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.

Join us at the Race For the Future 12 to raise money for the Foundation For Dental Laborary Technology. September 27th in Valley View, Texas!

https://dentallabfoundation.org/news-events/race-for-the-future/

Shawn Nowak from Nowak Dental Supplies joins Elvis and Barb to talk all things NOLA LabFest October 15-17th, including the welcome addition to the speaker lineup: martial arts instructor and business coach Jude Grayson. After Jude’s keynote at last year’s LabFest, the response was strong enough to bring him back for another keynote and a breakout session. The conversation starts with the obvious question: what the heck does a karate instructor know about the dental laboratory industry?

As Jude explains, quite a bit. Having practiced martial arts since he was five years old and built a career around teaching, competition, entrepreneurship, and business coaching, Jude draws a surprising number of parallels between martial arts and business. He talks about discipline, competition, confidence, risk, and his “five-year-old board break moment”—the idea that sometimes the ability to succeed is already inside us, and the right coach simply helps unlock it. He also explains how those lessons translate into working with business owners and helping them recognize opportunities they may not see themselves.

The conversation then turns toward one of the biggest challenges facing dental laboratories today: knowing when it’s time to pivot. With technology, AI, 3D printing, changing doctor workflows, and the evolving DSO landscape continuing to reshape the industry, Jude’s NOLA LabFest keynote will focus on how business owners can recognize when change is necessary, decide when to act, and understand the risks that come with being an early adopter. He also shares some great perspective on failure, competition, and why making a bad business decision doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost—the real loss comes when you stop competing altogether.

Shawn also gives us a look at what else is happening at NOLA LabFest, including education on AI, social media marketing, employee culture, DSOs, and other topics affecting dental laboratories right now. And, of course, there’s plenty of the NOLA LabFest fun mixed in, from the masquerade party and distillery tour to the return of Family Feud. It’s a conversation about business, leadership, taking risks, and finding ways to keep dental laboratories moving forward—and it all starts with a karate instructor walking into a dental show.

Special Guests: Jude Grayson and Shawn Nowak.

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.Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership.

Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership.

But this conversation goes far beyond Matt's career. His book, The Invisible Profession, explores how the dental laboratory industry arrived at a place where technicians and laboratories are often undervalued, pushed into price competition, and expected to simply keep their heads down and produce. Matt shares his thoughts on the "million little things" that shaped the industry, the danger of becoming a "busy fool," and why laboratories need to stop competing solely on price and start becoming known for the value, expertise, and partnership they bring to the dental team. Elvis, Barb, and Matt also talk about the changing landscape of digital dentistry, AI, 3D printing, speed, service, and why the labs that embrace change and remain agile will be the ones positioned for the future. It's an honest, thought-provoking, and ultimately optimistic conversation about where the dental laboratory profession has been, where it is today, and where it can go next.

Special Guest: Matt Everatt.

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 finally get to sit down with someone we've been talking about ever since meeting him at exocad Insights in Spain—Felix Chung from Imagine USA. What starts as the story of a kid who dreamed of becoming an astronaut quickly turns into one of the most fascinating journeys in digital dentistry. From researching zero gravity at NASA to trimming models in his uncle's dental lab (a job he absolutely hated), Felix shares how an aerospace engineering degree unexpectedly became the perfect foundation for helping shape the digital lab industry.

Felix takes us through the early days of Imagine, back when it was known as iMilling, explaining how a brand-new 3Shape scanner, a lot of late-night research, and a willingness to take risks led him to become one of the pioneers of custom implant abutments and titanium bars. He opens up about betting everything on a quarter-million-dollar milling machine that barely worked, buying his uncle out of the business, and how meeting Jordan Greenberg completely changed the trajectory of the company. It's a story full of huge risks, bigger lessons, and the determination it takes to build something from the ground up.

