Voices from The Bench

Hey, Voices of the Bench community! Erich Neuhaus, Marketing Manager at Ivoclar here. Bring greater efficiency and flexibility to your denture workflow with Ivotion, Ivoclar's digital denture system. Ivotion helps labs reduce manual production steps while delivering predictable, high-quality aesthetics. With new shade options available in both Ivotion Dent Multi and our Ivotion Monolithic Discs, you can broaden your offering and deliver more personalized results. Reach out to your local Ivoclar representative today and discover what I've ocean can do for your lab.

NOLA Lab Fest is back, and Voices From the Bench will be recording live from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on October 16th and 17th! Join Elvis and Barbara as they hang out with the HyperDent team, talk shop with some of the best in the dental industry, and host the always-entertaining Lab Family Feud. The fun kicks off Thursday, October 15th, with Jude Grayson leading a half-day workshop for lab owners and department leaders, sponsored by HyperDent. While you're there, check out Roland DGA's CAM trade-in special, where you can trade in your old CAM software for HyperDent and unlock the full potential of your mill with better milling quality, faster milling times, and the ability to mill Ivotion dentures with Elevate denture solutions. Registration is open now at NOLALabFest.com, and spots are limited. Don't miss out on the fun, the learning, and probably a few too many beignets!

Getting paid for your work should be the easy part of running a dental lab, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always how it goes! This week,we sit down with Matt Travis from Burt and Associates, a familiar name to many in the dental laboratory industry who specializes in helping labs collect unpaid invoices. Matt shares how he got his start in dental lab collections, including a memorable first collection involving Mike Zuber, a little too much fun the night before, and a $5,000 invoice that got paid before he even left the dental office.

But there’s a lot more to collections than making phone calls and demanding payment. Matt explains how Burton Associates approaches overdue accounts, why labs can get into trouble by continuing to send cases to customers who aren’t paying, and how difficult it can be to decide when a customer has become a debtor. The conversation also covers credit applications, checking a customer’s credit before extending terms, protecting accounts receivable, and why having clear policies in place can save a lab from a whole lot of headaches. With stories of unpaid balances reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, this episode is a reminder that doing great work is only part of running a successful dental lab. You have to collect the money, too!

Your customers are checking you out on social media long before they ever fill out a form or pick up the phone. By the time they reach you, they’ve already started forming an opinion. That’s why consistency on social media matters.

Creating content is hard. Posting consistently is even harder. That’s why we built icortica Social. Create, schedule, publish, and report on your social media all in one place — and let your entire team contribute.

With a simple QR code, your team can send photos and videos straight from their phones to marketing, whether they’re in the lab or at an event. icortica Social works as a standalone app, so no existing icortica subscription is required.

Make social media easier. Stay consistent. Grow your presence.

Check it out at icortica.com/social.

Dental lab owners and managers — are you spending too much time chasing paperwork, checking portals, tracking cases, and answering doctors asking, “Is my crown done yet?”

You didn’t start a dental lab to become a full-time paperwork wrangler. LabNCloud is the all-in-one, cloud-based platform built by techs, for techs, with 90+ features to streamline your entire lab — from case tracking and invoicing to shipping, time tracking, doctor portals, and automatic digital file routing.

Stop managing chaos and start managing your lab. Visit LabNCloud.com to book your free personalized demo. And mention “Elvis is Handsome” to get your first month free.

LabNCloud — the operating system for dental labs. Built by techs, for techs.

Will your next equipment purchase pay for itself? It’s the question every lab owner asks. But here’s another one: How much is it costing you not to invest?

Every remake, hour of downtime, and case outsourced because you’re at capacity eats into your profits. The right milling solution can help increase production, reduce interruptions, and keep your technicians focused on revenue-generating work.

That’s why dental labs continue to choose Roland DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions. Built for dependable performance, they help keep your lab running smoothly and create opportunities for growth.

Because the best investment is one that keeps paying you back.

Learn more at rolanddental.com.
Special Guest: Matt Travis.

Hey, Voices of the Bench community! Erich Neuhaus, Marketing Manager at Ivoclar here. Bring greater efficiency and flexibility to your denture workflow with Ivotion, Ivoclar's digital denture system. Ivotion helps labs reduce manual production steps while delivering predictable, high-quality aesthetics. With new shade options available in both Ivotion Dent Multi and our Ivotion Monolithic Discs, you can broaden your offering and deliver more personalized results. Reach out to your local Ivoclar representative today and discover what I've ocean can do for your lab.

