To start following us on Instagram, simply follow us Elvis: Hi, Voices of the Bench community. I'm, Laura Prosser, the digital market manager here for iacclar North America. Barbara: And I would like to invite you. Elvis: To start following us on Instagram. Shavit: It's your chance to obtain exclusive updates on product announcements, industry news, upcoming educational. Barbara: Events, and heartwarming stories about our local team and industry professionals. Shavit: So let's get social together. Barbara: Simply start following us, on Instagram. Iaclar na. Elvis: That's Instagram. Iaclar na. We'see you there. Welcome to Voices from the Bench, a dental laboratory podcast. Send us an email@info voicesfrohebench.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Voices from the Bench episode 365 premieres tomorrow on ids Greetings and welcome to episode 365, Voices from the Bench. My name is Alvis. Barbara: And my name is Ids Barbara. Elvis: Ids Barbara. I don't know what your name would be in German, but we'll just call you Barb. What's happening? Barbara: We're recording this early and I know where we're gonna be at when this is launching, so I'm just a happy girl about yourself. Elvis: Super excited. I mean, we finally made it to the week of ids. I mean, this is assuming all my packing went well and my initial travel went well. Barbara: Please don't lose your computer and don't lose your bags this time like last time. That was crazy. Elvis: Lost my bags on the way there, lost my laptop on the way back. Yeah, let's shoot for a little bit smoother transition. Barbara: Can you please? I wish that for you. Elvis: But yeah, like you mentioned, I mean, by the time this episode airs, this big show starts tomorrow. Barbara: Right? Elvis: So for obvious reasons, we're knocking this out way before because we don't have to worry about it with all the traveling and everything, so. Correct. Barbara: Amundo. thank you, Exoc. Elvis: Absolutely. Big shout out to the greatest software out there, Exocad for hosting us. just keep an eye on our social media and everyone else's social media, for all the exciting things we're gon toa see and happening at ids. Barbara: And I'm sure you're not go goingna post anything the whole week. Like that will never happen. Elvis: I'm really bad about taking pictures. Barbara: I think you might just die if you don't post. Your body will go into like, some sort of like, convulsion. You're doing it and I mean that lovingly. Elvis: I understand. No, I know my addiction obsession problem. I don't know what it is. Barbara: It's okay. Hey, you know what? People love it. So I say keep going. Last week we celebrated completing our seventh year of doing this podcast Elvis: So last week we celebrated completing our seventh year of doing this podcast. Yeah, big milestone. Barbara: Big. Elvis: But this week I think we have another reason to celebrate. As of now that we have enough episodes for someone to listen to. a different episode every day for a full calendar year. Barbara: Holy. You can completee m me out. But that's crazy. Elvis: Isn't that nuts? Like, if someone decided to go back to the beginning and listen to one episode every day, it would be this time next year by the time they caught up. Barbara: Yeah, but fair warning, we weren't real great at the beginning, but we got a little better. Elvis: Yeah, we hope. We hope were a little better than those initial weeks. This week we are back to more conversations that I got while at Chicago 2025 So this week we are back to more conversations that I got while at the ivaclar Ballroom in LMT Lab Day Chicago 2025. Barbara: Right on. Elvis: Now, Barb, since you were not there, I will say that I actually did try to find a guest host for the weekend. but nobody wanted your job. Barbara: Oh, good. I was goingn say little. Elvis: They all said they couldn't live up to your talents and abilities. Well'and then when I said, yeah, you probably won't live up to that, they all left. So again, I'm on my own. But I did have some great conversations. Barbara: I, know you were slamming it. Yeah. Elvis: So. Aw. Julia Glancey started as a dental nurse, getting into demolition First up, we welcome back to the podcast, Julia Glancey. Now, last year we did like a group conversation with a bunch of technicians from the uk. But this year I finally got to hear Julia's story. Barbara: Nice. Elvis: Starting as a dental nurse, getting into demolition, and then ending up being a dental technician. Barbara: Demolition. Dental technician. It kind ofhymes. Elvis: Oh my gosh, that is kind of. she tells her story of always being willing to try something and how she makes it her own. Barbara: And then, my partner Elvis gets to meet Shavvat Cohen, who is actually at the same school that we talked to the students from last week, New York City College of Technology. Not only is she still in school, but she already owns her own lab. Like, how does that happen? Elvis: