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.

This week, Elvis and Barb finally track down the always-on-the-move Katie (now Katherine!) Wilcox to hear her journey from dental assisting to lab tech to helping shape one of the industry’s fastest-growing digital solutions companies. What starts as a conversation about avoiding small talk and loving lab life quickly turns into a deep dive into outsourcing, automation, and how labs are surviving (and thriving) in a post-COVID world.

Katherine shares how her early curiosity in the back of a dental office led her into dental technology, why she fell in love with the bench, and what pulled her out of it into sales and software. From cold-calling labs during COVID to helping scale a global design center, she offers a behind-the-scenes look at how outsourcing evolved from “no way” to “no-brainer” for labs trying to manage workload and staffing challenges.

The conversation shifts into the evolution from Evident to EviSmart, where the focus is now on automation, workflow optimization, and reducing the chaos of digital file management. Katherine breaks down how connecting systems, eliminating repetitive tasks, and adding AI-driven QC is helping labs do more with less—without sacrificing quality.

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 Guest: Katherine Wilcox.

Want to go on the ULTIMATE exocad vacation? Endless fun, epic weather, amazing food, exotic culture, and two days all about the greatest software in dental, exocad. Join Elvis and Barb on May 9 and 10 on the beautiful Spanish island of Mallorca. It's called exocad Insights 2024 and it's full of amazing speakers, great breakout sessions, evening events, and attendees from all over the world. Don't wait, register today at exocad.com/insights2024 and use the code VFTB15 to save 15% off the fee. We will see you there!

On June 9 & 10, Voices From the Bench will be back at the Florida Dental Lab Association Symposium that's to the wonderful people at Jensen Dental. Be sure to check out FDLA.NET to see the line up and to register.

This week we continue the conversations from the Ivolcar Ballroom at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2024 with:

• Dr. Sandy and James Kirk who own One Dental Labs. Dr. Sandy is a dentist from Chile who met James when he was there on a mission trip. Falling in love, the build the lab and ran it together as Dr. Sandy continues to get her license in the US.

• Dr. Ed McLaren stops by to talk about minimal invasive dentistry, the importance of bonding, and how he continues to make parody movies featuring dental technicians. Check some of the movies here: https://www.youtube.com/user/edwardmclaren

• Patrick Allen sits down to talk about the Illinois Denturist Association, taking his practice digital, and bringing BPS (Suction) Denture education to the US

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 Guests: Dr. Ed McLaren, Dr. Sandy Kirk, James Kirk, and Patrick Allen, LD.

Are you in the market for top-notch digital equipment, such as mills, scanners, or furnaces? Well, the time to act is NOW! Ivoclar, has introduced unbeatable rates exclusively for customers in North America.

Ivoclar has made it easier for you to invest in cutting-edge digital equipment with lower-than-prime interest rates. Whether you're looking to upgrade your milling capabilities, enhance your scanning technology, or optimize your furnace performance, Ivoclar Digital has you covered.

To take advantage of this offer, the dedicated Digital Specialists at Ivoclar are ready to assist you. For details on how to get in touch, visit Voicesfromthebench.com and the Ivoclar tab to find all the information you need to get started.

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.

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

Have you ever wanted to learn exocad? Do you find learning new design software overwhelming or just too costly because you have to go to a weekend course. Even if you have never used design any software before, we have the perfect solution for you to begin your exocad journey. Head over to the Institute of Digital Dentistry and select the “Mastering Exocad Course”.

Broken down to three segments, the amazing Marjorie will take you through Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced courses leaving you with the confidence to tackle most cases coming into your lab. I personally am going through all 70 lessons and find it one of the most thorough courses you can take at your own pace.

And for being a listener of the podcast, if you enter code VOICES when checking out they will take an additional 10% off any course they offer…. And they offer a ton of content for labs and clinics.

Special Guest: Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassiny.

First up is Alan Banks from Roe Dental Laboratory. Alan talks about his many roles in the lab and their new and interesting way to take accurate full arch implant impressions without the need of photogrammetry called just Grammetry.

Next up is Millie Tang, owner of Hunan Vsmile Biotechnology Co, a manufacturer of zirconia in China. Millie talks about their zirconia, how they distribute it, and her 10 year goal of taking over the dental world.

Wrapping up the episode is Monica Buchanan. Monica is a CDT in orthodontics and talks about the experience getting it virtually. Monica also talks about all the appliances she makes being an in-office technician in a two doctor practice.