NOLA Lab Fest is back, and Voices From the Bench will be recording live from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on October 16th and 17th! Join Elvis and Barbara as they hang out with the HyperDent team, talk shop with some of the best in the dental industry, and host the always-entertaining Lab Family Feud. The fun kicks off Thursday, October 15th, with Jude Grayson leading a half-day workshop for lab owners and department leaders, sponsored by HyperDent. While you're there, check out Roland DGA's CAM trade-in special, where you can trade in your old CAM software for HyperDent and unlock the full potential of your mill with better milling quality, faster milling times, and the ability to mill Ivotion dentures with Elevate denture solutions. Registration is open now at NOLALabFest.com, and spots are limited. Don't miss out on the fun, the learning, and probably a few too many beignets!

This week, we sit down with Milos Miladinov, a dental technician, educator, photographer, and digital dentistry enthusiast who has spent years pushing the boundaries of what technology can do in the dental lab. Milos shares his journey from discovering dental technology almost by accident in Romania, building a lab with his wife, becoming an early adopter of digital workflows, and eventually making the move to the United States and starting over from scratch.

Milos takes us deep into digital dentistry, including virtual patients, intraoral scanning, CBCT, face scanning, digital veneers, print-and-press workflows, and the technology he believes is changing the way technicians work. We also get into one of his biggest passions: dental photography. Milos explains how learning to photograph his own work completely changed the way he saw it, why proper lighting and positioning matter, and how technicians and dentists can improve their photography without spending a fortune.

And because this is Milos, the conversation doesn't stop there. We talk about AI, marketing, SEO, digital tools, new materials, zirconia, microwave sintering, and even his unique approach to creating “tooth tattoos” to add natural-looking details to monolithic restorations. Milos has a constant curiosity for new technology and a willingness to actually try it, test it, and figure out how it can make dentistry better. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about technology, creativity, photography, business, and what it takes to keep moving forward in an industry that never seems to stop changing.

https://www.toothpic.ai/

Your customers are checking you out on social media long before they ever fill out a form or pick up the phone. By the time they reach you, they’ve already started forming an opinion. That’s why consistency on social media matters.

Creating content is hard. Posting consistently is even harder. That’s why we built icortica Social. Create, schedule, publish, and report on your social media all in one place — and let your entire team contribute.

With a simple QR code, your team can send photos and videos straight from their phones to marketing, whether they’re in the lab or at an event. icortica Social works as a standalone app, so no existing icortica subscription is required.

Make social media easier. Stay consistent. Grow your presence.

Check it out at icortica.com/social.

Dental lab owners and managers — are you spending too much time chasing paperwork, checking portals, tracking cases, and answering doctors asking, “Is my crown done yet?”

You didn’t start a dental lab to become a full-time paperwork wrangler. LabNCloud is the all-in-one, cloud-based platform built by techs, for techs, with 90+ features to streamline your entire lab — from case tracking and invoicing to shipping, time tracking, doctor portals, and automatic digital file routing.

Stop managing chaos and start managing your lab. Visit LabNCloud.com to book your free personalized demo. And mention “Elvis is Handsome” to get your first month free.

LabNCloud — the operating system for dental labs. Built by techs, for techs.
Special Guest: Milos Miladinov.

Hey, Voices of the Bench community! Erich Neuhaus, Marketing Manager at Ivoclar here. Bring greater efficiency and flexibility to your denture workflow with Ivotion, Ivoclar's digital denture system. Ivotion helps labs reduce manual production steps while delivering predictable, high-quality aesthetics. With new shade options available in both Ivotion Dent Multi and our Ivotion Monolithic Discs, you can broaden your offering and deliver more personalized results. Reach out to your local Ivoclar representative today and discover what I've ocean can do for your lab.

NOLA Lab Fest is back, and Voices From the Bench will be recording live from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on October 16th and 17th! Join Elvis and Barbara as they hang out with the HyperDent team, talk shop with some of the best in the dental industry, and host the always-entertaining Lab Family Feud. The fun kicks off Thursday, October 15th, with Jude Grayson leading a half-day workshop for lab owners and department leaders, sponsored by HyperDent. While you're there, check out Roland DGA's CAM trade-in special, where you can trade in your old CAM software for HyperDent and unlock the full potential of your mill with better milling quality, faster milling times, and the ability to mill Ivotion dentures with Elevate denture solutions. Registration is open now at NOLALabFest.com, and spots are limited. Don't miss out on the fun, the learning, and probably a few too many beignets!