The conversation dives deep into the evolution of digital dentistry as Felix explains how Imagine expanded from a milling center into one of the industry's leading providers of CAD/CAM solutions, Exocad, HyperDENT, scanners, mills, and technical support. He shares why hiring great people has always been more important than selling great products, how the industry has shifted between outsourcing and in-house production over the last fifteen years, and why supporting laboratories through every technological change remains the company's biggest priority.

We also spend plenty of time talking implants as Felix tells the incredible story behind the Mist implant component line, how a relationship with the United States Navy helped launch the brand, and how partnerships with companies like Keystone and SIC are helping bring better, more affordable restorative solutions to laboratories. Along the way, we discuss OEM versus compatible components, the ever-changing implant landscape, and what's next for Imagine—including new implant systems and a patent-pending angled custom abutment solution that could change how labs manufacture restorations in-house. If you enjoy hearing how innovation, perseverance, and a little bit of luck can transform an entire career, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Special Guest: Felix Chung.

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.

Fresh off the beaches and lectures of the beautiful island of Mallorca at the exocad Insights 2026 , Elvis and Barb sat down with three incredible women proving that digital dentistry is global, creative, and fueled by passion. First up is Andreea Bordea, a ceramist and lab owner originally from Romania who found her way into dental technology after narrowly missing acceptance into dental school. From analog waxing and staining zirconia with a single A2 shade to opening her own lab in Spain and building a digital workflow around exocad, Andreea shares the journey of learning everything the hard way. She talks about teaching herself digital dentistry, building a team, and how social media unexpectedly became her outlet while working alone in her lab. The conversation also dives into Ivoclar materials, zirconia, and the excitement around new products launched at Insights.

Then the microphones turn to Denisse Ramos from for one of the most energetic conversations of the event. Denisse talks about her journey from Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Coca-Cola into the dental industry, eventually becoming a major force in digital workflows, 3D printing, and equipment sales. From Dentsply to Desktop Health and now leading sales at New Stetic USA, Denisse shares stories about mentorship, industry evolution, women in dentistry, and why labs need to charge for their expertise. We all talk about the rise of digital dentistry, treatment planning frustrations, social media, the future of dentures, and the importance of giving back through organizations like Ladies of the Mill and the NADL.

Finally, Elvis met Daniela Torres, better known online as “Danny Designer,” a digital designer from Chile whose Instagram portfolio turned into a thriving business. Daniela explains how she taught herself exocad through YouTube before traveling to Madrid for advanced training, eventually working at the MOD Institute in South Carolina before returning to Chile to build her own remote design business. From designing full arch restorations and dentures to handling dozens of cases a day entirely through email and WhatsApp, Daniela proves how powerful digital dentistry and social media have become for technicians worldwide. The conversation wraps with excitement around exocad’s newest updates, the exocad Hub, and what it means to be recognized as an exocad Hero.

Special Guests: Andreea Bordea, Daniela Torres, and Denisse Lasso Ramos.

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. Beyond the technology, Felix emphasized the value of being there in person—connecting face-to-face with partners, having meaningful conversations, and stepping back to see where the industry is headed. And of course, doing it all in Mallorca doesn’t hurt either.

"LIVE" again at the 2026 DLAT meeting, two very different conversations came together around one common theme: the future of dental technology is still being shaped by passionate people willing to learn, teach, and adapt. First, the podcast catches up with returning guest Tiffany Prater from Destination Orthodontic Lab, who shares how her lab journey has evolved from running a large commercial space with employees to building a smaller, more personal business focused on private practices and hands-on craftsmanship. Alongside her is Sydney Ribera, a young technician discovering orthodontics through mentorship, creativity, and a fascination with bending wire and pouring colorful acrylic retainers. The conversation dives into the realities of learning ortho in today’s digital world, the importance of organizations like the Orthodontic Resource Group, and why mentorship still matters more than ever in a profession where most of the training happens shoulder-to-shoulder.

