Vicki Thomas, founder of Savvy Lab Solutions, joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast to share practical strategies for helping small and independent dental labs stay competitive in an increasingly commodified industry. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, Vicki breaks down smart digital workflows, outsourcing strategies, buying power through community, and how lab owners can improve profitability without sacrificing quality or work-life balance. This episode is packed with real-world insight for lab owners navigating growth, technology, and long-term sustainability.

Source video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4pNZpRSeU
License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)

• (00:00:06) - Intro
• (00:01:03) - Let's Get Savvy
• (00:04:26) - Making Growth Possible
• (00:11:34) - Training the Next Generation
• (00:19:08) - Outsourcing, Teamwork, and Profit Strategy
• (00:31:28) - Communication and Sustainable Lab Life
• (00:41:33) - Outro

Rob Norton sits down with Jonny Jakson to explore what it takes to design with speed, precision, and creativity in an always-evolving landscape. From navigating complex workflows and emerging technology to building confidence through consistency. This conversation dives into how experience turns chaos into control, and why mastering the process matters just as much as the tools themselves. Digital dentistry doesn’t slow down, and neither do the decisions behind it.

• (00:00:00) - Meet Johnny Exocad
• (00:01:59) - Dental Students: Working in 3-D Printing
• (00:07:58) - Are IVotion Dentures Better Than Mill Dentures?
• (00:08:55) - What are some of the bigger advancements in facial and jaw scanning?
• (00:12:42) - How to 3-D print a die with a metal crown
• (00:13:40) - Spring Ray Dentures demo at IDS 2017
• (00:15:24) - Jet Engine Printed Dentures
• (00:16:59) - Dental CAD Bar 3.3 Workflow
• (00:21:31) - Smile Creator: The Smile Trial
• (00:26:19) - Plastic prosthetics: Same Day Designs
• (00:28:43) - PRIEST: Should a physician invest in a printer?
• (00:30:34) - What's Next for Oral Surgery?
• (00:35:53) - Johnny on Social Media Influencers
• (00:38:17) - Ben Bomer and A Tin Liquor
• (00:39:55) - Evolving Dentist: Consistency is the Key

Rob Norton sits down this episode with Seth Smith, the mind behind GreatLab.io, to talk about the not-so-glamorous problem that decides whether a modern lab runs smoothly or spirals into chaos: managing digital case data.

Rob and Seth dig into what happens after the scan, when labs are stuck juggling portals from iTero, 3Shape, Medit, DS Core, Shining, and more.

Tune in for the latest insight on why customization is non-negotiable for lab software, how rule-based workflows (and the wild things labs do to survive) shaped GreatLab’s evolution, and why cloud-based systems are a literal business lifesaver. Seth shares his philosophy on focus, simplification, and avoiding “complication tax,” plus what’s next for GreatLab in 2026.

• (00:00:00) - Intro
• (00:02:00) - Solving the Lab Workflow Problem
• (00:10:00) - Customization & Lab Specifics
• (00:17:01) - Simplicity is Key
• (00:21:00) - Migration and Real-World Stories
• (00:43:00) - Final Thoughts & Outro