That's what I was. Barbara: Yeah, doing everything. Including all on X. So starting at the front desk, thinking she wanted to be a dentist. God forbid. It wasn't long before she was doing lab work. And falling in love with it, of course. Special segment about what's happening at Exocad booth this week Elvis: And then we are going to wrap up this episode with a special segment all about what's happening at the Exocad booth this week at IDS Super s. Okay, so Shir, we wanted to release this a few weeks ago, but we're dental technicians and we Always wait till the last minute. Barbara: Yes, sir. Elvis: So hopefully you're all on your way to Germany and we can hear from the wonderful Christine McLermont. Barbara: She is wonderful Sincereri and so smart. Elvis: Christine comes on to give us all the happenings during the busy week. From the Exocad booth, from Demos, hands on into some of their big announcements. Barbara: And there's some big announcements. Elvis: And if you're not going after hearing this, you're gonna wish you were going. So join us as we chat with Julia Glancey, Shavat Cohen and Christine McLeraremont. Are you a dental lab in need more talent to improve your bottom line M. Are you a dental lab in need of more talent to improve your bottom line and keep production on schedule? Are you a dental tech with great skills but feel you're being limited at your current lab? Well, the answer is here. Hi, I'm Mark from Win Wingo and this is precisely why WinW Wingo was created. The dental lab and dental tech community needed a place where labs and technicians can meet, talk about their needs, and connect in ways that foster a Win Win outcome. As a tech, if you're ready to make a change, thinking about moving in the next year or just curious what's out there, sign up today. It's totally free. As a lab, you might be feeling the frustration of paying the big employment site so much and getting so few tech candidates. We understand they don't much care about our industry. WinWNGGO.com is simply the best place for lab techs and lab owners to actively engage in creating their ideal future. WinWindGo.com, how dental techs Find Paradise. Voices from the Bench. The Interview. That's my after hours podcast. Julia: No. Yeah, Supplements is income. Elvis: Lab Day Chicago, 2025. Yeah, Julia Glancey. Julia: Yep, that's the one. Elvis: Julia Glanty. You don't sound like you're from Chicago. Julia: No, I'm not from Chicago, darling. I'm from the uk. Elvis: The uk. So you were on last year, but we had a group. It was the UK Invasion. Invasion, yes, we'll call it that. But I'm happy to talk to you personally. Julia: Yeah, me too. Elvis: Yeah. Know you online, of course. Met you here last year. What's your story? Julia: So basically, I mean, I've been in dentistry for over 20 years. I actually started clinically though. Oheah. Elvis: I mean, m sorry, Yeah, I was a dent nurse. So you're a dent nurse, which is just a dental assistant, right? Julia: Yeah, basically. So, yeah, I started, nursing. Elvis: Must have been really young. Julia: Yeah, you know what? My dad was a dentist. Elvis: Okay. Julia: one of his nurses went sick all of a sudden. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: And I was breaking for summer break from college and you know, I'm there and I'm thinking, I want a wild time with all of my buddies. And all of a sudden he's like, no, I need your help. so he totally scuffed my plans. Elvis: M so do you need a degree in the UK or can you just work for your dad and become a nurse? Julia: Yeah. So you can just do hands on training. Julia: And then you do training alongside that college or something. Elvis: Ok. Julia: So, But it wasn't supposed to be long term. I actually wanted to go into medicine. So, But a few things happened and life gets in the way. Course all of a sudden I'd been nursing for over a year with your dad. With my dad, yeah. Elvis: How was it working for your dad? Julia: Yeah, it was really goodeah. Elvis: Was you'see that go either way. Julia: Yeah, yeah, definitely. But I mean he's like my best friend. So. and I actually worked with one of the associates in there, so I nurse with him occasionally, but not every dayistently. Elvis: Yeah. Okay. So for a year you did that? Julia: Yeah. And then I was. I just got bored. It just wasn't challenging enough, you know, and kind of just dealing with the dentists on that side of things, I wanted more and I sort of looked at what the options were. Elvis: Become a dentist. Julia: Yeah. Well, I actually left for a little while and became a builder. Elvis: A builder? Julia: Ye. Elvis: Like construction. Julia: Construction? Yeah. Elvis: Like houses? Julia: Ye. Well, no, actually I did big, big units. I did demolition and first, fixes. Elvis: You did demolition? Julia: Yeah, absolutely. Elvis: Ha. Big balls. Julia: Know. You know what, if you ever have aggression, a sledgehammer is, is the best thing. Elvis: What made you do