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

Rob Norton sits down with Dr. Ben Kellum to explore the evolution of a dental practice from a minimally equipped community clinic to a predominantly digital, in-house, full-arch workflow. Dr. Kellum shares firsthand insights into building a clinic-based laboratory, developing CAD/CAM capabilities over time, and navigating the early challenges of adopting digital manufacturing technologies.

The conversation covers key topics including zirconia economics, the foundational role of intraoral scanning, photogrammetry versus scan-body workflows, and how improved data capture and communication strengthen collaboration between clinicians and labs. They also discuss emerging trends in materials science and artificial intelligence, and how these advancements may shape the future of restorative dentistry.

The central takeaway is clear: when implemented thoughtfully, digital technology can do more than improve efficiency—it can support higher-quality care, expand access to treatment, and help practices remain firmly centered on patient needs.

• (00:02:15) - Dental technician trains to make gold crowns
• (00:06:13) - Graduating with the SLAP
• (00:11:04) - Bradley Dentist on Digital Surgery
• (00:14:36) - Not all 3-D Dentistry Systems are created equal
• (00:19:47) - Dental Students Get Into the Digital World
• (00:24:21) - Getting your dentures made
• (00:24:54) - Dental surgeons on the transition to digital scanners
• (00:30:52) - Dr. Henry Audia on the Digital Surgery
• (00:33:16) - The importance of photography in dentistry
• (00:39:24) - Beyond the Facial Scanner, Do You Need Photogrammetry
• (00:44:18) - Interaural Scanner
• (00:47:11) - Clinical Dentists: Where Technology Is Going
• (00:54:24) - One More Word

Host Rob Norton sits down with Dr. Brian Olitsky to unpack how adopting exocad transformed his clinical workflow and patient experience. Dr. Olitsky shares his progression from designing simple nightguards to delivering same-day restorations through milling, printing, and advanced CAD-driven workflows. The conversation explores real-world benefits like improved predictability, stronger collaboration with labs and surgeons, and enhanced communication through digital wax-ups, CBCT integration, and implant planning. They also dive into AI-generated crowns, minimally invasive prep design, and the rapidly evolving future of 3D printing and materials science, offering a forward-looking perspective on where dentistry is headed and why embracing digital tools now is a game-changer for any stage of practice.

• (00:00:00) - Intro
• (00:00:26) - Dental Surgeons Use exocad for Digital Surgery
• (00:02:48) - Crown Printing and Milling
• (00:05:52) - Oral implant placement and milling under exocad
• (00:11:37) - Are you ready for a digital dentistry?
• (00:14:18) - AI Crown Generator
• (00:16:04) - Getting Started in Digital Dentistry
• (00:20:47) - Dr. Brian's Perspective on Digital Dentistry
• (00:29:11) - Optimal 3-D Printing and Invisalign
• (00:36:32) - Outro

In this episode of the Evolution of Dental Podcast, Rob Norton sits down with Chelsea Homire, EFDA, co-founder of the Digital Dental Assistant Academy, to discuss how digital technology is reshaping the role of the dental assistant.

Chelsea shares insights into the current state of dental education, the growing demand for digital skills in modern practices, and why many assistants are entering the workforce without the training needed to support today’s digital workflows. The conversation explores practical approaches to digital education, the importance of structured learning, and how empowering dental assistants can elevate the efficiency and confidence of the entire dental team.

This episode is ideal for dental professionals interested in improving team training, adopting digital workflows, and preparing their practice for the future of dentistry.

Digital dentistry pioneer Dr. Steven Glassman joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast to share how going fully digital has transformed his practice. As one of the first iTero users in North America, he walks through how scanners, clear aligners, exocad, and 3D printing let him plan cases from the face first, protect enamel, and deliver less invasive, more predictable results. Dr. Glassman breaks down real-world cases—from severe wear and deep bites to full-arch all-on-X—and shows how partnering with Evolution Dental Science and using tools like Smile Architect, TruSmile, 3D facial scans, and digital mock-ups has boosted patient understanding and case acceptance. He also teases Align’s Advanced Restorative Treatment (ART) program and makes a strong case for why “before we plan, we must digitally scan.”