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.

Walking the Lab Day Chicago floor? Make it worth it.

Stop by the FOLLOW-ME! hyperDENT booth (E-27, East Hall) and take part in their Milling Roadmap—a quick, scavenger-hunt-style activity that leads you to key milling partners like Axsys, Imagine, DOF, and Roland.

Collect stamps at booths you’re likely visiting anyway and get entered to win some great giveaways—including this year’s grand prize: a foldable Honda electric scooter.

You’re already walking the floor. Now it might carry you.

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

• 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 Elvis and Barb sit down with Helen Tanaka — a removable, implant, and digital workflow specialist whose career started in one of the most relatable ways possible: as a dental lab driver. What began as a job delivering cases quickly turned into a full-blown passion once she stepped inside the lab and saw what technicians were creating. From trimming dies and waxing copings to managing labs, supporting implant surgeries, teaching doctors chairside, and leading removable and implant teams, Helen shares a journey built on curiosity, persistence, and a deep drive to understand the why behind everything in dental technology.

Helen talks about working her way through crown and bridge fundamentals before discovering her true passion in removables, dentures, implants, and occlusion. After getting real-world lab experience, she attended dental technology school, studied all six specialties, and continued expanding her knowledge through advanced occlusion training and continuing education. She explains why understanding morphology, materials, and occlusal principles is critical — especially today — and why technicians must know more than just the steps of fabrication. For Helen, dentures and implant prosthetics offer the ultimate puzzle, combining anatomy, function, and problem-solving in ways that keep her constantly engaged.

The conversation dives deep into digital dentistry, guided surgery, and removable workflows, with Helen sharing her early experiences launching digital denture and sleep appliance programs long before the workflows were polished. She discusses digital record capture, stackable surgical guides, implant planning, photogrammetry, and where digital still needs improvement — especially for removable prosthetics. While she embraces technology, she stresses that software is only as good as the technician behind it, and that skipping fundamentals creates bigger problems later. Digital is powerful, but it doesn’t replace understanding.

Education is a major theme throughout the episode. Helen regularly teaches doctors and technicians, speaks at courses, supports live implant conversions, and works with dental students. She emphasizes that many clinicians today lack confidence in dentures and removable workflows, often because fundamentals are under-taught, and she sees technicians as essential partners in closing that gap. She and the hosts discuss how removable cases are frequently rushed, underpaid, and misunderstood — even though they replace a critical body function — and why slowing down, capturing correct records, and returning to basics solves many of the “mystery” failures labs see every day.

Helen also shares stories from her time with large organizations and clinical teams, including MicroDental, ClearChoice, Arklign, and implant education centers, where she has worked in technical service, management, training, and quality oversight roles. She talks about networking, mentoring, never burning bridges, and investing in people coming up in the industry. Her approach to both dentistry and life centers around curiosity and accountability — always asking why, always backing decisions with data, and always trying to do the right thing even when no one is looking.

Throughout the episode, the energy stays fun and honest, with stories about speeding delivery runs, early digital growing pains, chairside save-the-case moments, and the reality of fixing cases that skipped key steps. Helen brings passion, technical depth, and a strong belief that knowledge should be shared, not guarded. It’s a conversation about growth, fundamentals, digital evolution, and why great technicians still matter more than ever.

If you want to grow your business, you need clear insight into what’s happening inside your operation and across your customer journey. That’s where Icortica comes in.

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 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: Helen Tanaka.

Get a shirt that highlights "Dental Technicians Have Better Technique". Head over to https://www.bonfire.com/we-have-better-technique-the-shirt/ before June 10th to order a shirt, hoodie, or even a tank top. 100% of the profits are donated to the Foundation of Dental Laboratory Technology.

Ever hear of a Crozat appliance? We haven't either, but luckily this week we talk to one of the only four technicians that makes these palate expanding devices, Jay Work III. Jay tells the amazing story of stumbling upon a gentleman specializing in these wire devices and after some persistent bugging agreed to teach him. Jay explains what a Crozat is, what it does, and why they are so hard to make. It's a fascinating conversation about a little known appliance that hardly anyone makes but is in high demand.

