removable, Fixed, Crowns, teeth, technicians, CDT, dentures, partials, mills, printers, dentist, zirconia, emax</itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Elvis Dahl &amp; Barb Warner</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>info@voicesfromthebench.com</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
<itunes:category text="Health &amp; Fitness">
  <itunes:category text="Medicine"/>
</itunes:category>
<itunes:category text="Science">
  <itunes:category text="Life Sciences"/>
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  <title>Episode 431: exocad Insights 2026 Part 5: Beth Collington, Josh Jakson, &amp; Robert Norton</title>
  <link>https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/431</link>
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  <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Elvis Dahl &amp; Barb Warner</author>
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  <itunes:episode>431</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>exocad Insights 2026 Part 5: Beth Collington, Josh Jakson, &amp; Robert Norton</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Elvis Dahl &amp; Barb Warner</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>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.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>56:10</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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  <description>&lt;h3&gt;Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with &lt;a href="https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Ivoclar&lt;/a&gt;. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new &lt;a href="https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-processes/ips-e.max-zircad" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;IPS Emax Zirconia&lt;/a&gt; offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow.&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;hr&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;At exocad Insights in beautiful Mallorca, we finally caught up with Felix from &lt;a href="https://www.imagineusa.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Imagine USA&lt;/a&gt;—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.&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb sit down with &lt;strong&gt;Beth Collington&lt;/strong&gt;, President of&lt;a href="https://exocad.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt; Exocad&lt;/a&gt; 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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Then &lt;strong&gt;Josh Jakson&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Robert Norton&lt;/strong&gt; 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.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>exocad, exocad insights, Mallorca, digital dentistry, dental laboratory, dental lab, dental technology, dental technician, CAD design, CAD/CAM, dental CAD, dental software, dental workflows, digital workflows, dental education, laboratory education, dental innovation, dental technology trends, artificial intelligence, AI dentistry, AI crown, crown design, crown finalization, ExoHub, workflow automation, dental automation, restorative dentistry, dental restorations, crown and bridge, dental prosthetics, lab technology, dental manufacturing, production laboratory, dental design software, laboratory efficiency, dental scanning, intraoral scanning, digital impressions, dental design, dental technician training, exocad training, dental educators, laboratory support, dental solutions, workflow optimization, dental industry, laboratory management, digital transformation, dental future, emerging technology, dental professionals, clinicians, laboratory technicians, production workflows, custom restorations, dental innovation summit, industry insights, software development, dental engineering, CAD designer, dental technician life, laboratory operations, digital tools, technology adoption, workflow integration, dental community, continuing education, professional development, dental conference, Mallorca conference, exocad community, dental collaboration, laboratory excellence, crown production, digital manufacturing, 3D design, 3D modeling, dental craftsmanship, lab-to-clinic communication, technology in dentistry, future of dentistry, digital lab, dental discussion, podcast, Voices From the Bench, VFTB, Beth Collington, Josh Jackson, Robert Norton, Exocad America, dental leadership, software flexibility, freeform design, custom grills, dental jewelry, custom jewelry, creative CAD applications, automotive parts design, advanced workflows, dental software training, laboratory perspective, technician perspective, dental podcast, industry leaders, dental trends, modern dentistry, digital solutions, laboratory innovation, dental workflow management, AI in dental labs, digital restoration design, next generation dentistry, dental lab technology, CAD workflow, dental industry podcast, bench talk, laboratory conversations, dental expertise, dental business, technician education, dental software innovation, exocad users, dental design techniques, workflow improvements, dental technology education, laboratory growth, digital dental solutions, technician training, restorative workflows, dental CAD software, innovation in dentistry, dental lab future, technology and dentistry, dental laboratory podcast, digital dental revolution, exocad ecosystem, dental workflow efficiency, AI-powered design, digital dental laboratory, technician insights, dental software updates, industry networking, dental lab professionals, laboratory technology, digital dentistry podcast, dental technology conference, exocad users meeting, laboratory best practices, dental design innovation, dental CAD training, dental laboratory management, workflow technology, dental software experts, laboratory education and training, future-ready dentistry, digital dental education, AI-assisted dentistry, modern dental laboratory, dental industry leaders, dental technology experts, exocad innovations, dental CAD community, dental laboratory workflows, laboratory technology trends, digital design solutions, advanced dental technology, laboratory productivity, dental software platform, technician-led innovation, dental workflow solutions, digital prosthetics, restorative technology, dental CAD experts, dental manufacturing technology, laboratory digital transformation.</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<h3>Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with <a href="https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us" rel="nofollow noopener">Ivoclar</a>. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new <a href="https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-processes/ips-e.max-zircad" rel="nofollow noopener">IPS Emax Zirconia</a> offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow.</h3>

