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 week Elvis and Barb are back at exocad Insights 2026 where the microphones captured two very different conversations that somehow landed on the exact same thing: passion still matters. First up, we sat down with longtime dental technicians and Oral Design International Foundation members Pinhas Adar and Javier Perez to talk about the legacy of the legendary Willi Geller and how one man helped elevate dental technicians from the shadows to respected members of the restorative team. From stories of learning under masters in Switzerland to building a worldwide family of 127 members across 34 countries, the conversation dives deep into friendship, mentorship, craftsmanship, and why face-to-face connection still matters in a digital world. They also share details about upcoming memorial and symposium events dedicated to carrying on Willi’s philosophy of passion, respect, and sharing knowledge without ego.

Then the crew caught up with returning guest Dora Rodrigues, who has gone from conversion queen to certified exocad trainer, full-arch educator, and lab owner running an increasingly digital workflow. Dora talks about finally bringing milling in-house, the terrifying learning curve that came with it, and how mastering workflows like split bars and partial CAD has completely changed the way she designs full-arch restorations. Between traveling internationally to lecture, teaching labs how to streamline their workflows, and still designing cases herself, Dora proves that digital dentistry still takes serious technical skill, problem-solving, and obsession with detail. It’s an episode full of passion, legacy, technology, and the reminder that no matter how digital dentistry gets… the people behind it still make all the difference.

Today’s dental labs are under more pressure than ever — tighter turnaround times, staffing challenges, and nonstop production demands. That’s why efficiency and reliability matter more than ever before.

More laboratories continue turning to Roland DGA and the proven performance of the DGSHAPE DWX Series milling solutions to keep production moving smoothly. Reliable workflows help reduce downtime, minimize remakes, and allow technicians to focus on quality work instead of troubleshooting equipment.

For labs exploring digital dentures, the Elevate Denture Solution offers a streamlined workflow with validated CAM strategies and Ivotion compatibility through hyperDENT software — helping labs adopt digital production without unnecessary complexity.

Because labs don’t need more stress. They need dependable systems that simply work.

Special Guests: Dora Rodrigues, Javier Perez Lopez, and Pinhas Adar MDT, CDT.

This week brings us 4 conversations with 6 people! First up is Tobias Specht who is a Master Dental Technician and has been with Ivoclar for 23 years. He gives us some insight into Empress, emax, Ivotion, the "red lips", and so much more.

Then we catch up with the two newest employees of Oaks Dental Design. Eiron Simmons come back on to talk about all that she is learning and Olivia Davis, who recently joined the lab, talks about what she is learning and inspiring to do next.

After that we chat with Crystal Heung from Sumc Dental Lab in China. Crystal talks about this LARGE operation and her goal of creating relationships in other countries.

We wrap up the episode with two past guests that come on to talk about life and lab. Christina Heaslip and Dora Rodrigues (sharing almost the same birthday) update us on labs and family. Dora just got done speaking and is getting ready to do it again at Ladies of the Mill and Christina updates us on all the exciting and different things happening at this years summit being held in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 21-22.

Are you attending the LMT Lab Day West show in Garden Grove California?

Join Ivoclar as they continue to celebrate their 100 Year Anniversary in the dental industry.

At Lab Day West you can get up close and personal with Ivoclar digital technology, materials, and an EPIC speaker lineup. Learn first hand from many of the industry’s leading dental professionals as they share their tips and tricks for success. Come and hear from Rafael Santrich, Jed Archibald, Steve Hatch and experience hands-on courses from Jenelle Tabakovic, and Pat Coon. For a full listing of speakers simply visit LMTmag.com and register today!

Also, come and see us, Voices from the bench, as this will be our home from May 12-13th. Come by to say Hi and tell us what inspires you or give Ivoclar a ”Happy 100 year“ message.

Candulor a dental supply company from Switzerland has solutions no matter if you are analog or digital

Check out their PhysioSet TCR tooth line that has been complemented with 18 new shapes. A total of 48 age-appropriate anterior tooth shapes are available for the laboratory or dental practice to select from.

The Swiss School of Prosthetics in Springfield, Missouri is the place to learn all things removable. America with get supported and supplied by the only authorized partner Edmonds Dental Supply

Candulor, High End Only

Special Guests: Christina Heaslip, Crystal Heung , Dora Rodrigues, Eiron Simmons, Olivia Davis, and Tobias Specht.