This week we are joined by Jed Archibald for his first solo interview, and he didn’t disappoint. Coming from a family deeply rooted in dentistry, his father worked closely with Dr. Gordon Christensen. Jed has built his own reputation as an innovator. In 2006 he launched Archibald Digital, embracing CAD/CAM at a time when most technicians were skeptical. His philosophy? Don’t just ask what digital can do now—ask what it could do.

Jed also shared insights on materials, praising the underrated Empress Multi for its beauty and reliability, and highlighting Ivoclar’s ZirCAD Prime zirconia for solving problems that plague other multilayer products.

Not content with what the market offered, Jed even created his own line of 3D printing resins—including a stone-like model resin and a lavender-infused cast resin that makes a lab smell like a spa.

Now, as the new Director of Development at Utah Valley Dental Lab, Jed is taking on a role testing new ideas and pushing innovation without disrupting production.

Check out the amazing resins from Jed: https://www.archibalddigital.com/category/all-products

Special Guest: Jed Archibald.

DON'T MISS the dental event of the year, November 7-8. Nowak Dental Supplies is hosing NOLA Lab Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana. Head over to nolalabfest.com to see the line up and to register.

Who wouldn't want to become a Master at the staple of the most common abutment in overdentures, the locator? This week we welcome back to the podcast, Todd Hydock, who updates everyone on the new Angled Locator abutments and Locator Fixed. For the first time on the podcast is Zest Dental Solution's Director of Education, Amy Helayel. Amy talks about her journey from clinical to lab to eventually Zest. Discovering a passion for education, Amy travels constantly to teach labs and clinics the proper way to use the Locator system. NOW, they have created the Zest Lab Mastership program to take your skill to the next level.

REGISTER HERE: https://info.zestdent.com/labmastership

Use the code: VOICESLAB to get $100 off!

Special Guests: Amy Helayel and Todd Hydock.

The race is OVER! Thank you to everyone that donated to this wonderful organization. But the fundraising doesn't end at the race, you can donate all year long at: https://fdlt.memberclicks.net/donor-form#/

This week wraps up the collection of conversations we got at the Jensen Dental booth at the FDLA Symposium and Expo. Thank you Jensen Dental for hosting us at this wonderful event. First we talk to Leah Gold, an assistant turned dental technician. Leah got into assisting while in Ohio and during the pandemic, she moves down to Florida and starts working in a in-office lab for a prosthodontist. Basically having to teach herself most of the skills, she was soon setting teeth, using exocad, and doing custom shades with MIYO.

Then as a BONUS, not at the FDLA, we bring back on Jade Connors, denturist out of Canada. We just talked to Jade last March at IDS and she was a day away from finding out if she won the CANDULOR KunstZahnWerk Award. Well, it turns out she did win and she comes on to talk about the process, the pains, and the wins, all while learning a new skill.

Special Guests: Jade Connors, DD, RDT and Leah Gold.

It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:

Select: Race for the Future

A BIG thanks to Jensen Dental for allowing us to record at the amazing FDLA Symposium & Expo!

First up is a dentist turned sales rep and now 26 years with Jensen Dental, Nick Bathija. Nick talks about becoming a dentist, falling in love, and learning that he's not really suited to be a dentist. Starting with Jensen when it was still a mostly alloy company and being there when MIYO hit the scene, Nick can talk a lot about what makes MIYO so great!

Then we are visited by past podcast guest, Shaana Gripp. Shaana went from an introverted in-office technician to leading education at Harvest Dental. She talks about making the switch, getting used to being in front of a camera, and the joy of seeing people get better with techniques she taught them.

We wrap up the episode with a conversation with long time lab manager at Drake Dental Laboratory, Mark Stueck. Mark talks about going from a McDonald's Manager to delivery driver, being recruited to another state, being there for 36 years, and why it was important for him to give back on the NBC board.

Special Guests: Mark Stueck, Nick Bathija, and Shaana Gripp.

It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:

Select: Race for the Future

A HUGE thanks to Jensen Dental for allowing Elvis to go to one of the greatest regional shows left, the https://www.fdla.net/ Southern States Symposium & Expo.

First up we meet two "newish" technicians in our industry. From Alaska to Florida, Savannah Jones taught herself exocad and is now doing removable work at DCS Dental Lab. Gabriel Jimenez was working at Walmart when he found a dental office that had an in-office lab and it wasn't long before he too found himself at DCS Dental Lab. They talk about their journey, learning new things, and what they think of their first dental show.

Then a blast from WAY back comes on to update us on all things Tom Zaleske. Tom was on episode 16 (if you can believe it)! He talks about his journey to become a one person removable technician working out of his house, getting into speaking and what he speaks on, and some thoughts on the future of dental labs.

Then we wrap up the episode with another past podcast guest, Josh Williams. Josh is at GPS Digital RPD where they are killing it at printing metal frameworks. He talks about their growth, the process of fabrication, and how easy it is to get them a case.

Looking for a way to unlock the full potential of your digital dentistry workflow. Take it from Elise Heathcote, associate manager of digital services with Ivoclar. This is all about the Cam Academy. They have a new in-person training experience designed specifically for dental technicians. This hands on course explores the full potential of programmable Cam software, helping you take your digital workflow to the next level. Learn directly from Ivoclar experts, refine your skills and bring new precision and efficiency to your lab. Cam Academy is more than a course. It's your next step in digital excellence. To reserve your spot, visit the Ivoclar Academy website or contact your local Ivoclar sales representative today.

Special Guests: Gabriel Jimenez, Josh Williams, Savannah Jones, and Thomas Zaleske, AS.