<hr>

<h3>At exocad Insights in beautiful Mallorca, we finally caught up with Felix from <a href="https://www.imagineusa.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Imagine USA</a>—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.</h3>

<p>While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb sit down with <strong>Beth Collington</strong>, President of<a href="https://exocad.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> Exocad</a> 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.</p>

<p>Then <strong>Josh Jakson</strong> and <strong>Robert Norton</strong> 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. </p><p>Special Guests: Beth Collington, Joshua Jakson, and Robert Norton.</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<h3>Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with <a href="https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us" rel="nofollow noopener">Ivoclar</a>. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new <a href="https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-processes/ips-e.max-zircad" rel="nofollow noopener">IPS Emax Zirconia</a> offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow.</h3>

<hr>

<h3>At exocad Insights in beautiful Mallorca, we finally caught up with Felix from <a href="https://www.imagineusa.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Imagine USA</a>—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.</h3>

<p>While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb sit down with <strong>Beth Collington</strong>, President of<a href="https://exocad.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> Exocad</a> 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.</p>

<p>Then <strong>Josh Jakson</strong> and <strong>Robert Norton</strong> 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. </p><p>Special Guests: Beth Collington, Joshua Jakson, and Robert Norton.</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>425: DLAT 2026 Part 2 with Tony Aliatim, Rebekah Serrago, Chris Wilson, Antoine Coppens, &amp; Christian Saurman</title>
  <link>https://www.voicesfromthebench.com/425</link>
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  <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Elvis Dahl &amp; Barb Warner</author>
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  <itunes:episode>425</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>DLAT 2026 Part 2 with Tony Aliatim, Rebekah Serrago, Chris Wilson, Antoine Coppens, &amp; Christian Saurman</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Elvis Dahl &amp; Barb Warner</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>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.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>1:13:59</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/e/e7665600-2cb9-4cb2-b0ba-2eada9f69007/episodes/b/bb155c3f-8aa3-424a-bc13-9233995fa98b/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;-&lt;br&gt;
This week at the &lt;a href="https://dlat.wildapricot.org/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Dental Laboratory Association of Texas&lt;/a&gt; Meeting 2026, the microphones stayed hot as three completely different conversations all circled around the same thing: how fast the dental lab industry is evolving. First up, the crew sat down with &lt;strong&gt;Tony Aliatim&lt;/strong&gt; from &lt;a href="https://axismilling.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Axis Dental Milling&lt;/a&gt; to talk about going from biomedical engineering and printing silicone heart models for surgeons… to becoming one of the go-to names in dental milling. From industrial machining roots in Michigan to AI-powered calibration systems and Straumann plug-and-play workflows, Tony breaks down how VersaMill machines are helping labs mill everything from zirconia to implant abutments faster, smarter, and safer. Along the way, the conversation dives into HyperDent, trade show madness, wet vs dry milling nightmares, and why dental technicians may not realize how close this industry really is to aerospace-level manufacturing.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Then things shifted from mills to maintenance with &lt;strong&gt;Rebekah Serrago&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Chris Wilson&lt;/strong&gt; from &lt;a href="https://garlanddental.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Garland Dental Services&lt;/a&gt;. What started decades ago as a garage-based repair business fixing handpieces has grown into one of the industry’s best-kept secrets for equipment sales, service, and support. Rebekah shares the story of growing up folding flyers for her father’s repair company before eventually becoming CEO and expanding Garland into a massive online sales and service operation supporting everything from ovens to mills. Chris joins in to talk preventative maintenance, service certifications, keeping ancient ovens alive, and why labs desperately need dealers that actually understand the equipment they sell. It’s equal parts family-business story, repair shop wisdom, and hilarious behind-the-scenes dental lab banter.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Finally, the future officially arrived when the podcast crew sat down with &lt;strong&gt;Antoine Coppens&lt;/strong&gt; from &lt;a href="https://www.relu.ai/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Relu&lt;/a&gt; and orthodontic lab owner &lt;strong&gt;Christian Saurman&lt;/strong&gt; of &lt;a href="https://neolab.