Then the crew sits down with Marlin Gohn from Argen to talk about everything from next-generation zirconia to massive dental labs in China and the surprisingly common mistakes labs make when choosing disc sizes for milling. Marlin breaks down Argen’s new gradient translucency zirconia, explains why nesting strategy matters more than most labs realize, and shares real-world troubleshooting tips that can save labs time, money, and remakes. The conversation also wanders through SLM frameworks, milled gold crowns, PFMs, translating lectures in China, and why some old-school techniques still outperform the newest trends.

Special Guests: Marlin Gohn CDT, Sydney Ribera, and Tiffany Prater CDT.

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. Beyond the technology, Felix emphasized the value of being there in person—connecting face-to-face with partners, having meaningful conversations, and stepping back to see where the industry is headed. And of course, doing it all in Mallorca doesn’t hurt either.

This episode finally brings a long-awaited conversation to life with Kent Kohli, a name many in the industry recognize—but maybe don’t fully know the story behind. From an unexpected entry into dentistry (thanks to marrying his orthodontist’s daughter) to becoming a lifelong student of ceramics and education, Kent’s journey is anything but typical.

What starts as a pre-dental path quickly shifts once Kent discovers the lab side of dentistry—and more importantly, where his passion truly lives. From pouring models and grinding metal to studying under legends like John Archibald, Kent shares how mentorship, curiosity, and relentless work ethic shaped his career. Along the way, he opens up about the early struggles—working 100-hour weeks, barely making ends meet, and choosing quality over the “race to the bottom” that burned out many of his peers.

Kent dives deep into the evolution of dental technology, from the early days of PFMs and Empress to today’s digital workflows and liquid ceramics. But at the heart of it all is a consistent theme: education. Whether it’s learning from the “giants” of the industry or now helping guide the next generation through his role at Ivoclar, Kent sees it as a responsibility to pass on what was given to him.

He also shares insights into his current mission—bringing hands-on education back to the forefront, blending traditional techniques with modern materials, and helping technicians elevate their craft beyond just production.

Rising costs, tighter deadlines, and greater demands are challenging labs everywhere. When efficiency matters, you need tools that deliver—every day.

Roland DGShape milling solutions are reliable and easy to use. Just turn them on and let them run—no babysitting required. Fewer remakes and less wasted material mean your team can focus on getting cases out the door.

With the Elevate Denture solution, step into digital dentures without disrupting your workflow. Validated CAM strategies and Ivoclar compatibility mean you're building on a system you already trust.

Ready to boost efficiency? Explore DG Shape DWX Milling Solutions and the Elevate Dental Solution at RolandDental.com.

Special Guest: Kent Kohli.

If you’re passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I’m honored to be part of Ivoclar’s development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing.

Let’s continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time.

CAM has been a major topic lately, and a lot of that conversation keeps coming back to hyperDENT. But instead of just talking about the software itself, it’s worth looking at real-world experience. Imagine USA has been using hyperDENT in their own lab for over 15 years. That kind of longevity says a lot—they’re not just selling and supporting it, they’re relying on it in their own production every single day. That’s what really sets them apart.

This week’s episode brings it full circle as Elvis reconnects with one of the podcast’s very first guests, Renata Bundy, now a longtime professor at New York City College of Technology. Along with her are two technicians who represent both sides of the journey—lab owner Roberto Rossi and workflow master Eugene Vega—creating a conversation that dives deep into education, mentorship, and what it really takes to succeed in today’s dental lab world.

Roberto shares his unlikely path from working sanitation in New York to building a thriving lab, Synergy Dental Studio, over nearly three decades. With a relentless focus on quality, constant improvement, and embracing digital (while still questioning it), he explains how his lab has grown into a tight-knit, high-level operation. Eugene adds perspective from inside the lab, describing his evolution from student to managing daily workflow, highlighting how important environment, mentorship, and work ethic are when transitioning from school to real-world production.

