Between the Layers

What happens when a dental lab veteran decides the industry needs more than it's got? Dave Fleming has an answer. As founder and CEO of SmileShape and owner of ClinicCare dental laboratories, Dave has lived both sides of the business: running the labs and building the technology meant to push them forward. In this episode, Dave takes us through his path from lab floor to company founder, what people get wrong about how a dental lab actually operates, and the moment he knew 3D printing wasn't just a trend but a complete shift in how labs work. We also dig into the hardest parts of going digital, how technology is changing what technicians spend their time on, and what's coming next for the industry. Plus, Dave shares a personal highlight: his work at the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy, where free dental care meets cutting-edge technology, and how that partnership with Asiga came to life. Whether you're running a lab, printing for one, or just curious where dentistry is headed, this conversation delivers.

What does it take to launch a startup mindset inside one of the largest dental labs in the world? In this episode of Between the Layers, we sit down with Ankush, an intrapreneur leading additive manufacturing at Glidewell, to find out.

Ankush takes us from the origin story of building a brand-new function inside a decades-old company to the realities of scaling 3D printing far beyond a handful of cases a day. We dig into the skeptics he had to win over, how innovation speed gets balanced against quality and regulatory demands, and what's actually coming off the printers at Glidewell today. He also shares where the bottlenecks still hide, what's next for digital dentistry over the next three to five years, and the misconceptions about 3D printing he's tired of correcting.

Whether you run a lab, work chairside, or just love hearing how big ideas take root inside big organizations, this one has something for you. Hit play, and don't miss his advice for anyone looking to drive change from the inside.

We sit down with Dr. Andrew Ip, a dentist who started out 3D printing for his Warhammer hobby and now prints in his practice. He's run dozens of printers over the years, and he's not shy about what he's learned along the way, including what works, what doesn't, and what he'd tell anyone just getting started.

We talk about how a tabletop hobby turned into a dental workflow, what same-appointment restorations mean for patients, and how he teaches digital workflows to other dental professionals. He also walks us through a day in the life of a dentist that 3D prints.

Whether you're a dental pro curious about going digital or just love hearing how a hobby can change a career, this one's for you. Hit play, and let's get between the layers.

Technology has a way of showing up exactly when an industry needs it most, and dental labs are proof.

In this episode, we sit down with Jimmy Stegall of Here to Serve Dental, a guy who's seen the lab world from every angle, as a lab manager and a lab salesman. Jimmy brings that insider perspective to a conversation about where the industry is headed, what's driving the technician shortage, and most importantly how digital workflows are turning that challenge into an opportunity.

This one's packed with real talk on lab sales, industry trends, and the tech that's reshaping what's possible on the lab floor.

From analog to digital, this episode is packed with insight. Marithe Baclagon joins Between the Layers to talk about her journey into digital dentistry, the biggest misconceptions about 3D printing, and how her educational background shapes the way she teaches digital workflows. We dig into what it's really like working in a high-quality dental lab, how UltraGLOSS LIFT trays have transformed her splint production, and where labs commonly go wrong with splints. Plus: her take on the next big shift in 3D printing, and her advice for labs still working analog.