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;New England Orthodontic Laboratory&lt;/a&gt;. What started as four engineering students experimenting with AI in Belgium somehow turned into fully automated dental workflows capable of designing surgical guides, night guards, models, and restorations in minutes. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping lab workflows, reducing manual design time, integrating directly into LMS systems, and even learning individual lab preferences. Christian explains how his custom-built orthodontic lab management system helped eliminate workflow chaos and automate huge portions of production, while Antoine gives a fascinating look into where dental AI is headed next. Between AI-generated appliances, automated scan checks, and self-learning workflows, this episode feels less like science fiction and more like a preview of what labs will look like over the next five years. Special Guests: Antoine Coppens, Chris Wilson, Christian Saurman, Rebekah Serrago, and Tony Aliatim.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>DLAT, dental lab, dental technology, Voices From the Bench, Axis Dental, VersaMill, Garland Dental, Relu, AI dentistry, milling, dental milling, zirconia, PMMA, titanium, implant abutments, Straumann, Modjaw, HyperDent, exocad, 3Shape, CAD/CAM, dental CAD, CAM software, dental AI, artificial intelligence, lab automation, digital dentistry, dental workflow, milling machines, industrial milling, preventive maintenance, dental equipment repair, handpiece repair, ovens, dental ovens, VHF, Roland, Amann Girrbach, Takema, dental service, dental technician, dental lab technician, dental podcast, lab management software, LMS, RxWizard, orthodontics, orthodontic lab, New England Orthodontic Laboratory, NeoLab, surgical guides, intraoral scanner, CBCT, panoramic radiograph, STL files, workflow automation, dental innovation, implant workflow, implant crowns, milling burs, dental materials, e.max, zirconia crowns, night guards, splints, digital workflows, lab efficiency, dental manufacturing, AI design, automated design, dental software, 3D printing, biomedical engineering, MRI, CT scan, silicone printing, tissue printing, stem cells, engineering, Detroit, Michigan, trade shows, LMT Chicago, Midwinter Meeting, dental scanners, digital models, nesting software, dental implants, FDA validation, plug and play, PNP, milling accuracy, repeatability, calibration, AI calibration, smart mills, clinicians, chairside milling, in-house lab, lab workflow, digital lab, dental innovation, restorative dentistry, orthodontic appliances, aligners, Invisalign, robotic surgery, segmentation, mandibular canal, surgical planning, dental scanning, scan quality, AI scan analysis, crown design, margin lines, digital cases, dental automation, dental manufacturing, workflow integration, APIs, cloud workflow, design presets, doctor portal, dental prescriptions, barcoding, production workflow, lab systems, customization, technician workflow, dental support, customer support, repair technicians, equipment service, lab solutions, dental education, dental industry, dental conversations, dental business, family business, women in dentistry, CEO, online dental sales, social media marketing, dental e-commerce, dental parts, dental tools, milling tools, resin printing, 3D printed models, dental printing, digital orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, workflow optimization, lab growth, future of dentistry, dental engineering, dental nerds, dental innovation podcast, dental community, dental networking, dental trends, dental future, lab operations, manufacturing technology, dental entrepreneurship, dental repairs, lab equipment, workflow efficiency, digital transformation, dental AI software, AI workflow, automated workflows, dental labs, lab life, dental culture, tech support, training, engineering solutions, custom solutions, implant milling, digital impressions, STL workflow, scan alignment, AI learning, machine learning, customization, productivity, dental business growth, workflow solutions, dental service center, milling centers, validated workflows, FDA compliance, lab productivity, dental systems, digital manufacturing, dental excellence, dental craftsmanship, dental conversations podcast</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>-<br>
This week at the <a href="https://dlat.wildapricot.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Dental Laboratory Association of Texas</a> Meeting 2026, the microphones stayed hot as three completely different conversations all circled around the same thing: how fast the dental lab industry is evolving. First up, the crew sat down with <strong>Tony Aliatim</strong> from <a href="https://axismilling.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Axis Dental Milling</a> to talk about going from biomedical engineering and printing silicone heart models for surgeons… to becoming one of the go-to names in dental milling. From industrial machining roots in Michigan to AI-powered calibration systems and Straumann plug-and-play workflows, Tony breaks down how VersaMill machines are helping labs mill everything from zirconia to implant abutments faster, smarter, and safer. Along the way, the conversation dives into HyperDent, trade show madness, wet vs dry milling nightmares, and why dental technicians may not realize how close this industry really is to aerospace-level manufacturing.</p>