Renata ties it all together from the educational side, reflecting on over 20 years of teaching and how the program has evolved alongside the industry—from analog fundamentals to digital workflows—while still preparing students for the realities they’ll face after graduation. The group doesn’t shy away from the tough truths either: low starting pay, steep learning curves, and the high dropout rate among new technicians. But the message is clear—stick with it, find the right lab, and the opportunity is there.

It’s a conversation about growth, grit, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people—whether that’s in the classroom or the lab. And if nothing else, you’ll learn that a little Italian lunch might just be the secret to building a loyal team.

Special Guests: Eugene Vega, Renata Budny, CDT, TE, and Roberto Rossi.

If you’re passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I’m honored to be part of Ivoclar’s development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing.

Let’s continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time.

CAM has been a major topic lately, and a lot of that conversation keeps coming back to hyperDENT. But instead of just talking about the software itself, it’s worth looking at real-world experience. Imagine USA has been using hyperDENT in their own lab for over 15 years. That kind of longevity says a lot—they’re not just selling and supporting it, they’re relying on it in their own production every single day. That’s what really sets them apart.

This week, Elvis and Barb sits down with Katherine Steinbock-Dyke of Whip Mix to talk legacy, leadership, and the evolution of a family-run powerhouse in the dental industry. As part of the Steinbock lineage, Katherine shares what it was like growing up around the business—from selling Girl Scout cookies on the shop floor to eventually stepping into the CEO role. Her journey wasn’t a straight line, starting instead in international business and corporate HR before finding her way back to Whip Mix and working her way through multiple roles across the company.

The conversation dives into the realities of running a multi-generational company in a rapidly changing industry. Katherine talks about balancing tradition with innovation, from gypsum and articulators to digital workflows and resin development. She opens up about the challenges of staying relevant, the importance of continuous improvement (hello, WIN program), and what it really means to lead a team she genuinely cares about.

Along the way, there’s plenty of classic bench banter—everything from assembling pizzas at Papa John’s to the chaos of early 3D printing workflows and navigating massive trade shows like IDS. The episode wraps with a look at where Whip Mix is headed, Katherine’s focus on reconnecting with labs and customers, and how the next generation is shaping the future of dental manufacturing while respecting its roots.

Special Guest: Katherine Steinbock-Dyke.

If you’re passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I’m honored to be part of Ivoclar’s development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing.

Let’s continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time.

Alright, Voices From the Bench listeners—We’re coming to you live from Dallas at DLAT, and we had to grab a quick pop-in from the floor.

That’s right—because when you’re walking a show this big, you never know who you’re going to run into… and sure enough, we caught up with Jordan Greenberg—yeah, the HyperDent guy.

No booth this time, just cruising the floor, connecting with partners, supporting dealers, and checking in with labs looking to level up their workflows.

And get this—he’s not just talking theory. We’re talking fully automated solutions for preform abutments… no human nesting. That’s right—automation that knows your blank size, optimizes your workflow, and keeps production moving without missing a beat.

It’s the kind of innovation that’s pushing labs forward—faster, smarter, and more efficient.

So if you’re at DLAT, keep your eyes open… because the future of CAM might just be walking right past you.

This week, we catch up with the always entertaining and wildly unconventional Seth Potter—live from Paraguay. From sailing the world with his family to building a thriving remote design business, Seth shares a story that’s anything but typical. What starts as a conversation about exocad Insights quickly turns into a deep dive into faith, freedom, digital dentistry, and what it really takes to create a life on your own terms.

Seth walks us through his unique upbringing—growing up with a missionary dentist father, assisting on dental trips in the Dominican Republic, and spending his teenage years living on a sailboat. That early exposure to dentistry (and adventure) eventually led him into dental technology, where he combined analog fundamentals with a self-taught digital workflow to become a leader in remote design.

