Most hardware companies build their moats through consumables but Asiga's Justin Elsey built a successful 3D printer business around an open-materials ecosystem that turned out to be a competitive advantage, not a liability. Host Ankush Venkatesh.

(00:00) Can You Win in 3D Printing Without Lock-In

(00:17) Introducing Justin Elsey and Asiga's Open Materials Strategy

(00:42) Breaking the Razor-Blade Model in 3D Printing

(01:25) Why Open Materials Made Sense from the Start

(02:21) Enabling Innovation Through Material Freedom

(03:14) Building Trust Without Forcing Customer Lock-In

(04:26) Expanding a Broad Materials Portfolio

(05:12) Balancing Customer Demand vs. Innovation Vision

(06:05) Staying Grounded Through Real Customer Feedback

(07:10) Managing Trade-Offs in Material Performance

(08:35) COVID vs. True Digital Dentistry Inflection Point

(10:04) The Technology Stack Behind Digital Adoption

(12:11) The Rise of Digital Case Workflows in Dentistry

(14:10) Direct Printing Materials and Increased Utilization

(16:17) Shift Toward Application-Specific 3D Printers

(16:54) Lab vs. Chairside Economics and Use Cases

(18:01) Print Pods and Simplifying Chairside Production

(19:03) Cost Efficiency Through Material Packaging

(20:23) Where Capsule-Based Printing Works Best

(21:09) Limits of Capsule Systems for Larger Applications

(22:15) Market Adoption and Future Applications

(22:36) The Importance of End-to-End Workflow Optimization

(23:50) AI's Role in Design and Workflow Acceleration

(25:29) Integrating Design, Printing, and Post-Processing

(26:05) Automation Opportunities in Lab Workflows

(26:49) Automating Print Preparation with Funnel

(28:13) Scaling Automation from Small Labs to Production

(29:17) Hardware Automation vs. Software Automation Challenges

(30:25) Robotics and Continuous Printing Workflows

(32:17) Why Automation Adoption Has Been Slower

(33:19) Application-Specific Automation in High-Volume Labs

(34:25) The Next Growth Phase in Dental Lab Automation

(34:51) Robotics, AI, and the Future of Manufacturing

(36:13) The 80/20 Rule of Practical Automation

(37:24) Closing Thoughts on the Future of Dental 3D Printing

(00:00) The Future of Digital Dentistry

(00:29) Meet Dr. Isaac Tawil: Digital Dental Guru

(01:20) Entering the Pilot Seat: Becoming a Leader

(02:03) Early Days with Digital Scanners

(04:07) Real-Time Feedback and Beta Testing

(05:28) Bringing Products to Market: Lessons Learned

(07:13) Innovation Born from Clinical Experience

(08:32) From Instruments to Market: Solving Real Problems

(10:22) Impact of Technology and Photogrammetry

(11:14) Building the Digital Ecosystem

(12:25) The Challenge of Integration and AI

(14:14) Cross-Sector Innovation and Industry Growth

(16:09) International Expansion and Team Dedication

(17:58) Global Technology Adoption and Passion

(20:11) Technology Validated by Patient Outcomes

(21:05) Cone Beam Revolution and Predictive Dentistry

(22:28) Education and Treatment Planning

(23:29) Digital Treatment Planning at Glidewell

(24:38) Offering Multiple Treatment Options

(25:48) Design Services and AI in Treatment Planning

(27:23) Medical Navigation and Robotics

(29:09) Robots, Self-Driving Cars, and Safety

(32:15) Robotics in Dentistry and Amazon Factories

(33:14) Chairside Dentistry and Same-Day Solutions

(35:01) Disruptive Decisions at Glidewell

(36:47) The Future of Dental Laboratories

(38:06) Advances in Materials and Printing

(39:09) Micro Robotics and Flash Scanning

(40:33) Imagining the Future: Robots in Dentistry

(41:00) Closing Thoughts and Farewell

3D printing innovator Rik Jacobs joins Glidewell's Chuck Stapleton to share how dental 3D printing evolved from a scrappy, experimental technology into a serious manufacturing solution, and how that journey shaped him as a founder.