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

Bringing Dentures to Life, Featuring Sr Nexco® with Jenelle Tabaković at LMT Lab Day West show in Garden Grove California.In this hands-on course, Jenelle Tabaković teaches you how to take your dentures to the next level using SR Nexco Gingival Composite. Suitable for both analog and digital dentures, she leads you through a deep dive into the proper cutback, prep and glaze protocols. Space is limited. Light lunch is included. Register HERE!

Special Guests: Alan Banks, Millie Tang, and Monica Buchanan.

Be sure to come see Barb on stage and join a great association. The Cal-Lab meeting February 23 & 24 in Chicago!
JOIN TODAY!

Let's face it. Digital is a majority of our workflow. At least for fixed and it's quickly becoming the workflow for removables. As labs scale, there has been a need for someone to handle the design side of the production. Enter Full Contour. In 2011 Rob Laizure and his father decided to take their lab and dedicate it to only design services. Slowly scaling as they grew, they soon went from 3 technicians in an apartment to over 150 worldwide. Rob talks about the journey, the relationships, and the need to deliver 100% to labs. Now even bigger, Full Contour became part of the 3shape family and renamed 3Shape Design Services and still offers the amazing options and constant quality we are all use to.

Are you attending the LMT Lab Day show in Chicago from Feb 23rd-25th? Join Ivoclar as they celebrate their 100 Year Anniversary in the dental industry. A feat few have accomplished and it’s all thanks to you! In the Ivoclar Grand Ballroom A&B, get up close and personal with Ivoclar digital technology, materials, and an EPIC speaker lineup. Learn firsthand from many of the industry’s leading dental professionals as they share their tips and tricks for success. Come and hear from Lee Culp, Esther Schwenning, Yuki Momma, Dr Ed McLaren, Eric Kukucka and MORE... For a full listing of speakers CLICK HERE!

Also, come and see us, Voices from the bench, as this will be our home on Feb 24th and 25th. Come by to say Hi, record with us and tell us what inspires you or just give Ivoclar a “Happy 100 years“ shout out on the podcast.

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 Guest: Rob Laizure.

Usually when a dentist starts making their own restorations, they are Cerec crowns. But with all the advances in milling, printing, and now Artificial Intelligence it's becoming easier for clinics to have a in-office lab. Dr. Austin Vetter from Vetter Dental in Fargo North Dakota sees a lot of potential in employing and training an assistant to do the duties of a dental technician. Being a fan of technology and utilizing it for a streamlined workflow, Dr. Vetter comes on the podcast to talk about the equipment he uses, the software that makes it possible, the importance of the craft after the machine, and more importantly, as a clinician, where he sees dental laboratories place in a industry that is becoming more and more automated.

Whip Mix is thrilled to announce their most recent addition to their milling product line. Introducing the DWX-53DC from DGSHAPE. This powerful mill satisfies your 'NEED FOR SPEED'. Three reasons to consider this mill:

1. It has 3 times the gripping power for PMMA.

2. It mills 30% faster.

3. The integrated webcam allows you to monitor a milling project from anywhere, on any device.

Go to tinyurl.com/WhipMixRolandMill to learn how you can take your milling to the next level.

Special Guest: Dr. Austin Vetter.

Participate or cheer the racers at the Race For the Future 8.0 - August 28th - Chicago

Come to the FIRST and FREE Education Day - August 27th - Chicago

Most labs have 3shape running a majority of their digital workflow. Do you know the history of 3shape? Do you know why 3shape does what it does? Rune Fisker comes on the podcast to tell us that and so much more. Rune was the very first employee of 3shape after the two founders stated the company, so he knows his stuff. Rune talks about the history and timeline of 3 shape, what and who has helped shape the company to what it is now, getting into intraoral scanners, and what 3shape is working on next that Rune feels are the hot trends in dentistry.

Whip Mix introduces VeriGuide OS, a Class I, CE certified resin material developed for the production of high precision surgical guides for use in dental implant surgery. The new material is formulated for 3D-printing systems (DLP, SLA, and LCD) at both 385 nm and 405 nm.

VeriGuide OS™ has been successfully tested for biocompatibility and meets all mechanical properties requirements. The resin features an easy post-processing method and produces highly accurate surgical guides with a high-quality surface.

Sleeves may be inserted directly after printing with excellent fit. The material can also be sterilized by autoclave, steam, ethylene oxide, or gamma rays without affecting dimensional stability, physical properties, and biocompatibility.

For more information about VeriGUIDE OS, visit whipmix.com or call (800) 626-5651.