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 Guest: Jay R. Work III.

Over the years, we have talked to a lot of families in dental. Husband and wife. Fathers and Sons. Mothers and Daughters. Bothers. Sisters. But never have we talked to 5 family members at the same time all in the industry. Let us introduce you to the Szara's (sort of). Many of you might already know. First up is the guy that started it all, Wayne Szara Sr. Wayne went to technical school, he did dental technology in the Navy. After he opened up his own lab in his house and taught at the local dental technology program. He introduced the profession to his brother-in-law. Mike Capps (the non-Szara), who had the passion to be his own boss and went on to open a great lab outside of Chicago called Technic Dental Lab. Wayne had two sons that spent their youth with dad in the house working in the lab, and there was no way they couldn't be influnced to join this great industry. Wayne Szara Jr went through the school but took a different path and spent some time with Sterngold before spending the last 20 years with ZimVie teaching people around the world about implants and attachments. Steve Szara decided to get into Ortho, opened his own lab, and also created a name for himself online teaching and inspiring others in ortho lab work. And now, Steve's daughter Erin Szara after years helping her dad in his lab and growing up with all this dental inspiration, starts her journey in dental school to become the dentist that all the others originally wanted to be.

Elvis and Barb on Steve Szara and Cade Tippett YouTube channel from 2019!

Your digital inspiration is important to Ivoclar and they have the technology to support your digital future. Whether you are just about to introduce digital production into your laboratory, or if your laboratory is already set for the digital revolution – Ivoclar has the technology, support, and service package for YOUR specific needs. From the NEW and impressive PrograScan scanners to the PrograMill line up of milling systems and Programat furnaces, Ivoclar has you covered with technology AND trusted materials like Ivotion, e.max and ZirCAD Prime. All of this under one roof!

Customize YOUR Digital journey today by contacting your friendly Ivoclar sales representative!

Does your lab use Magic Touch? If not, you should think about switching just so you can use icortica. Icortica is a program that uses all the data you already collect in Magic Touch and puts it in one easy to see, use, and understand dashboard. Look at every account and see trends, sales, notes, payments, and even remake percentages. Use the data you already have to take your lab and your customer service to the next level. Elvis uses it daily and swears it is a huge part to his success working at the lab. Head over to icortica.com/voices to learn more or send an email to Rob Nazzal at rob@icortica.com and tell him you heard about it on Voices From the Bench!

Special Guests: Erin Szara, Mike Capps, Steven Szara, Wayne Szara CDT, and Wayne Szara Sr.

The UP 3D P5 milling maching from Aurident is a 5 axis, efficient, dry mill. Great for milling zirconia, PMMA and wax. It boasts software that produces high precision and fast milling. It can mill a crown in 14 minutes and the tool life yields about 60-80 hours of quality restorations. A game changer for labs of all sizes, big and small. For under $20K, a small lab can now do their own milling instead of outsourcing and reducing their profits. Quite impressive! Give Aurident a call at 800-422-7373 or you can visit their website at aurident.com.

Whip Mix introduces the Bellus3D Dental Pro Face Scanning Solution. This new, practical addition to dentistry provides the dentist with a fast, easy, and affordable way to capture a detailed 3D facial scan and the laboratory an intelligent way to create the smile design. With this app, a complete 3D facial (and even whole head) scan can even be captured for virtual model and articulator alignment.

You can now put a face to your digital workflow with the Bellus3D Dental Pro. Learn more about this sought-after product by calling Lorena Lighthart at 970-218-9101 or emailing her at llighthart@whipmix.com. And be sure to watch Lee Culp presenting a Whip Mix webinar entitled “Bellus3D Dental Pro – Creating the Virtual Patient” at http://www.whipmix.com/webinars.