This week we sit down with Mike Archibald, the “black sheep” of the Archibald family and the third Archibald we’ve had on the show. Mike shares his journey from starting in his dad’s laboratory at just 17 years old to becoming a technician, educator, speaker, and advocate for having the conversations that don’t always happen in dentistry. We talk about functional dentistry, ceramics, teaching, family expectations, imposter syndrome, recovery, mindset, and the importance of being willing to step away and find a healthier perspective on life. Mike also tells us about Table 52, his vision for creating a community where people can have honest conversations about the struggles behind the scenes, along with his work with Harvest Dental and Open Bench. It’s a very real conversation about dentistry, family, personal growth, and what happens when you stop worrying about looking like you have it all together and start focusing on becoming the best version of yourself.

Open Bench: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKvmZEdlxtQM

Hey, listeners—ever wonder what Elvis is doing when he’s not recording Voices from the Bench?

He’s a client rep for Derby Dental Laboratory, out in the field every day doing chairside visits and building relationships. His job is simple—keep doctors happy and keep them coming back.

And he couldn’t do it without icortica.

Right from his phone, Elvis can see sales, remake rates, account notes, risks, and cross-sell opportunities—even before he walks through the door. No spreadsheets. No surprises. Just the info he needs to grow accounts.

Stop digging for data and start taking action.

Head to icortica.com and schedule your demo today.

Dental lab owners and managers — are you spending too much time chasing paperwork, checking portals, tracking cases, and answering doctors asking, “Is my crown done yet?”

You didn’t start a dental lab to become a full-time paperwork wrangler. LabNCloud is the all-in-one, cloud-based platform built by techs, for techs, with 90+ features to streamline your entire lab — from case tracking and invoicing to shipping, time tracking, doctor portals, and automatic digital file routing.

Stop managing chaos and start managing your lab. Visit LabNCloud.com to book your free personalized demo. And mention “Elvis is Handsome” to get your first month free.

LabNCloud — the operating system for dental labs. Built by techs, for techs.
Special Guest: Mike Archibald.

What if zirconia could look even more like natural teeth?

According to Dr. Ed McLaren, “Of all the zirconia’s he's tested, the optical properties of Ivoclar’s e.max zirconia are the closest to natural teeth.” (And I second that with everything I’ve see – if Barb does the read)

Discover what’s redefining the possibilities with IPS e.max Zirconia.

Join Dr. Ed McLaren for Zirconia Reimagined—an informative webinar exploring the latest advancements, clinical insights, and practical applications of zirconia in modern dentistry.

October 5th @ 7:00 pm. Register today at Vivalearning.com

As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one.

This week we head across the pond to Leeds, England, for a conversation with Phil Reddington of Beever Dental Technology lab. Phil’s journey into dental technology is one of those stories that sounds completely made up until you hear him tell it. At 15 years old, Phil skipped school, wandered into a dental laboratory, and convinced them to give him a bench test. Armed with a scalpel and a bar of soap, he carved an ornate little bottle and somehow impressed them enough to land himself a job. From that accidental introduction to dentistry, Phil has spent more than 35 years learning, building, and evolving in the dental laboratory world.

Phil takes us through his early days working in the lab, learning ceramics and refractory techniques, and eventually taking over his own laboratory. As offshore competition began putting pressure on lab pricing, Phil and his wife made a conscious decision not to compete by simply becoming cheaper. Instead, they invested in equipment, education, and relationships with dentists who wanted to provide high-quality restorative and implant dentistry. That philosophy eventually helped transform the laboratory and allowed Phil to focus on doing the best work possible rather than chasing the lowest price.

A huge part of Phil’s story is the team he has built around him. We talk about what happens when a laboratory develops a blame culture, why people leave toxic work environments, and how changing that culture can completely change a business. Phil shares his approach to hiring for attitude, creating an environment where people can learn from mistakes, bringing educators into the lab for customized training, and giving his team opportunities to grow. He also talks about remaining fiercely independent when it comes to materials and techniques, allowing different technicians to use the systems that work best for them rather than becoming tied to a single manufacturer.

The conversation also dives deep into the technical side of the laboratory, including digital workflows, full-arch restorations, printed try-ins, implant solutions, and the different full-arch options Phil’s team provides. One of the highlights is the laboratory’s work with thimble bars, a restoration they have become known for and one that Phil considers their premium full-arch product. With a focus on repairability and long-term service, the lab even offers a lifetime guarantee on their thimble bar cases.

We also get into the business side of running a laboratory, including marketing through social media and word of mouth, setting realistic turnaround times, knowing when to say no to a case, and the importance of getting the information needed before starting a restoration. Phil explains why sometimes saying “no” is actually one of the most valuable tools a laboratory can have.

Dental lab owners and managers — are you spending too much time chasing paperwork, checking portals, tracking cases, and answering doctors asking, “Is my crown done yet?”

