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, Elvis and Barb are coming to you from the FDLA Symposium at the GPS Digital RPD booth with two conversations that prove one thing: dental technology never stops evolving. First up, Chris Bradley from SmileLine USA returns to the podcast alongside technician, educator, and lab owner Richard Wodzinski, with Dawn Roniger from GC America joining the discussion. What starts as a conversation about "sexy brushes" quickly turns into a deep dive into one of the most intriguing shade-matching workflows you'll hear about. Richard explains how the OptiShade camera and Matisse software work together to create incredibly accurate shade recipes for everything from monolithic zirconia to layered ceramics and even gingiva. They also discuss the latest Creation Magic Color system, hands-on education, custom shade appointments, and why reducing remakes isn't just good for labs—it's better for doctors and patients too. Add in some FDLA leadership talk and a shared passion for education, and you've got a conversation packed with practical ideas and plenty of laughs.

Then Elvis and Barb sit down with Kaveh Shams, Branch Manager for Zirkonzahn Canada, whose journey into digital dentistry spans London, Italy, and Canada. Kaveh shares how his admiration for Enrico Steger and Zirkonzahn eventually led to his dream job, while also offering a fascinating look into the company's history, philosophy, and commitment to education. From the origins of Exocad and custom CAM strategies to modular milling systems, open architecture, and Zirkonzahn's incredible Military School program that trains the next generation of technicians, this conversation is full of insight into what makes one of dentistry's most respected digital companies tick. It's an inspiring story of passion, persistence, and why great technology always starts with great technicians.

Special Guests: Chris Bradley, Dawn Roniger ​​​​, Kaveh Shams, and Rich Wodzinski.

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.

Then things shifted from mills to maintenance with Rebekah Serrago and Chris Wilson from Garland Dental Services. 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.

Finally, the future officially arrived when the podcast crew sat down with Antoine Coppens from Relu and orthodontic lab owner Christian Saurman of New England Orthodontic Laboratory. 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.

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.

• 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 finally bring on a guest who has been six years in the making: the one and only Jordan Greenberg, the North America Managing Director of FOLLOW-ME! Technology—better known as the HyperDent guy.

Jordan takes us on a wild ride through the world of CAM software, milling strategies, toolpaths, and the surprisingly fascinating story of how dental CAM even became what it is today. From his early days as a third-generation “dental nepo baby” to running a zirconia milling center with his dad, all the way to helping launch titanium-bar milling on Datron D5 machines, Jordan’s journey hits every corner of digital dentistry’s evolution.

He breaks down what CAM actually does in the simplest possible terms (yes, even Elvis-level simple), explains the magic behind toolpaths, tools, post-processors, and how HyperDent “drives the car” for hundreds of different mills. You’ll hear how materials get validated, why some ideas labs come up with are physically impossible, and why you should ALWAYS talk to your CAM provider before releasing new materials or components into the world.

Jordan also shares a behind-the-scenes look at solving problems like angulated screw channels, milling lithium disilicate pucks, and HyperDent’s upcoming work on milled dentures—including Ivoclar’s Ivotion processes coming to open CAM.

Whether you mill every day or still think CAM is just “putting a crown in a puck,” Jordan demystifies it all with humor, honesty, and more tech insights than we've ever had on the podcast at once.

* Dental Labs—The Ivoclar Flash Sale Is On!

* From November 3rd to 14th, Ivoclar is bringing you unbeatable deals on the equipment that will set your lab up for success in 2026.

* Upgrade your mill, your furnace, or expand your workflow—and save big while doing it!

* Plus, when you purchase a milling machine, you’ll get delivery, installation, and training—all included. That means your lab will be production-ready from day one.

* But hurry—these savings vanish after November 14th!

* Contact your Ivoclar sales rep today and power up your lab for the year ahead.

Elvis and Barb are gearing up for their chat with the HyperDent Dude himself, Jordan Greenberg from FOLLOW-ME! Technology. At LabFest, Elvis found out that every hyperDENT license comes with Template Editor Lite — a built-in feature that lets you make safe, customized tweaks to your milling strategies. Whether you want to prioritize surface quality or speed, this tool gives you the control to fine-tune your results while FOLLOW-ME! keeps everything validated and reliable.

Because in the end, us lab techs love to tinker — and hyperDENT makes it easy to choose your own CAM-venture.

Year-end chaos is here. Labs are slammed, deadlines are brutal, and mistakes are not an option. That’s when dental technicians rely on the one thing that never quits: https://www.rolanddga.com/applications/dental-cad-cam.

The DWX-53DC is a true workhorse—24-hour automated milling that keeps your lab running, your overhead down, and your ROI up. No redos. No downtime. Just consistent, precise results.

Built on decades of Japanese engineering, Roland delivers the reliability that keeps labs sane, profitable, and on schedule.

Finish the year strong with the mill you can trust.

Choose Roland DGSHAPE.

Precision. Reliability. Performance.

Learn more at rolanddga.com

Special Guest: Jordan Greenberg.

• 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 a guest whose journey hits all the right notes—literally! Meet Jonathan Bourke, a jazz guitarist turned dental technician who went from pouring models to designing full-arch restorations and running his own in-office lab.

Jonathan shares how a chance gig driving for a denturist opened the door to a career he never expected, taking him from analog dentures to digital workflows, photogrammetry, and Exocad wizardry. Now a lab owner working directly with clinicians, Jonathan talks about collaboration in full-arch cases, teaching with Jensen Dental and MiYO, and what it’s like to see his work come to life chairside.