<p>Then things shifted from mills to maintenance with <strong>Rebekah Serrago</strong> and <strong>Chris Wilson</strong> from <a href="https://garlanddental.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Garland Dental Services</a>. What started decades ago as a garage-based repair business fixing handpieces has grown into one of the industry’s best-kept secrets for equipment sales, service, and support. Rebekah shares the story of growing up folding flyers for her father’s repair company before eventually becoming CEO and expanding Garland into a massive online sales and service operation supporting everything from ovens to mills. Chris joins in to talk preventative maintenance, service certifications, keeping ancient ovens alive, and why labs desperately need dealers that actually understand the equipment they sell. It’s equal parts family-business story, repair shop wisdom, and hilarious behind-the-scenes dental lab banter.</p>

<p>Finally, the future officially arrived when the podcast crew sat down with <strong>Antoine Coppens</strong> from <a href="https://www.relu.ai/" rel="nofollow noopener">Relu</a> and orthodontic lab owner <strong>Christian Saurman</strong> of <a href="https://neolab.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">New England Orthodontic Laboratory</a>. What started as four engineering students experimenting with AI in Belgium somehow turned into fully automated dental workflows capable of designing surgical guides, night guards, models, and restorations in minutes. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping lab workflows, reducing manual design time, integrating directly into LMS systems, and even learning individual lab preferences. Christian explains how his custom-built orthodontic lab management system helped eliminate workflow chaos and automate huge portions of production, while Antoine gives a fascinating look into where dental AI is headed next. Between AI-generated appliances, automated scan checks, and self-learning workflows, this episode feels less like science fiction and more like a preview of what labs will look like over the next five years.</p><p>Special Guests: Antoine Coppens, Chris Wilson, Christian Saurman, Rebekah Serrago, and Tony Aliatim.</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>-<br>
This week at the <a href="https://dlat.wildapricot.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Dental Laboratory Association of Texas</a> Meeting 2026, the microphones stayed hot as three completely different conversations all circled around the same thing: how fast the dental lab industry is evolving. First up, the crew sat down with <strong>Tony Aliatim</strong> from <a href="https://axismilling.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Axis Dental Milling</a> to talk about going from biomedical engineering and printing silicone heart models for surgeons… to becoming one of the go-to names in dental milling. From industrial machining roots in Michigan to AI-powered calibration systems and Straumann plug-and-play workflows, Tony breaks down how VersaMill machines are helping labs mill everything from zirconia to implant abutments faster, smarter, and safer. Along the way, the conversation dives into HyperDent, trade show madness, wet vs dry milling nightmares, and why dental technicians may not realize how close this industry really is to aerospace-level manufacturing.</p>

<p>Then things shifted from mills to maintenance with <strong>Rebekah Serrago</strong> and <strong>Chris Wilson</strong> from <a href="https://garlanddental.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Garland Dental Services</a>. What started decades ago as a garage-based repair business fixing handpieces has grown into one of the industry’s best-kept secrets for equipment sales, service, and support. Rebekah shares the story of growing up folding flyers for her father’s repair company before eventually becoming CEO and expanding Garland into a massive online sales and service operation supporting everything from ovens to mills. Chris joins in to talk preventative maintenance, service certifications, keeping ancient ovens alive, and why labs desperately need dealers that actually understand the equipment they sell. It’s equal parts family-business story, repair shop wisdom, and hilarious behind-the-scenes dental lab banter.</p>

<p>Finally, the future officially arrived when the podcast crew sat down with <strong>Antoine Coppens</strong> from <a href="https://www.relu.ai/" rel="nofollow noopener">Relu</a> and orthodontic lab owner <strong>Christian Saurman</strong> of <a href="https://neolab.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">New England Orthodontic Laboratory</a>. What started as four engineering students experimenting with AI in Belgium somehow turned into fully automated dental workflows capable of designing surgical guides, night guards, models, and restorations in minutes. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping lab workflows, reducing manual design time, integrating directly into LMS systems, and even learning individual lab preferences. Christian explains how his custom-built orthodontic lab management system helped eliminate workflow chaos and automate huge portions of production, while Antoine gives a fascinating look into where dental AI is headed next. Between AI-generated appliances, automated scan checks, and self-learning workflows, this episode feels less like science fiction and more like a preview of what labs will look like over the next five years.</p><p>Special Guests: Antoine Coppens, Chris Wilson, Christian Saurman, Rebekah Serrago, and Tony Aliatim.</p>]]>
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