You didn’t start a dental lab to become a full-time paperwork wrangler. LabNCloud is the all-in-one, cloud-based platform built by techs, for techs, with 90+ features to streamline your entire lab — from case tracking and invoicing to shipping, time tracking, doctor portals, and automatic digital file routing.

Stop managing chaos and start managing your lab. Visit LabNCloud.com to book your free personalized demo. And mention “Elvis is Handsome” to get your first month free.

LabNCloud — the operating system for dental labs. Built by techs, for techs.

Hey, listeners—ever wonder what Elvis is doing when he’s not recording Voices from the Bench?

He’s a client rep for Derby Dental Laboratory, out in the field every day doing chairside visits and building relationships. His job is simple—keep doctors happy and keep them coming back.

And he couldn’t do it without icortica.

Right from his phone, Elvis can see sales, remake rates, account notes, risks, and cross-sell opportunities—even before he walks through the door. No spreadsheets. No surprises. Just the info he needs to grow accounts.

Stop digging for data and start taking action.

Head to icortica.com and schedule your demo today.
Special Guest: Phil Reddington.

Hey, Voices of the Bench community! Erich Neuhaus, Marketing Manager at Ivoclar here. Bring greater efficiency and flexibility to your denture workflow with Ivotion, Ivoclar's digital denture system. Ivotion helps labs reduce manual production steps while delivering predictable, high-quality aesthetics. With new shade options available in both Ivotion Dent Multi and our Ivotion Monolithic Discs, you can broaden your offering and deliver more personalized results. Reach out to your local Ivoclar representative today and discover what I've ocean can do for your lab.

As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one.

This week we finally get the conversation we’ve been trying to have for years with the 2025 CDT of the Year, Mike Wandling! Mike takes us back to 2001, when a few friends pointed him toward the dental laboratory industry and he landed at Keller in St. Louis. Starting out in crown and bridge, waxing, metal finishing, and casting, Mike quickly discovered that his real passion was working with people and teaching others.

We talk about Mike’s journey from technician to trainer, Director of Training and Education, department manager, and eventually production manager overseeing a large fixed department. Along the way, he became heavily involved with the NBC, helping Keller become a CDT exam host lab and creating study clubs and hands-on preparation that helped take the lab from just a handful of CDTs to 17 in only a few years. Mike went on to earn multiple CDT certifications and eventually became a Master CDT, examiner, and member of the NBC Board of Trustees.

Mike also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into creating and updating the CDT exams, including his legendary “A-Team” partnership with Barb. We talk about keeping certification relevant as technology changes, the importance of continuing education, and why Mike believes in getting just one percent better every day.

After leaving Keller in 2015, Mike opened his own laboratory, eventually merging with Summit to become Summit-Horizon Dental Laboratory. Today, he serves as Operations Manager while still working on specialty cases and staying involved with doctors, production, workflow, and quality. We also talk about his recent recognition as the 2025 CDT of the Year and his new role as a Key Opinion Leader with Aidite.

Hey, listeners—ever wonder what Elvis is doing when he’s not recording Voices from the Bench?

He’s a client rep for Derby Dental Laboratory, out in the field every day doing chairside visits and building relationships. His job is simple—keep doctors happy and keep them coming back.

And he couldn’t do it without icortica.

Right from his phone, Elvis can see sales, remake rates, account notes, risks, and cross-sell opportunities—even before he walks through the door. No spreadsheets. No surprises. Just the info he needs to grow accounts.

Stop digging for data and start taking action.

Head to icortica.com and schedule your demo today.

Dental lab owners and managers — are you spending too much time chasing paperwork, checking portals, tracking cases, and answering doctors asking, “Is my crown done yet?”

You didn’t start a dental lab to become a full-time paperwork wrangler. LabNCloud is the all-in-one, cloud-based platform built by techs, for techs, with 90+ features to streamline your entire lab — from case tracking and invoicing to shipping, time tracking, doctor portals, and automatic digital file routing.

Stop managing chaos and start managing your lab. Visit LabNCloud.com to book your free personalized demo. And mention “Elvis is Handsome” to get your first month free.

LabNCloud — the operating system for dental labs. Built by techs, for techs.

True ROI isn’t just about what you pay for your equipment—it’s about what it delivers every day. With Roland’s DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions, reliable performance means more production, fewer interruptions, and less time troubleshooting or waiting on equipment. Keep your workflow moving, take on more work, and let every completed case contribute to your bottom line. That’s real ROI. Visit rolanddental.com to discover Roland’s DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions.
Special Guest: Michael Wandling CDT.