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.

Mallorca, Spain. exocad Insights 2026 Three completely different conversations somehow all landed on the same theme: digital dentistry keeps getting smaller, smarter, and way more connected. First up, the crew catches back up with digital designer and educator Marjorie de Andrade, who went from Brazil to New Zealand chasing opportunity, only to end up building a global career through remote design, social media, and education. Marjorie talks about creating the Mastering exocad course, freelancing for dentists around the world, and why finding purpose through teaching became more important than simply designing crowns. She also shares thoughts on the newly announced exocad Hub, remote collaboration, and how digital dentistry is making communication between dentists and technicians easier than ever.

Then the microphones turn to Dr. Dwight Pate for one of the most workflow-heavy conversations the podcast has ever had. From hand waxing cases the old-school Dawson and Pankey way to designing provisionals and controlling full-mouth rehabs completely through exocad, Dr. Pate breaks down how he combines analog principles with digital workflows. The discussion dives deep into occlusion, provisionals, articulators, guided workflows, AI design, and why he believes digital dentistry still has to prove itself back in the analog world before it ever reaches the patient’s mouth.

Finally, the crew reconnects with Dr. Eimear O'Connell to talk about why clinicians need to attend events like Insights just as much as technicians. Eimear shares how digital workflows are improving communication between doctors, labs, and patients while making implant planning, dentures, and aesthetic dentistry more predictable than ever. From digital dentures that fit with almost zero adjustment to helping patients emotionally reconnect with their smiles, the conversation reminds everyone that behind every scanner, workflow, and software update is still a real person whose life changes because of dentistry.

Special Guests: Dr. Dwight Pate, Dr. Eimear O’Connell, and Marjorie de Andrade .

Then things shifted from mills to maintenance with Rebekah Serrago and Chris Wilson from Garland Dental Services. What started decades ago as a garage-based repair business fixing handpieces has grown into one of the industry’s best-kept secrets for equipment sales, service, and support. Rebekah shares the story of growing up folding flyers for her father’s repair company before eventually becoming CEO and expanding Garland into a massive online sales and service operation supporting everything from ovens to mills. Chris joins in to talk preventative maintenance, service certifications, keeping ancient ovens alive, and why labs desperately need dealers that actually understand the equipment they sell. It’s equal parts family-business story, repair shop wisdom, and hilarious behind-the-scenes dental lab banter.

Finally, the future officially arrived when the podcast crew sat down with Antoine Coppens from Relu and orthodontic lab owner Christian Saurman of New England Orthodontic Laboratory. What started as four engineering students experimenting with AI in Belgium somehow turned into fully automated dental workflows capable of designing surgical guides, night guards, models, and restorations in minutes. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping lab workflows, reducing manual design time, integrating directly into LMS systems, and even learning individual lab preferences. Christian explains how his custom-built orthodontic lab management system helped eliminate workflow chaos and automate huge portions of production, while Antoine gives a fascinating look into where dental AI is headed next. Between AI-generated appliances, automated scan checks, and self-learning workflows, this episode feels less like science fiction and more like a preview of what labs will look like over the next five years.

Special Guests: Antoine Coppens, Chris Wilson, Christian Saurman, Rebekah Serrago, and Tony Aliatim.

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.

CAM has been a major topic lately, and a lot of that conversation keeps coming back to hyperDENT. But instead of just talking about the software itself, it’s worth looking at real-world experience. Imagine USA has been using hyperDENT in their own lab for over 15 years. That kind of longevity says a lot—they’re not just selling and supporting it, they’re relying on it in their own production every single day. That’s what really sets them apart.

This week, Elvis and Barb sits down with Katherine Steinbock-Dyke of Whip Mix to talk legacy, leadership, and the evolution of a family-run powerhouse in the dental industry. As part of the Steinbock lineage, Katherine shares what it was like growing up around the business—from selling Girl Scout cookies on the shop floor to eventually stepping into the CEO role. Her journey wasn’t a straight line, starting instead in international business and corporate HR before finding her way back to Whip Mix and working her way through multiple roles across the company.

The conversation dives into the realities of running a multi-generational company in a rapidly changing industry. Katherine talks about balancing tradition with innovation, from gypsum and articulators to digital workflows and resin development. She opens up about the challenges of staying relevant, the importance of continuous improvement (hello, WIN program), and what it really means to lead a team she genuinely cares about.

Along the way, there’s plenty of classic bench banter—everything from assembling pizzas at Papa John’s to the chaos of early 3D printing workflows and navigating massive trade shows like IDS. The episode wraps with a look at where Whip Mix is headed, Katherine’s focus on reconnecting with labs and customers, and how the next generation is shaping the future of dental manufacturing while respecting its roots.

Special Guest: Katherine Steinbock-Dyke.

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.

Alright, Voices From the Bench listeners—We’re coming to you live from Dallas at DLAT, and we had to grab a quick pop-in from the floor.

That’s right—because when you’re walking a show this big, you never know who you’re going to run into… and sure enough, we caught up with Jordan Greenberg—yeah, the HyperDent guy.