Special Guests: Larry Mercadel CDT and Scott D. McGaha.

Check out the AOLP: Association of Orthodontic Laboratory Professionals

Thanks to the wonderful people at ARGEN, Elvis and Barb will be recording at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2020 - February 21 & 22. We will be set up at the Argen Booth (I16/I17) to talk to all the amazing attendees, educators, vendors, and anyone else willing to sit down. If you want to schedule a time, be sure to send us an email at info@voicesfromthebench.com and we can get it lined up. Or just stop by. We would love to meet you!

Check out the AMAZING line up at Lab Day Chicago from Argen!
Register HERE!

March 26 – 28 Dental Laboratory Association Texas Conference – Grapevine, Tx
*Ortho Technicians!!! Register for the AOLP meeting! *

Last year was a huge success and we loved this show. We are back this year at the ARGEN booth recording all weekend long. If you are in the area, attend. If you are not in the area, you should still think about attending. It’s worth it.

Register HERE!

Thursday March 26, the good people at Alien Milling is hosting a evening event to kick of the DLAT Conference. We will be at Top Golf for fun, drinks, and podcasting. That’s right, we will be recording at the event. How fun is that! If you are going to the DLAT conference, don’t wait. Sign up here to join the fun!

Are you excited about Chicago Lab day? Nowak Dental & Nowak Digital are! Their lab specialists will be at the East Tower booth B-47 & their Digital specialists will be at the new West tower V-2. Stop by both booths to learn about all of their offerings and to find out for yourself why Nowak is the first dealer name customers ask for. Also, by popular demand, each location will be serving our famous King Cake Vodka shots one hour before the closing of the show EACH DAY! So don’t forget to visit Nowak Dental at both exhibit halls during Lab Day Chicago. And we thank you for your continued support of the podcast.

Kettenbach Dental is a German Manufacturer that believes dentistry is a balance of art and science and when the patient and Dentist are inspired by your work, that is your labs reward and the goal at Kettenbach Dental. . A great way to start with Kettenbach is to try the Panasil Lab Putty Hard or Lab Putty Soft for your Dental Lab’s matrixing, indexing, and duplicating needs. The addition silicone putty comes in a 5-kilogram base and 5-kilogram catalyst, 1:1 mix with no additional messy gel activator. How about a box of the Panasil Lab Putty and a Box of the Futar Bite Registration all for only $199. Simply call Kettenbach direct at 877-532-2123 and mention the code – Dental Lab Podcast 199, for this special discount just for listening to the Voices from the Bench Podcast. For more information on Kettenbach, check out their Facebook page or visit www.kettenbach-dental.us

Special Guest: Christopher Gajewski.

Check out his YouTube Channel

The interview Cade Tippett and Steve Szara did with Barb and Elvis!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/AQc-8Yn9C8k

COME SEE VOICES FROM THE BENCH!
We will be at the DLAT meeting April 4th and 5th in Grapevine, Texas.
Register here!

A BIG thanks to our sponsor Nowak Dental Supplies for their support of the podcast.
Give them a call at 800-654-7623 or visit their website at nowakdental.com

Special Guest: Cade Tippett, CDT.

Elvis and Barb welcome a new guest to the podcast. Cade Tippett CDT is a ortho technician out of Texas. He stays very busy with his lab, his YouTube Channel , and being the Association and Conference Administrator" for the DLAT (Dental Laboratory Association of Texas).
Join us as Cade teaches two non-ortho dental technicians about their important part in our industry!

The interview Cade Tippett and Steve Szara did with Barb and Elvis!

COME SEE VOICES FROM THE BENCH!
We will be at the DLAT meeting April 4th and 5th in Grapevine, Texas.
Register here!

A BIG thanks to our sponsor Nowak Dental Supplies for their support of the podcast.
Give them a call at 800-654-7623 or visit their website at nowakdental.com

Special Guest: Cade Tippett, CDT.