We also get into the evolution of his career—from working in a small lab and helping implement digital systems, to launching one of the first remote CAD design businesses in Canada. Seth shares how he hustled for his first clients (hint: it involves Indeed and a clever pitch), scaled through efficiency, and ultimately hit a breaking point that forced him to rethink balance, burnout, and what success actually looks like.

Now splitting his time between Canada and Paraguay, Seth has built a lifestyle that many dream about—while still pushing the limits of productivity, workflow systems, and digital education with exocad.

If you’ve ever thought about going remote, improving your efficiency, or just wondered what’s possible in this industry… this one’s for you.

Join us at exocad Insights 2026, happening April 30–May 1, 2026, on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. This two-day event features powerhouse keynotes, hands-on workshops, live software demos, and top-tier industry showcases—all in one unforgettable setting.

Barb and Elvis will be on site bringing you exclusive interviews, plus don’t miss the FIRST 5k run on the coast! And of course, cap it all off with the legendary exoGlam Night under the stars.

Tickets are limited. Visit exocad.com/insights-2026 and use code VFTBPalma15 for 15% off.

Special Guest: Seth Potter.

If you’re passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I’m honored to be part of Ivoclar’s development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing.

Let’s continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time.

When it comes to digital dentures, design is easy—manufacturing is where things get messy.

That’s why the Elevate Denture Solution brings it all together. Built by Roland DGSHAPE, Ivoclar, and FOLLOW-ME! Technology Group, it combines machine, materials, and CAM into one fully optimized workflow—so you get consistent, high-quality results without the guesswork.

Want to simplify production and scale with confidence? Check it out at rollanddga.com/elevate.

"Live" from the Ivoclar ballroom at Lab Day 2026, Elvis and Barb dives into conversations that perfectly capture what this industry is all about—innovation, relationships, and a whole lot of nerding out.

We kick things off with Frederic Rapp, who went from growing up in his dad’s basement lab in France to scaling it into one of the largest labs in Europe. After selling the business, he found his way back into the industry through innovation—helping labs unlock the gold mine sitting inside their own data with icortica. From dashboards to AI-driven insights and even voice-activated notes in the parking lot, it’s all about working smarter, not harder… and maybe not looking like an idiot when you walk into a doctor’s office.

Then things shift to a great partnership with Casey Baldwin and Darin Lockaby, where we get into a seriously cool collaboration between Ivoclar and DESS. Think plug-and-play workflows that let labs mill their own abutments in-house—FDA compliant, streamlined, and actually simple. With margins tighter than ever, this kind of control over production isn’t just nice… it’s becoming necessary.

From scaling labs to scaling data, from implants to AI, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and a clear message: the labs that embrace technology (without losing the human touch) are the ones that are going to win.

Join us at exocad Insights 2026, happening April 30–May 1, 2026, on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. This two-day event features powerhouse keynotes, hands-on workshops, live software demos, and top-tier industry showcases—all in one unforgettable setting.

Barb and Elvis will be on site bringing you exclusive interviews, plus don’t miss the Women in Dentistry Lunch, celebrating career growth, wellbeing, and the real stories shaping our profession. And of course, cap it all off with the legendary exoGlam Night under the stars.

Tickets are limited. Visit exocad.com/insights-2026 and use code VFTBPalma15 for 15% off.

Special Guests: Casey Baldwin, Darin Lockaby, and Frederic Rapp.

If you’re passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I’m honored to be part of Ivoclar’s development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing.

Let’s continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time.

Elvis actually made it down to the exhibition halls this year — and hyperDENT from FOLLOW-ME! Technology was everywhere.

Booth after booth, people were talking milling strategies, templates, and workflows. It felt like a full-on CAM takeover. Their Milling Roadmap scavenger hunt had attendees bouncing between Axsys, Imagine, D.O.F., and Roland collecting stamps like responsible adults…

Responsible adults chasing a bright orange folding electric hyperDENT scooter.

That’s what we love about the FOLLOW-ME! team — world-class CAM engineers talking microns and validation protocols one minute, then ripping around Lab Day the next.