From learning CAM milling to demoing in front of dental rockstars, Jonathan’s story is a reminder that artistry comes in many forms—sometimes from six strings, sometimes from six implants.

* Dental Labs—The Ivoclar Flash Sale Is On!

* From November 3rd to 14th, Ivoclar is bringing you unbeatable deals on the equipment that will set your lab up for success in 2026.

* Upgrade your mill, your furnace, or expand your workflow—and save big while doing it!

* Plus, when you purchase a milling machine, you’ll get delivery, installation, and training—all included. That means your lab will be production-ready from day one.

* But hurry—these savings vanish after November 14th!

* Contact your Ivoclar sales rep today and power up your lab for the year ahead.

Elvis and Barb are gearing up for their chat with the HyperDent Dude himself, Jordan Greenberg from FOLLOW-ME! Technology. At LabFest, Elvis found out that every hyperDENT license comes with Template Editor Lite — a built-in feature that lets you make safe, customized tweaks to your milling strategies. Whether you want to prioritize surface quality or speed, this tool gives you the control to fine-tune your results while FOLLOW-ME! keeps everything validated and reliable.

Because in the end, us lab techs love to tinker — and hyperDENT makes it easy to choose your own CAM-venture.

Special Guest: Jonathan Bourke.

Make sure you visit Ivoclar at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2025. Ivoclar will be in their usual spot at Grand Ballroom A&B in the East Tower, on the Gold Level. Right across from the registration desk.

Register today!

Make sure you come see VOICES FROM THE BENCH recording from the Ballroom all weekend!

Attend the 99th Annual Cal-Lab Meeting Feb 20 & 21 at the Swissôtel in Chicago. (Connected to the Hyatt and Lab Day)
Elvis & Barb will be *recording there Thursday night during the "Cocktail Hour" from 4:00 to 6:30 *
Register today: https://cal-lab.org/annual-meeting

This week we had the pleasure of speaking with Ryan McEachern, the Director of Technical Support and Installations at Zubler USA. As a second-generation dental technician, Ryan has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the dental industry, having started his career in a large lab in California. His journey led him to Zubler, where he plays a crucial role in bringing innovative products to the market.

Zubler USA is known for its high-quality dental equipment, including advanced milling machines and ceramic ovens. Ryan shared insights into how these products are designed to improve efficiency and quality in dental labs. One of the standout features of their ceramic oven, the VARIO 230, is its ability to provide even heating and cooling, which is essential for ensuring the integrity of dental materials. This technology allows dental technicians to produce better results while minimizing the risk of fractures in their work.

Another exciting aspect of the conversation was the discussion around zirconia materials. Ryan revealed that Zubler's 3:45 zirconia can be centered in just four hours, making it one of the fastest options available in the industry. This innovation not only saves time but also enhances productivity in dental labs, allowing technicians to meet the demands of their patients more effectively.

Customer service is a core value at Zubler USA, and Ryan emphasized the importance of being an extension of their customers. By providing top-notch support and training, Zubler ensures that dental technicians have the resources they need to succeed. This commitment to customer satisfaction sets Zubler apart in a competitive market.

You are invited to Ivoclar’s IPS e.max Panel Discussion Friday, February 22nd stating at 3:00 at LMT Lab Day in Chicago. Our very own Barb Warner will be on stage with Jessica Birrell, Stephenie Goddard, Mike Roberts, Jed Archibald and Dr. Ken Malament as they dive into the world of e.max. After the panel discussion, Ivoclar will host a Happy Hour to commemorate this 20-year milestone. So, please join us by registering at Labday.com/Ivoclar.

Make sure you visit Aidite at Booth E-26 during your visit at LMT Lab Day Chicago! They will be there showcasing their exciting new products and cutting-edge solutions in digital dentistry. Attendees can explore hands-on demonstrations of Biomic stain & glaze techniques and some of their other innovative technologies. Aidite will also host engaging lectures in Grand Suite 2, East Tower, covering topics such as EZneer, 3D Pro-Zir, Digital Dentures, and their Aidite Cloud design service. Even before you go, you can stay updated by following @AiditeNorthAmerica on all social media platforms. Don’t miss the opportunity to see how Aidite is shaping the future of dental labs!

Special Guest: Ryan McEachern .

Learn more about the Vortex screw:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxu5b6xOGmo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oMGXcDFUFU

Advanced Guided Surgery Course – January 2025 with Dr. Danny Domingue and Cory Glenn

Make sure you visit Ivoclar at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2025. Ivoclar will be in their usual spot at Grand Ballroom A&B in the East Tower, on the Gold Level. Right across from the registration desk. They have a killer line up of speakers including:

Mariano Maurizi

Lee Culp

Dr. Shashikant Singhal

Don Yancey

Jed Archibald

Benjamin Gebhardt

Tanya Little

Aaron Johnson

Jenelle Tabaković

Patrick Coon

John Wilson

Luke LaRocque-Walker

Paul Imperius

Jonny "exocad" Jakson

Yuki Momma

Dr. Ken Malament

Stephenie Goddard

Jessica Love

Dr. George Tysowsky

Michael Roberts

Barbara Warner!

Register today!

Make sure you come see VOICES FROM THE BENCH recording from the Ballroom all weekend!

Special Guest: Dr. Daniel Domingue.