No booth this time, just cruising the floor, connecting with partners, supporting dealers, and checking in with labs looking to level up their workflows.

And get this—he’s not just talking theory. We’re talking fully automated solutions for preform abutments… no human nesting. That’s right—automation that knows your blank size, optimizes your workflow, and keeps production moving without missing a beat.

It’s the kind of innovation that’s pushing labs forward—faster, smarter, and more efficient.

So if you’re at DLAT, keep your eyes open… because the future of CAM might just be walking right past you.

This week, we catch up with the always entertaining and wildly unconventional Seth Potter—live from Paraguay. From sailing the world with his family to building a thriving remote design business, Seth shares a story that’s anything but typical. What starts as a conversation about exocad Insights quickly turns into a deep dive into faith, freedom, digital dentistry, and what it really takes to create a life on your own terms.

Seth walks us through his unique upbringing—growing up with a missionary dentist father, assisting on dental trips in the Dominican Republic, and spending his teenage years living on a sailboat. That early exposure to dentistry (and adventure) eventually led him into dental technology, where he combined analog fundamentals with a self-taught digital workflow to become a leader in remote design.

We also get into the evolution of his career—from working in a small lab and helping implement digital systems, to launching one of the first remote CAD design businesses in Canada. Seth shares how he hustled for his first clients (hint: it involves Indeed and a clever pitch), scaled through efficiency, and ultimately hit a breaking point that forced him to rethink balance, burnout, and what success actually looks like.

Now splitting his time between Canada and Paraguay, Seth has built a lifestyle that many dream about—while still pushing the limits of productivity, workflow systems, and digital education with exocad.

If you’ve ever thought about going remote, improving your efficiency, or just wondered what’s possible in this industry… this one’s for you.

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: Seth Potter.

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.

Elvis actually made it down to the exhibition halls this year — and hyperDENT from FOLLOW-ME! Technology was everywhere.

Booth after booth, people were talking milling strategies, templates, and workflows. It felt like a full-on CAM takeover. Their Milling Roadmap scavenger hunt had attendees bouncing between Axsys, Imagine, D.O.F., and Roland collecting stamps like responsible adults…

Responsible adults chasing a bright orange folding electric hyperDENT scooter.

That’s what we love about the FOLLOW-ME! team — world-class CAM engineers talking microns and validation protocols one minute, then ripping around Lab Day the next.

Serious about precision. Not too serious about themselves.

Big shoutout for bringing the brains — and the electric horsepower.

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

• 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, we sit down with Richard Rosas Sr — artist, entrepreneur, removable specialist, and the man behind one of the most creative workflows we’ve heard in a long time. Richard’s journey starts in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he grew up moving between nine schools, discovered a gift for fine art, and even earned a scholarship to Tyler School of Art and Architecture — which he turned down out of fear of becoming a starving artist. After a detour into computer programming, granite engraving, and even opening a salsa dance studio with his mom (yes, there’s a South Beach nightclub moment that changed everything), Richard eventually answered a tiny newspaper ad asking, “Are you an artist?” That question led him into a dental laboratory and launched a career that would blend creativity, discipline, faith, and serious removable skills.

Under intense mentorship and PTC-style training, Richard sharpened his craft in removables, eventually managing a department and earning enough respect that doctors specifically requested him chairside. One large account even pulled all their cases after Richard pushed back on unrealistic deadlines — only to return weeks later with deeper respect and loyalty. That experience shaped his philosophy: honesty, communication, and quality always win long term. His path then led him to ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, where performing four to six arches a day gave him next-level surgical and prosthetic experience. It was there that the real lightbulb went off — immediate impression evaluation, real-time patient interaction, faster turnaround, and true collaboration between surgeon, prosthodontist, and technician completely changed his view of what was possible.

Now Richard has taken that high-efficiency, patient-centered model and built something entirely his own: a boutique removable lab with a fully functional, patent-pending mobile on-site dental laboratory inside a Mercedes Sprinter van. By bringing the lab directly to private practices, he combines multiple traditional appointments into streamlined visits, delivers final dentures in as little as two weeks, processes chairside in the parking lot, and markets not only to dentists but directly to patients. His mission isn’t just to make dentures faster — it’s to elevate the technician’s role, strengthen patient connection, and show that removables can be both efficient and beautiful. Through his new YouTube channel, Mastering Removables, he’s beginning to share that knowledge with others who want to rethink what a lab can be.

Hey, listeners—ever wonder what Elvis is doing when he’s not recording Voices from the Bench?

He’s a client rep for Derby Dental Laboratory, out in the field every day doing chairside visits and building relationships. His job is simple—keep doctors happy and keep them coming back.

And he couldn’t do it without iCortica.

Right from his phone, Elvis can see sales, remake rates, account notes, risks, and cross-sell opportunities—even before he walks through the door. No spreadsheets. No surprises. Just the info he needs to grow accounts.

Stop digging for data and start taking action.

Head to icortica.com and schedule your demo today.

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: Richard Rosas Sr.