Serious about precision. Not too serious about themselves.

Big shoutout for bringing the brains — and the electric horsepower.

Come see and talk to Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows in 2026*

• Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/
• exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026

This week we finally get Jay Collins to stop dodging Elvis long enough to sit down and share one of the wildest journeys in dental lab history. From a family split between union steamfitters and dental technicians in Philadelphia to surviving “The Great Brotherly Lab War,” Jay’s story is packed with grit, loyalty, and a whole lot of Irish Catholic chaos. What started with an uncle drafted into dental technology during Vietnam eventually turned into a multi-generation lab legacy—and Jay swearing he’d never get into teeth… only to build a powerhouse anyway.

After the 2008 crash wiped out his construction business, Jay bet everything on selling outsourced restorations door-to-door, sleeping in his car, showering at the gym, and cold-calling hundreds of offices a week. What followed was the development of his unapologetically bold, psychologically savvy sales approach—what he calls being “aggressively calm.” From pushing doctors to “no,” to matching their energy toe-to-toe, to walking into offices as “the lab” and walking out with cases in hand, Jay breaks down the mindset shift most lab owners desperately need: sales isn’t optional, and it definitely isn’t accidental.

Now leading multiple lab locations under the brilliantly simple name thedentallab.net, Jay shares hard truths about growth, mergers, firing abusive clients, and why cutting your sales department in tough times is the worst move you can make. If you’ve ever struggled with prospecting, scaling, or standing your ground with doctors, this episode is packed with practical strategies, hilarious role-playing, and a reminder that confidence—backed by accountability—wins every time.

At Canadian Dental Labs, Icortica has become a cornerstone of how we operate—giving us at-a-glance visibility into performance, helping us focus our efforts, spot opportunities early, and solve problems before they grow. It takes the guesswork out of decision-making and shows us what to do next.

Plus, the Icortica team is incredibly responsive and feels like a true partner in our success.

If you’re serious about growing your business and understanding your customers better, Icortica can get you there. Learn more at icortica.com/voices — Icortica, helping dental labs grow.

Join us at exocad Insights 2026, happening April 30–May 1, 2026, on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. This two-day event features powerhouse keynotes, hands-on workshops, live software demos, and top-tier industry showcases—all in one unforgettable setting.

Barb and Elvis will be on site bringing you exclusive interviews, plus don’t miss the Women in Dentistry Lunch, celebrating career growth, wellbeing, and the real stories shaping our profession. And of course, cap it all off with the legendary exoGlam Night under the stars.

Tickets are limited. Visit exocad.com/insights-2026 and use code VFTBPalma15 for 15% off.

Special Guest: Jay Collins.

Come see and talk to Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows coming up in 2026

• Vision 21 in Las Vegas Jan 15-17 https://www.nadl.org/nadl-vision-21
• Cal-Lab Association Meeting in Chicago Feb 19-20 https://cal-lab.org/
• LMT Lab Day Chicago Feb 19-21 https://lmtmag.com/lmtlabday
• Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/
• exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026

This week we sit down with Stuart Steinbock for a wide-ranging conversation that blends dental industry history, innovation, and personal resilience. As a fourth-generation member of the Steinbock family, Stuart shares the origin story of Whip Mix—from an egg beater with patented features to a global dental manufacturer—and his own unlikely path into the family business, including international expansion, lean manufacturing, and product development that helped shape how labs think about efficiency and quality

The conversation follows Stuart’s journey beyond Whip Mix into startups, direct-to-consumer aligners, 3D printing with Carbon, pandemic-era manufacturing, and running a high-volume orthodontic lab, before landing at Digital Dental as president. Along the way, Stuart offers candid insights on entrepreneurship, digital workflows, ortho vs. restorative mindsets, leadership through change, and the human side of the dental industry—ending with a powerful personal update on family, recovery, and finding balance after adversity

Special Guest: Stuart Steinbock.