(00:00) Digital Dentistry and the State of Lab Technology

(00:33) Welcome to Dental Tech Now with Chuck Stapleton

(01:25) Dutch Culture, Directness, and Entrepreneurial Mindset

(03:27) From Startup Founder to 3D Systems Acquisition

(05:44) Scaling Dental 3D Printing Through Strategic Partnerships

(07:11) Choosing the Right Acquisition Partner

(08:27) Transitioning from Entrepreneur to Corporate Leader

(10:16) Innovation Challenges Inside Large Technology Companies

(12:55) Leaving Dental to Explore AI and Medical Imaging

(15:21) Rebuilding Networks in New Tech Industries

(17:50) Returning to Dental with Broader Perspective

(19:16) Understanding Jetting vs Other 3D Printing Technologies

(21:39) Multi-Material, Voxel-Based Printing Explained

(23:21) The Future of Multi-Material Denture Manufacturing

(25:27) Centralized Production vs In-Office Dentistry

(29:44) Regulatory Challenges in Dental 3D Printing

(33:50) Paving the Way for Future Dental Innovation

(35:22) Improving Complete Dental Lab Workflows

(37:30) Aligning Manufacturers with Real Customer Needs

(38:50) Expanding Access and the Future Vision for Dental Tech

(41:28) When Is the Innovation Journey Complete?

(44:15) Closing Thoughts and How to Connect

Explore how AI is reshaping diagnosis, clinical workflows, and decision-making in dentistry. Overjet's Wardah Inam and Glidewell's Sergei Azernikov dive into software fragmentation, data's evolving role, and what the next wave of technology might bring.

(00:00) Technology Waves in Dentistry: From Manual to AI

(00:57) Introducing Dr. Ward and Overjet

(01:16) From Robotics to Healthcare AI

(02:35) Early Breakthroughs in Machine Learning and Dentistry

(03:49) Where AI Is Making a Real Impact Today

(05:57) AI's Role in Diagnosis, Documentation, and Insurance

(06:08) Building Diagnostic Confidence and Objectivity

(07:41) Trust, Transparency, and Patient Communication

(08:18) The Next Five Years: Multimodal AI and Prediction

(09:25) How AI Changes the Role of the Dentist

(10:39) Software Fragmentation and AI as the Connector

(12:07) Data Openness, Interoperability, and Industry Standards

(13:25) Who Should Drive Dental Data Standards

(15:18) Rethinking Diagnostic Codes with AI

(16:07) Standardization and Consistency of Care

(18:04) AI, Insurance Algorithms, and Reduced Friction

(20:21) The Challenges of Insurance Coding

(21:54) Transparency, Cost Visibility, and the Patient Experience

(22:30) AI's Impact on Lab–Dentist Collaboration

(24:21) Closing the Loop with Objective Clinical Feedback

(27:08) The Data Challenge: Consistency and Quality

(28:00) Training AI with Imperfect Human Labels

(31:33) Ground Truth, FDA Clearance, and Validation

(33:24) Generative AI and the Future of Software Development

(37:23) Advice for Dentists Considering AI Adoption

(39:06) Final Thoughts and Wrap‑Up

Formlabs CEO Max Lobovsky and Glidewell's Ankush Venkatesh perform a technical autopsy on "automation debt," breaking down how the Form 4's architecture and the record-breaking 2025 growth of the Fuse SLS lineup are shifting the benchmark for high-velocity production. Tune in for a roadmap for the transition from desktop prototypes to the future of industrial dental tech.

