Yet even more conversations that Elvis and Barb got while in the exocad booth at IDS 2025..... back in MARCH!! First up is a visit from on one our favorite companies that make bars, Panthera. Instead of our usual guest we get to meet Pierre-Luc Duchesne and Dereck Donnelly. PL is their Director of Marketing and Derek is head of Global Customer Experience. Together the talk about being at their second IDS show, how they make their product an experience for the customer, the Fusion Bar that only needs 5mm of clearance, their partnership with VITA, and the second coming of The Master Cup.

Then we got to talk to an Irish dentist that practices in Scotland, Dr. Eimear O’Connell. She was plastered on the walls of the exocad booth 20 feet tall because she was one of the "Heroes of Digital Dentistry" and her journey is astounding. Dr. O'Connell talks about learning that Cerec was harder than it looks back in 2007, learning to work with amazing labs, using exocad to help her sell treatment by using the ART function, and a very concerning trend in the UK that makes it harder to be a dentist.

Let's be honest. There are a LOT of zirconia on the market these days. How do you know which is which? Is one better than another? Is there one that can handle every situation? Check out a FREE webinar from Ivoclar called Zirconia Unboxed with Jeff Smith, CDT.

"This introductory webinar is the first in a five-part series designed to address the most frequently asked questions by dental labs when selecting zirconia for their restorations. With a focus on practical guidance, this session explores the key considerations in choosing the right zirconia, including material properties, esthetics, and processing techniques. This introductory webinar is the first in a five-part series designed to address the most frequently asked questions by dental labs when selecting zirconia for their restorations. With a focus on practical guidance, this session explores the key considerations in choosing the right zirconia, including material properties, esthetics, and processing techniques."

Check it out at: https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/course/zirconia-unboxed/246115?utm_source=External+-+Voice+from+the+Bench&utm_medium=QR+code&utm_campaign=Academy&utm_term=August

Special Guests: Dereck Donnelly, Dr. Eimear O’Connell, and Pierre-Luc Duchesne.

Back in March, Barb & Elvis traveled all the way to Cologne, Germany to set up and record at the biggest dental show in the world, IDS. A special thanks to exocad for giving us the space to record so many amazing people over the course of 4 days.

First up is a dentist turned exocad designer, Hajir Shamil. Hajir talks about dentistry in Iraq and how she went to school just outside of Russia. Going back to a country that is hard to find a practice, she goes about working at a lab and falls in love with the "purple program". Find out what she thinks of her first time at IDS and why she came.

Then we chat with Daniel Portal and Gerson Prada. Daniel has a history of working with but eventually opened his own lab doing only designs for labs and dentists. He partnered up with Gerson Prada in Utah to do any fabricating of the cases. Together they talk about working together from a far, good communication with the doctors, Daniel being a part of exocad's "Heroes of Digital Dentistry", and what they are doing at IDS.

Then we wrap up the episode with a dentist that more letters after his name than in it, Dr. Diogo Viegas. Dr. Viegas went to the Lisbon Dental School to become a dentist. When that wasn't enough, we got his Masters. When that wasn't enough, we went back to get his degree in dental technology. Now, Dr. Viegas has a practice in Lisbon, does his own lab work, still having time to teach other clinicians, and being a member in Bio-Emulation.

Take it from Laura Prosser, the digital marketing manager for Ivoclar North America. She would like to invite you to start following them on Instagram. It's your chance to obtain exclusive updates on product announcements, industry news, upcoming educational events, and heartwarming stories about our local team and industry professionals. Let's get social together. Simply start following us on Instagram @Ivoclar.na. We'll see you there.

Special Guests: Daniel Portal, Dr. Diogo Viegas, Gerson Prada, and Hajir Shamil.