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.

From wire-bending machines and digital ortho workflows to Vulcanite dentures and photogrammetry, this episode from the DLAT floor is packed with stories, laughs, and a whole lot of dental lab wisdom.

First up, the crew sits down with Jason Dyas — better known these days as the man behind Ortho Outlaw and everyone’s favorite outlaw mascot, Clyde. Jason shares his journey from construction work and garage-built orthodontic appliances to running successful ortho labs and diving headfirst into digital technology. What started with fax-machine marketing and Walmart bench grinders eventually evolved into automated wire-bending machines, digital scanning, social media content creation, and a growing mission to help older labs embrace modern workflows instead of shutting their doors. The conversation covers everything from AI-driven ortho tech and the future of wire bending to building a brand, traveling to industry events around the world, and how Ortho Outlaw became one of the most recognizable new names in orthodontic lab social media.

Then the podcast catches up with longtime friend of the show Jim Collis for an incredible deep dive into 45 years of dental technology experience. Jim talks about teaching hands-on courses at DLAT, helping labs transition from analog workflows into digital dentures and 3D printing, and why education is still the key to success in modern dentistry. From discussing AI-assisted denture design and automated workflows to reminiscing about fixing Vulcanite dentures and the earliest days of implants, Jim delivers one amazing story after another. Along the way, he shares lessons from his CDT journey, the mentors who shaped his career, his passion for consulting and education, and why he still loves this industry after nearly five decades. It’s equal parts history lesson, technology discussion, and classic Voices From the Bench chaos — complete with Star Trek references, Slurpee stories, and enough off-topic tangents to make Barb proud.

Special Guests: Clyde, Jason Dyas, and Jim Collis CDT.

Ivoclar is having two amazing in-house training sessions in September featuring Jurgen Seger.
September 7 & 9 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
September 11& 12 in Amherst, NY, USA

SAVE 30% by using the code: VFTB30

You and a friend can each save 50% by emailing Nicola.Kowal@ivoclar.com and telling them you heard it on Voices From the Bench!

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Choice of zirconia material related to strengths, esthetics and efficiency
• Design nesting and milling strategies for Multi Zirconia
• Infiltration options
• Processing monolithic restorations surface finish, staining
• Gingiva microlayering different pink ceramic colors
• Tooth microlayering management of color and 3D effects.
• Key tips related to firing aspects for zirconia bridge structures
• Micro and macrotexture of the tooth surface

On August 27th many brave and fearless dental technicians will take to the water and road to participate in the 2023 Chicago Triathlon. They don't do it for fame or personal gain, but to raise money for the Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology.
PLEASE head over to dentallabfoundation.org and click the DONATE TODAY button. Log in and choose the “Race for the Future” option. There you can put the name of a racer you want to sponsor. You can put:

Barb Warner
Team Abutments (Elvis Dahl, Mark Williamson, Bobby Kennedy)
Voices From the Bench (50/50 split between Barb and Elvis' team)

It’s always sad when good things come to an end and this week we bring you the last of all the amazing conversations Elvis and Barb got when Ivoclar partnered up with us to record at LMT Lab Day West 2023. First up is a 45-year veteran of removable dentures, Glen Smith. Glen comes on to talk about how his lab, Robertson Lab (part of the Apex Dental Laboratory Group) can do so much of their removables digitally. Even after all this time, Glen is full of excitement and passion for this workflow. He talks about the workflow, automating certain steps, and training the next generation of lab technician. Then a “movie star” in our industry stops by, Gary Archer. Gary makes custom dental prosthetics for movies and television shows. He talks about what shows he is working on, some recent movies where his teeth have been featured, the stories behind them, and how he makes some with removable teeth for gory scenes.

Did you know that not all Zirconia is the same?

ZirCAD Prime Zirconia from Ivoclar is uniquely produced with Gradient Technology which allows two powders that normally sinter at different intervals, to be combined into one material which sinters uniformly. The manufacturing process not only optimizes the translucent properties but also creates a seamless progression of shade while maintaining optimal strength.

ZirCAD prime is now more affordable than ever and will give you results that your Dentists will notice! Contact your local Ivoclar Sales representative today to find out more about Prime and how Ivoclar can support your success! Tell them you heard it on the podcast and get a FREE Prime disc to try – just use promo code 723!

Special Guests: Gary Archer and Glen Smith CDT TE.