It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:

Select: Race for the Future

Full Arch Immediate Load Hybrids is still one of the most profitable restorations to a lab. The skill and confidence to do them is difficult, but thanks to Dr. Brandon Kofford, the day of surgery is getting even easier. Two years ago, Dr. Kofford came on this podcast to talk about Smart Denture Conversion. The workflow to make a faster and better converted denture. Well after a lot of work and FDA planning, they are back as Smart on X and have introduced the Omibut, a new MUA that can be used at any angle. He also talks about improving the original version to make Smart Denture Conversion 2.0 and the use of prefabricated arches.

Special Guest: Dr. Brandon Kofford.

It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:

Select: Race for the Future

All good things must come to an end. No, not this podcast... but the recordings we got while with the AMAZING people of exocad at IDS 2025. It was a wonderful trip and we got to meet and talk to a lot of fantastic people from around the world. This week is no different as we meet a married couple that met in a lab, married, and now own a lab. Agata Bak is from Poland but went to London to find more opportunities for dental technology. Iman Ansari is from Iran and also ended up in London. They both worked at the same lab and it took Iman a while to win Agata over, but he did, and they fell in love. After getting married and working at a few other labs, they put everything on the line and opened Black Pearl Dental Lab where they specialize in high end fixed work.

Then we meet the past President of exocad North America Larry Bodony. Larry recently retired but still stopped by to tell us the awesome story on how he got the job when at IDS 2011. Taking a chance on a new design software and them taking a chance on Larry, set into motion of growing exocad in North America. It took time and work, but soon exocad was gaining popularity. Larry talks about those early years, his use of "reverse" tradeshows, and now that he is retired, working with another new exciting software Bite Finder.

Special Guests: Agata Bak & Iman Ansari and Larry Bodony.

DON'T MISS the dental event of the year, November 7-8. Nowak Dental Supplies is hosing NOLA Lab Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana. Head over to nolalabfest.com to see the line up and to register.

Yet even more conversations that Elvis and Barb got while in the exocad booth at IDS 2025..... back in MARCH!! First up is a visit from on one our favorite companies that make bars, Panthera. Instead of our usual guest we get to meet Pierre-Luc Duchesne and Dereck Donnelly. PL is their Director of Marketing and Derek is head of Global Customer Experience. Together the talk about being at their second IDS show, how they make their product an experience for the customer, the Fusion Bar that only needs 5mm of clearance, their partnership with VITA, and the second coming of The Master Cup.

Then we got to talk to an Irish dentist that practices in Scotland, Dr. Eimear O’Connell. She was plastered on the walls of the exocad booth 20 feet tall because she was one of the "Heroes of Digital Dentistry" and her journey is astounding. Dr. O'Connell talks about learning that Cerec was harder than it looks back in 2007, learning to work with amazing labs, using exocad to help her sell treatment by using the ART function, and a very concerning trend in the UK that makes it harder to be a dentist.

Special Guests: Dereck Donnelly, Dr. Eimear O’Connell, and Pierre-Luc Duchesne.

It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:

Select: Race for the Future

August 14 & 15: PrograMill CAM Academy: A Hands-On Introduction to Digital Milling for Dental Professionals

This episode is featuring two conversations that Elvis and Barb got while in Gemany at the exocad booth at IDS 2025. First up is Paul Dowling & Jacqueline Ffrench who come from PD Ceramics in Ireland. Paul grew up in a dental family and played in the shed in the backyard that was the lab. After attending lab school in London, Paul came back to Ireland and opened his own lab. Knowing teeth and not business, Paul recruits Jacqueline from a dental office to help. Jacqueline is good with business and saw the struggles in the lab and set out to make it a better place. Now she and Paul are starting to do it all over Ireland.

Then from many miles away (at IDS it seems that way) we are joined by Thomas Baaske, the Global Technical Product Manager at Ivoclar Vivadent AG. That means he oversees a lot of the digital materials and equipment for Ivoclar and there is a lot. Thomas talks about his lab background, being with Ivoclar for over 14 years, the evolution of the milled denture, their new inventory system, and the new Ivotion Based Printed denture.

Special Guests: Jacqueline Ffrench, Paul Dowling , and Thomas Baaske.

It's the 11th running of the Race For the Future in Fort Worth, TX on September 14, 2025. This is YOUR chance to make a difference in a industry we all love so much. Important links:

Select: Race for the Future

It's hard to believe that IDS 2025 happened over 4 months ago and we are still bringing out conversations we got while at the exocad booth. This one is jam-packed with three conversations with 4 different people in the dental industry that really are making huge impacts. First up is two dentist that are using their time and talent to teach other clinicians from around the world how to implement the digital workflow in their practice. Dr. Milad Shadrooh (The Singing Dentist!) and Dr. Robbie Hughes are from opposite ends of England but both share the passion of education. They talk about their careers, what kind of courses they offer at Avant Garde Dentistry and how through a mentorship program, dentist can go digital both efficiency and confidently.

Then we meet the CTO of Align Technologies, Zelko Relic. Zelko talks about getting into dental, the history of Align Technologies and when they merged in Invisalign, Itero, and exocad. He also talks about the resources they put towards R&D, scaling a company to make over 1 million parts A DAY, what new technologies are currently being worked on, and how they are making the ultimate in providing the comprehensive solution to all.

We wrap up the episode with Ben Weber from ModuleWorks. What is ModuleWorks, well it's kind of hard to explain. You see, it's in about 90% of the manufacturing in the world. It's not the CAM, it's not the user interface, but it's in the background making it all come together. Ben talks about what ModuleWorks is, how it works, and why we can't live without it.

Special Guests: Ben Weber, Dr. Milad Shadrooh, Dr. Robbie Hughes, and Zelko Relic.