(00:00) Welcome to Dental Tech Now and Meet Max Lobovsky

(00:33) Emerging Innovator Award and Industry Recognition

(01:29) Dental's Scale and Complexity in 3D Printing

(02:08) How Formlabs Discovered Dentistry as a Core Market

(03:30) Early Adoption: Dentists Find Desktop 3D Printing

(04:32) Focusing on Dental and Launching Biocompatible Materials

(05:41) Why Surgical Guides Became a Key Entry Point

(07:21) Major Growth Milestones in Dental 3D Printing

(07:41) Hardware Evolution: Speed, Reliability, and Scale

(09:00) Ease of Use as the Limiting Factor for Chairside Printing

(10:37) Co-Designing Hardware, Software, and Materials

(11:28) Open Materials, Ecosystems, and Business Models

(12:18) The Shift Toward More Open 3D Printing Platforms

(13:03) Automation in 3D Printing: Lessons from Form Cell and Form Auto

(15:36) When Automation Makes Sense at Scale

(17:43) Same-Day Dentistry as the Ultimate Workflow Goal

(18:29) SLA vs SLS and Where Dental Fits

(20:04) Material Performance Driving Both Dental and Industrial Uses

(22:08) COVID as an Accelerator for Digital and Distributed Manufacturing

(23:59) 3D Printing Medical Supplies During the Pandemic

(26:32) Chairside Printing and Application-Specific Systems

(27:34) Integrated Printers, Post-Processing, and Real Value

(29:26) The "Dirty Secret" of Post-Processing and Transparency

(31:42) Brand Trust vs Low-Cost Commodity Printers

(33:03) Global Hardware Development and the Role of China

(35:09) Global Talent and the Future of Engineering

(37:17) From Tinkerer Mindset to Production Mindset

(38:10) Focusing on Outcomes: Patients, Not Printers

(38:50) The Future of Dental Workflows and Chairside Manufacturing

(39:29) Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up

Dentistry is flooded with technology, but how much of it actually works at scale? On the next episode of Dental Tech Now, we're cutting through the hype. Dentist-turned-venture capitalist Jeremy Krell joins Glidewell's VP of Software Development, Sergei Azernikov to talk about what's real, what's not and what it actually takes to build technology that works across dentistry right now.

(00:00) The Rapid Pace of Dental Technology Innovation

(00:36) Meet the Guest: Dentist Turned Venture Capitalist

(01:08) From Practice Ownership to Tech Operator

(02:55) Founding Revere: Investing in Dental Technology

(05:13) What's Broken in Dentistry Today

(06:21) Dentistry 3.0: Connected Care & Interoperability

(07:46) Objective Dentistry, Data & Artificial Intelligence

(09:01) Fragmentation, PMS Limitations & Workflow Friction

(10:53) How VCs Evaluate Dental Technology

(13:27) AI, APIs & Industry Fit in Dentistry

(14:31) Patient Perspective & Price Transparency

(15:28) Why Labs Adopt Technology Faster Than Practices

(18:09) AI Will Not Replace Dentists

(19:06) Practical AI Use Cases for Dentists Today

(23:46) Avoiding AI Fatigue in Patient Communication

(25:06) Promising Dental Technology Companies

(29:33) Measuring ROI: Efficiency, EBITDA & Adoption

(31:26) Scaling a Dental Practice with Technology

(33:20) The Next 5–10 Years of Dentistry

(36:05) The Future of the Dentist–Lab Relationship

(39:27) Technology Investment Advice for Young Dentists

(42:51) Why Continuous Innovation Is Essential

(44:06) Closing Thoughts & Wrap‑Up

Stephenie Goddard launches Dental Tech Now, introducing Glidewell's tech leaders and hosts of this visual podcast who will delve into the advancements and trends transforming the dental manufacturing industry. Sergei Azernikov, Edsel Labao, Jason Song, Chuck Stapleton, Ankush Venkatesh, James Zamora.

(00:00) Welcome to Dental Tech Now

(01:19) Where Dental Technology Stands Today

(02:06) The Rise of Digital Workflows in Dentistry

(03:13) From Analog Labs to Fully Digital Production

(04:05) 3D Printing as the Backbone of Dental Manufacturing

(05:35) Scale, Automation, and the Future of Lab Production

(06:09) Separating Real Innovation from Industry Hype

(07:44) The Accelerating Pace of Dental Technology Change

(09:51) Infrastructure, Data, and Automation Challenges

(12:24) Intraoral Scanning Goes Mainstream

(13:17) AI Applications in Design, Diagnostics, and Printing

(15:07) Making Technology Feel Seamless for Dentists

(16:02) COVID as the Inflection Point for Digital Dentistry

(17:15) The Industry's Biggest Gap: Integration

(18:00) Introducing the Hosts of Dental Tech Now

(19:04) Why Dental Software Is Still Underestimated

(20:36) Interoperability, Standards, and Market Pressure

(23:51) When Is Technology Truly Manufacturable

(26:51) Technology Adoption Challenges Inside the Dental Lab

(29:12) Validation, Proof, and Building Trust in Innovation

(31:08) Engineering and Operations Working Together

(33:00) Testing, Iteration, and Scaling at Glidewell

(38:26) The Role of the Intrapreneur

(40:29) Additive Manufacturing at Scale

(43:33) Infrastructure, Data, and Security as the Foundation

(45:05) Technology, Growth, and Career Evolution

(48:17) Creating Value Beyond the Noise

(49:25) Cybersecurity Risks in Dental Technology

(51:50) What Makes Technology Stick in the Field

(55:00) How Glidewell Evaluates New Technology

(58:09) Closing Thoughts and Series Vision