Barb Warner
Team Abutments (Elvis Dahl, Mark Williamson, Bobby Kennedy)
Voices From the Bench (50/50 split between Barb and Elvis' team)

We LOVE meeting new people as shows and we LOVE hearing stories of labs being successful. This week brings two more conversations that we got while at the Ivoclar table at LMT Lab Day West 2023. First up is Chad Brox from Performance Dental Lab near the strip in Las Vegas. Chad talks about being a 3rd generation lab owner, growing up in the lab, and what he is looking for at Lab Day. Then we chat with Eddie Corrales, who has a unique lab with an interesting workflow. His lab CAD Smiles is known for going into an office, using their software, mills, and material can create a full smile same day. Eddie talks about discovering this service, traveling the world, and helping doctors sell cases.

If you are looking for a ceramic or sintering furnace and want an incredible deal, look no further!

Ivoclar has their 3 Ways to Save promotion on NOW. Connect with an Ivoclar Sales representative today to learn about how you can save on a new furnace OR, email customer service at cs.us@ivoclar.com. Tell them you heard it on the podcast and get FREE Ground Shipping by using promo code 724.

Special Guests: Chad Brox and Eddie Corrales.

Barb Warner
Team Abutments (Elvis Dahl, Mark Williamson, Bobby Kennedy)
Voices From the Bench (50/50 split between Barb and Elvis' team)

Come see Elvis and Barb on stage together for the first time as we record an episode in front of a live audience!
Register for the Ladies of the Mill Summit in Chattanooga, TN on July 21-22

Long before this crazy hot summer even started, Ivoclar invited Elvis and Barb to set up and record at LMT Lab Day West. As soon as the crowds started, the recording took off and this week we talk to three wonderful people. First up is Amber Rodriguez from Preat. Amber was speaking for the first time, so of course we talked about that, but we also talk about her going from no implant experience to becoming known for her vast knowledge of implants and attachments and how they handle discontinued implant systems. Then we had the extreme pleasure of meeting two ROCK STARS in our industry. Long before scanners, mills, and printers there were technicians making their own tools for a better workflow and if you do it well enough, someone else will buy it. That is what Robert and Ardith Berger did when they started Belle de St. Claire. With over 500 products and 21 patents, they invented many tools and equipment that became staples in analog dental labs. They reflect on those early days, how they changed the industry, and what they did when it was time to move on.

Did you know that not all Zirconia is the same?

ZirCAD Prime Zirconia from Ivoclar is uniquely produced with Gradient Technology which allows two powders that normally sinter at different intervals, to be combined into one material which sinters uniformly. The manufacturing process not only optimizes the translucent properties but also creates a seamless progression of shade while maintaining optimal strength.

ZirCAD prime is now more affordable than ever and will give you results that your Dentists will notice! Contact your local Ivoclar Sales representative today to find out more about Prime and how Ivoclar can support your success! Tell them you heard it on the podcast and get a FREE Prime disc to try – just use promo code 723!

Special Guests: Amber Rodriguez, Ardith Berger, and Robert Berger.

Barb Warner
Team Abutments (Elvis Dahl, Mark Williamson, Bobby Kennedy)
Voices From the Bench (50/50 split between Barb and Elvis' team)

Come see Elvis and Barb on stage together for the first time as we record an episode in front of a live audience!
Register for the Ladies of the Mill Summit in Chattanooga, TN on July 21-22

Back in May, Elvis and Barb loaded up the gear and headed out to LMT Lab Day West to record some of the amazing people that attend that show. Thanks to Ivoclar, a table was set up in the main hall and a constant flow of conversations happened. This week we start off talking with the President of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, Heather Voss. Heather is on a dental lab show tour this year to promote community engagement with the industry. Heather talks about the NADL, some of the great things they are working on, and why a lab should join. Then the man who can fix anything stops by the table, Daniel Serrago, owner of Garland Dental Services. Daniel talks about getting into the handpiece repair business, accidentally discovering dental labs, moving his skills to more modern equipment, and some interesting facts he's learned along the way.

Did you know that not all Zirconia is the same?

ZirCAD Prime Zirconia from Ivoclar is uniquely produced with Gradient Technology which allows two powders that normally sinter at different intervals, to be combined into one material which sinters uniformly. The manufacturing process not only optimizes the translucent properties but also creates a seamless progression of shade while maintaining optimal strength.

ZirCAD prime is now more affordable than ever and will give you results that your Dentists will notice! Contact your local Ivoclar Sales representative today to find out more about Prime and how Ivoclar can support your success!

Special Guests: Daniel Serrago and Heather Voss MBA, CDT.