It’s amazing that so much time has passed since the 2023 DTG Symposium that happened last September. It’s also amazing all the wonderful people we were able to connect with and record. This week wraps up those conversations with two outstanding technicians in different points of their careers. First up is Salvador Carrillo who talks about learning about dental technology in Mexico, coming to the states for college, connecting with so many people in our industry, “retiring”, and using his ability to bring technicians and techniques to both Mexio and the US. Then we chat with Renata Vano, the “never stop teaching” technician from Brazil. Renata talks about dental life in Brazil, coming to the DTG symposium in 2016, learning English to teach a hands-on course at Lab Day, teaching others around the world, and how she makes amazing clear digital dentures.

Special Guests: Renata Vano and Salvador Carrillo.

Be sure to check out Part 3 of Ivoclar's "THE DENTAL SHOWDOWN" where Elvis Dahl and Dr. David Rice will discuss the complicated relationship of dental lab and dental office..... LIVE! November 9th at 7:00 pm Eastern. Register and bring your questions!

It's amazing how many people traveled from all over the world to go to the GC America facility in Alsip, Ill to attend the DTG Symposium back in September. We would have thought them crazy until we got to attend the symposium and meet some of them. We would fly around the world to go to that show. This week brings three conversations from 3 different countries. First up is SUPER close to the meeting. Dan Boskocevic is the Senior Marketing Manager for GC America and talks about his beginnings, the history of GC America, the early days of the DTG, and some great trends he is seeing in dental. Then we talk to a talented technician out of Latvia, Kostia Vyshamirski. Kostia talks about his journey into dental technology, going to school, and opening his own lab where he uses digital but still relies heavily on analog. And we wrap up with a father and son team that came all the way from New Zealand, David and Michael De Wet. David talks about learning the trade and relocating to buy a 2 person lab and grow it to 26. Michael talks about growing up in the lab, getting to work with dad, and using his skills and the labs equipment to make jewelry.

Special Guests: Dan Boskocevic, David de Wet, Kostia Vyshamirski, and Michael de Wet.

Back in September, a group called the DTG gathered for the first time in a while at the GC America facility in Alsip, Illinois. Luckily, we were honored to be a part of this amazing show. There was so many talented technicians in one room, our biggest regret is not getting to talk to all of them. BUT we did get two reluctant people to sit down and share their stories. First up is Shelia Raquel, president of White Peaks Dental Solutions USA. Shelia talks about being a dental assistant in the military, working on the bench, and her new female empowered group called "Queens - Women in the Industry". Next we sat down with Quint Whipple from Phoenician Dental Studio. Quint talks about wanting to be a dentist, getting wise, working in Las Vegas, how occlusion affects overall health, and the history behind the famous DTG coins.

Special Guests: Quint Whipple and Sheila Raquel.

Back in September, Elvis and Barb attended the DTG Symposium that was held in the GC America facility in Alsip, Illinois. Such an amazing meeting filled with fantastic people. This week we start the collection of wonderful conversations. First up we talk to two talented technicians that are killing it in a in-office lab and they only graduated from New York City Tech in 2019! Erika Ramirez and Marjola Paloka are two of the three techs that are creating smiles at Gdental in New York City. From patient treatment planning to waxing and pressing emax to milling zirconia, these two are doing more than most technicians do in a full service lab.... while having too much fun along the way. Then we get some amazing updates from past podcast guest, Beatrice Robichaud from Panthera. Beatrice comes on to talk about the Panthera Master Cup (this was from before the winner was announced), magnets, an amazing new way to easily get a titanium bar under your full arch zirconia restorations. Titanium bar makes for less breakage under 8mm of space!

Special Guests: Béatrice Robichaud, Erika Ramirez , and Marjola Paloka.

Kristina Vaitelyte was born in Lithuania the day it gained its independence to a family were every member ended up in dental. Even after trying not to have a career in teeth, Kristina couldn't fight her destiny when she saw digital dental design at IDS one year. While getting her Bachelor degree at Utena College, Kristina traveled the world to learn dental technology in different countries. She eventually found her home in the UK, working in an in-office lab getting to work directly with patients helping them get the smile they deserve.

Join Kristina Vaitelyte, Elvis Dahl, Barbara Warner, and so many more at exocad Insights May 9 - 10, 2024 in Mallorca, Spain!

Special Guest: Kristina Vaitelyte.

Looking to learn exocad? Check out the Institute of Digital Dentistry for a great online training program. Elvis approved!

We love stories of success in the dental lab industry. One such story is the career of Todd Reid. Todd learned about dental technology from a high school friend and was soon on a path that led to owning Access Dental Laboratories in Syracuse, NY. It definitely wasn’t an easy journey, but luckily he had the opportunity to work for and with a lot of great people that helped him along the way. Todd talks about learning every “seat” in a lab, some unique opportunities that most technicians don’t get, deciding to open a lab and how he went about it, and creating a working environment that centers around treating his employees with respect.

Special Guest: Todd Reid.

Nightshift Online Symposium!

Check out Part 1 of the Dental Showdown by Ivoclar featuring Elvis Dahl and Dr. David Rice!

In 2024, an iconic company in the dental space will turn 100 years old! To start the celebration we welcome the Director of Marketing Communications with VITA North America Sam Nekola to the podcast. Sam comes on to talk about her role, the history of VITA, many of the amazing products that make up their company, and how they plan to engage the customers as they turn 100. Also joining the podcast is VITA user and past podcast guest Mackenzie Mayer. Mackenzie updates us on her new lab, Bella Dental Studio, why she loves VITA, and her hopes to teach others the VITA way of producing fantastic looking restorations.

Special Guests: MacKenzie Mayer and Sam Nekola.

We love dental legacies. When we got contacted by a dental technician that works in a dental office with 3 family members as dentists and another getting ready to graduate dental school, we knew a great story of a busy technician would be there. Dr. Jill Morris and Dr. Burr Bakke own World Class Dentistry in Sarasota, Florida dealing in high-end cosmetic work and ceramic implants. They are joined by their son, Dr. Cameron Johnson who specializes in ortho and airway. Both of the younger siblings went to the New York City Tech School of Restorative Dentistry. Sydney Johnson went on to dental school while Kelton Johnson became the in-office technician. They talk about family life, workflow, treatment planning, and leaving a legacy for future generations of this dental family.

Special Guests: Dr. Burr Bakke, Dr. Cameron Johnson, Dr. Jill Morris , Kelton Johnson, and Sydney Johnson.

We constantly talk about the lack of technicians in our industry. So why are the few programs left struggling to fill the seats? Brooke Harris is out to change that. Brooke is the Director of Dental Technology Program at the Indiana University Fort Wayne school. Brooke talks about getting into dental technology, the labs she worked at, going back to teach, becoming the director, creating a better program, switching to a bachelor program, and trying to raise awareness of the program and the profession in general.

Special Guest: Brooke Harris CDT, TE.

This week we bring you a collection of "Speed Recordings" we got during the "Speed Dating" at the Ladies of the Mill Summit. We talk to so many about so many things, it's best to just list all 17 guests and let you find out what is discussed:

Mary Cardenas

Special Guests: Betty Teel, Brandy S., Denisse Lasso, Dora Rodrigues, Emily Valentine, Hannah Fincher, Heather McMeans, Holly Wood, Jennifer Taylor, Kathryn Green, Krysta Lovelace, Lauren Crowe, Lindsay Berg, Mary Cardenas, Raegen Bicklein, Sarah Williamson CDT, and Stefani Hudson.