The fastest growing product at Gro3X are the Gro3X Aligners. Gro3X Aligners are only available from Gro3X Aligner certified labs: Why? Because they believe in the synergies that are being created between you, the dental office, and your lab. And they want to further leverage these synergies. Their aligners are used as a pre-treatment to a larger restorative esthetic case, to widen gaps prior to placing implants, to close a diastema, ease crowding, and simply enhance your patient’s smiles. Even for your Essix retainer needs your Gro3X aligner certified lab can help. Look for a Gro3X Aligner certified lab near you, such as Castle Dental Lab in San Antonio, TX (ask for Blaine), AMK Dental Lab in O’Neill, NE (ask for Anne), Staggs Dental Lab in McCoole Maryland (ask for Derrick), AA Dental Design in Murrieta, CA (ask for Frankie), and many, many more… For a complete listing of Gro3X Aligner Certified Labs go to www.gro3x.com

Special Guest: Rune Fisker.

Did you know that most inLab MCX5 users that have ordered burs from Gro3X once, keep on ordering Gro3X burs over and over again? Because Gro3X burs are engineered by some of the folks who have been providing burs to some of the largest US production labs for years.

Did you also know, that most Roland and DGShape users have no idea what they are missing out?

To give Roland and DGSHAPE users the opportunity to find out for themselves how good Gro3X burs work also for their machines, Gro3X is now offering a BUY 3, GET 2 BURS FREE special. This is exclusively for Voices From The Bench listeners.

Simply go to the Gro3X website at gro3x.com click on burs, then select Roland & DGSHAPE. Add five burs of your choice to your cart, click on CHECK-OUT, enter discount code B3G2Burs and check out.

Whip Mix is pleased to add VeriCast OS, a burnout pattern print resin, to Whip Mix’s growing Veri Brand Resin offering. VeriCast OS works with LCD and DLP printers in both 385 and 405 nanometer wavelengths.

It prints accurate and detailed crowns, bridges, substructures, and RPD frameworks, is durable, and leaves no ash or residue.

Since it burns out cleanly, VeriCast OS is ideal for investment casting and ceramic pressing. For optimal results, we recommend Whip Mix ResinVest, which is a phosphate investment made specifically for burning out printed or milled resin patterns.

Visit whipmix.com to learn more about VeriCast OS or any of Whip Mix’s other 3D Print Resins.

Special Guest: Kenn Butler.

Whip Mix’s new Veriwash resin cleaning station is the ideal piece of equipment to use in the 3D printed resin post process. It’s oscillating, multi-speed stirrer produces a tornado-like vortex every 30-seconds, and guarantees efficient, effective and powerful cleaning whether the units are individual or still attached to the build plate.

The two alcohol baths make an effective step-wash system. It cleans more efficiently and there is less alcohol needed, since it is re-used for both a fresh bath and a dirty bath.

The VeriWash’s intelligent design offers features such as Mode, Time, and Start/Stop button display which gives the operator full and automatic control of the cleaning process. A mesh basket used in the wash container makes it easy to keep track of small printed parts when cleaning. The affordable unit’s one-year warranty ensures peace-of-mind for the owner.

Visit whipmix.com or call (800) 626-5651 for more information about this great new product.

Gro3X is a dental supply, service and marketing company that was founded by Norbert Ulmer and their goal is to help dental labs, and especially small labs to lower their cost for supplies, provide business opportunities, and generate growth.

Attend their upcoming Gro3X Gem Talks on November 5th in Charlotte, NC. Gro3X Gem Talks is an all day marketing symposium in Ted-Talk style featuring some 10+ lab speakers as they share their most relevant and practical marketing techniques.

We will hear from Sasha der Avanessian from Harvest Dental, Anne Kelzer from AMK Dental Lab, Frankie Acosta from AA Dental Design and Ricki Braswell from Beyond Coaching and former Co-Executive Director of the NADL. All of them will talk about real marketing as it is done in their own labs and businesses every day.

Register now at gro3x.com to take advantage of their early bird special of only $95.

Enter discount code VFTB for Voices from The Bench and receive an extra 10% discount, just because you listen to this Podcast.

Special Guest: Eric Kukucka DD.

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 is now providing its milling customers with Prima Milling Tools, the high performance milling tools engineered specifically for Roland mills. This new tool range outperforms the competition. The results show not only that the tools last 29% longer than most others, their precision creates pin-point accuracy, ensuring a perfect fit for the patient.

The uncoated tools save up to 40% per restoration over the market leaders, but you can save 20% on these great tools through January 10, 2021! To take advantage of this offer, VISIT WHIPMIX.COM OR CALL (800) 626-5651

Special Guest: Richard Pickard.