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From private practice to becoming one of dentistry's most recognizable educators, Dr. Michael DiTolla shares how authenticity, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge convention helped shape his career and influence modern dentistry.
(00:00) Living With Sleep Apnea and Oral Appliance Therapy
(00:23) Welcome Back to Glidewell and Reflecting on Leaving
(01:14) Choosing Between Glidewell and Sirona
(02:25) Why Glidewell Always Felt Like Family
(03:06) The Birth of BruxZir and Early Zirconia Challenges
(04:11) The Monolithic Moment That Changed Restorative Dentistry
(05:10) When Zirconia Was Too Ugly to Sell
(06:38) From Ugly Duckling to Clinical Workhorse
(07:10) Seeing Glidewell as a Customer, Not an Insider
(07:30) Discovering Sleep Apnea Care in General Practice
(08:27) Glidewell's Evolution Into a Technology Leader
(09:00) How Marketing and Education Drove Industry Change
(10:09) The Power of the Sledgehammer Video
(11:16) Zirconia Filling the "Cast Gold Void"
(12:01) Technology's Role in Saving Marginal Preps
(12:51) Early Career Lessons and Bad Dental Habits
(13:27) The Hygiene Department and Early On‑Camera Dentistry
(14:04) The Hairpiece Story and Learning Authenticity
(17:27) Choosing Confidence and Being True to Yourself
(19:45) From Private Practice to Glidewell: The Origin Story
(21:07) Early Leadership, Performance, and the Need to Be Heard
(22:17) Why Dentistry Was the Chosen Path
(24:02) First Clinical Collaboration With Glidewell
(25:08) Why Every Dentist Should Work in a Lab
(26:27) Being Recruited Full‑Time by Jim Glidewell
(28:03) Creating Dental Education Before YouTube
(29:23) Learning From On‑Camera Clinical Mistakes
(30:21) Becoming an "Average Dentist" With Above‑Average Results
(31:46) Facing Tough Feedback From Technicians
(32:46) Searching for Better Prep Techniques
(33:18) Discovering the Reverse Preparation Technique
(34:35) The First Prep That Changed Everything
(36:04) Dental School, Talent, and Under‑Reduction
(37:57) Sharing a Technique That Changed Dental Education
(38:59) Digital Dentistry Ends Guesswork Forever
(40:12) Raising the Standard for Tooth Preparation
(40:26) Preview of the Next Episode
By GlidewellFrom private practice to becoming one of dentistry's most recognizable educators, Dr. Michael DiTolla shares how authenticity, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge convention helped shape his career and influence modern dentistry.
(00:00) Living With Sleep Apnea and Oral Appliance Therapy
(00:23) Welcome Back to Glidewell and Reflecting on Leaving
(01:14) Choosing Between Glidewell and Sirona
(02:25) Why Glidewell Always Felt Like Family
(03:06) The Birth of BruxZir and Early Zirconia Challenges
(04:11) The Monolithic Moment That Changed Restorative Dentistry
(05:10) When Zirconia Was Too Ugly to Sell
(06:38) From Ugly Duckling to Clinical Workhorse
(07:10) Seeing Glidewell as a Customer, Not an Insider
(07:30) Discovering Sleep Apnea Care in General Practice
(08:27) Glidewell's Evolution Into a Technology Leader
(09:00) How Marketing and Education Drove Industry Change
(10:09) The Power of the Sledgehammer Video
(11:16) Zirconia Filling the "Cast Gold Void"
(12:01) Technology's Role in Saving Marginal Preps
(12:51) Early Career Lessons and Bad Dental Habits
(13:27) The Hygiene Department and Early On‑Camera Dentistry
(14:04) The Hairpiece Story and Learning Authenticity
(17:27) Choosing Confidence and Being True to Yourself
(19:45) From Private Practice to Glidewell: The Origin Story
(21:07) Early Leadership, Performance, and the Need to Be Heard
(22:17) Why Dentistry Was the Chosen Path
(24:02) First Clinical Collaboration With Glidewell
(25:08) Why Every Dentist Should Work in a Lab
(26:27) Being Recruited Full‑Time by Jim Glidewell
(28:03) Creating Dental Education Before YouTube
(29:23) Learning From On‑Camera Clinical Mistakes
(30:21) Becoming an "Average Dentist" With Above‑Average Results
(31:46) Facing Tough Feedback From Technicians
(32:46) Searching for Better Prep Techniques
(33:18) Discovering the Reverse Preparation Technique
(34:35) The First Prep That Changed Everything
(36:04) Dental School, Talent, and Under‑Reduction
(37:57) Sharing a Technique That Changed Dental Education
(38:59) Digital Dentistry Ends Guesswork Forever
(40:12) Raising the Standard for Tooth Preparation
(40:26) Preview of the Next Episode