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 LMT Lab Day Chicago, Elvis and Barb bring the mics to the Ivoclar stage for three very different conversations that all point to one big theme—this industry is evolving fast, and you better evolve with it.

First up, Savannah Elkins and Josh Williams from GPS Digital RPD jump into the digital removable world, where analog roots meet full-on additive workflows. Savannah shares how she went from pouring models to cranking out 100+ RPD frameworks a day, learning design in record time through hands-on training and a little “YouTube University.” The conversation dives into printed frameworks, flexible materials, and the push toward becoming a full lab-to-lab removable resource. It’s fast, it’s scalable, and yes… they absolutely test durability by throwing, stepping on, and possibly feeding things to alligators.

Next, Darin McCue from SalesLift Consulting flips the script and talks about what’s really holding labs back—and it’s not production. With a mix of passion and hard truth, Darin explains that most lab owners aren’t failing because they can’t make teeth—they’re failing because they don’t run a business. From leadership and communication to sales and team culture, he challenges owners to step off the bench and into a leadership role before burnout or failure forces the issue. His message is clear: if you don’t work on your business, it will eventually work against you.

Finally, Vicki Thomas and Carrie Ling bring a completely different energy, focused on community, collaboration, and leveling the playing field for smaller labs. Vicki shares the story behind launching Savvy Lab Solutions, a buying group built to give small and mid-sized labs access to the same pricing and vendor relationships as the big players. Carrie backs it up with real-world experience, explaining how vendors now proactively reach out with discounts and new products—saving time, money, and opening doors she didn’t even know existed. The conversation highlights the power of partnerships, word-of-mouth growth, and the realization that 78% of the industry is made up of labs that have historically been overlooked.

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 Guests: Carrie Ling, Darin McCue, Josh Williams, Savannah Elkins, and Vicki Thomas.

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.

We are many, many months away from Chicago in February, but our very own Barb Warner is going to be the very first female Chair of the Cal-Lab Association that is over 100 years old. Let’s make this the most well-attended event ever. Head over to Cal-Lab.org and sign up for this amazing meeting that takes place the Thursday and Friday of the same weekend as Lab Day Chicago. Let’s all plan to go and support Barb!

Now, first up we chat with a dentist from India, Dr. Manish Chhabra. After going though the school, Dr. Chhabra discovered that he really had a fondness for digital design. So he opened a lab. Eventurally he meets the owner of Leixir Dental Lab Group and formed a partnership to open a design center in India to support the group of labs. Starting with 2 employees and taking it to 300, Dr. Chhabra learned all about training and scaling. Now he has set off and created dgadental.com to train clinicans and technicians using VR headsets.

Then we sit down with someone from Ivoclar that has a lot to do with their success, Tobias Specht. Tobias came on the podcast about 2 years ago and this time stops by to update us on celebrating 20 years of emax , their new Ivotion Printed Base and how easy it is to reline, what Ivoclar has going on at IDS in their two booths, and a new way to mill emax faster. So much is covered, it’s hard to believe it all new from Ivoclar.

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: Dr Manish Chhabra and Tobias Specht.

Could you imagine buying a lab without knowing anything about teeth? Well, that is exactly what Thomas Brainsky did. Thomas is an entrepreneur that thought it was a great idea and soon learned the hard way that it isn't easy. Thomas talks about buying the lab, of course buying a second lab, struggling with growth and retention, learning what his lab does differently, connecting with David Lesh, changing his marketing, and all about the lessons he learned along the way.

Discover How Employers are benefiting from an Annual Tax savings upwards of $300 to $600 per employee with ZERO Net Cost & Increasing their employees NET Take Home Pay

Episode 295 featuring David Lesh

Brainsky Unleased

Wanting to take your knowledge and skills to the next level? If you are looking for the best education dedicated to dentistry in both the labs and clinics, check out Ivoclar Academy.

From on-demand webinars to in-person training, Ivoclar Academy has a program to meet your busy schedule. Check out all they have to offer HERE!

Whether you are looking to elevate your craftsmanship or looking to cut back costs, look no further – VITA MFT Teeth are the ultimate solution for creating lifelike and stunning smiles.

Crafted with precision and backed by cutting-edge technology, VITA MFT Teeth offers unparalleled esthetics and durability. And since VITA believes in the power of experiencing excellence firsthand, for a limited time only, they’re offering you the chance to get a complimentary case sample. That’s right, a full case, absolutely free. Just visit vitanorthamerica.com/freemft

Don’t wait any longer to start providing your customers with a premium tooth at an economy price. Redeem your free case sample and if you’re ready to buy, VITA will even give you an extra 10% discount by shopping online on their newly launched online store.

Join the VITA family today.

Special Guest: Thomas Brainsky.