that? Julia: you know, again, I just loved working with my hands. I loved building stuff and I always did when I was younger I loved building stuff and I always did when I was younger and enjoyed destroying thing. Yeah. Basically destroy it, knock it down and make it good again. Elvis: So how long did you do that? Julia: probably three or four years. Elvis: Wow. Julia: Yeah, so it's hard work. you know, we did the first fixings on. I actually built the dental school in Portsmouth down in the south of England. Elvis: Oh, that's hilarious. Julia: Ye. So, we did the first fixings on that. We did the first fixings on the National Air Traffic Control Center. Elvis: O wow. Julia: Yeah, we did lots of really interesting jobs. Elvis: You drive by them and say like, ah, I help build that. Julia: I do look at the sometimes and be like, oh my God, they're still standing. Elvis: I'always wonder if construction people drive by like, I put that window in there. That brick right there. Yeah. Julia: That was my one. But I really loved it. But the country actually then hit a big recession. Elvis: Oh. As they all do. Julia: Yeah. And the building work dried up, so I had to pay rent. So it's like, okay, go back to nursing. Because I know, I know I can do that. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: got very, very bored again very quickly. So I decided there were two options, basically. one was go and do hygiene and therapy or the other was to become a technician. So I kind of sidestepped through and ended up managing a laboratory. Elvis: They brought you in as manager. Julia: Yeah. Basically. Elvis: Just how much lab experience have you had at this point? Julia: I hadn't. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: Yeah. But I had managerial experience. Elvis: Because you manage other construction or you managed in. Julia: Both. I managed. So when I'd worked my way up in dental nursing to the point where I was in charge of chairside training for all the younger nurses and I was in charge of. By this point, my dad's practice has actually been bought by a corporate retired. Elvis: Yep. Julia: so we had six other clinics. Elvis: Yeah. Okay. I see where this went. Ye. Julia: You know. But again, it just wasn't enough. So it kind of. I became head nurse. but I needed more. So I spoke to the local lab that were actually dealing with my dad's, practice, and I've done for quite a few years. Elvis: So you already had a relationship with him? Yeah, because the dental assistant or nurse has a more relationship than the. Julia: Yeah. The actual dentist. Elvis: No different than here. Yep. Julia: So basically we, we struck up an agreement, you know, and I said to him, look, I'll come in and help you. It was just not because I knew to do, like, quality control of the work. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: But I knew that I could help him organize the workflow with the bookinging. Elvis: Because it's that confident in yourself. Julia: I am. it's organization, isn't it? Elvis: Yeah. Julia: It's looking at the system. It's, you know, and it's breaking it down. Elvis: See the bottleneck. Julia: Yeah. You know, you see it come in at first impressions and where it needs to go and how it needs to filter through and you just. You learn on the job. Julia worked in NHS lab where there were only nine technicians Elvis: Okay. So that they brought you in. Would you just spend some time getting to know the processes? Sat with every technician. How big was this lab? Julia: so it was a really busy NHS lab. Elvis: So NHS is your Medicare. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: Basically just cranking out. Yeah. Julia: I mean, we used to invest 40 to 50 dentes a day. O. Yeah. But there was only like nine technicians. Elvis: That did that many? Julia: Yeah. Elvis: And I'm probably guessing what, poor technique? Julia: No, all investing. It was old school. They used to boil out dentures in burkco boilers, like the old coffee machines and things. It was proper old school, you know, like the brass. Elvis: Yeah. The big Brit hydraulic press and the Hamm. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: I'SEE people do it. I've never done it, but. Julia: Yeah. Yeah. You know, and I was. I managed that for about three years, but whilst I was there, I was just teaching myself mouthuards and special trays and bike blocks. Elvis: They brought you in as manager, but you put yourself on the bench. Or was that the idea for you to be a manager on the bench again? Julia: When I haven't got anything to do, I'll jump in and help. And it was a good way for me to learn. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: You know, really good way for me to learn. and then I realized that actually I wanted more again. So, you know, you always want I Julia. Yeah. If we're not moving forward, we're dying, aren't we? You know, so that's the thing is I've been somebody that's. I've always wanted to kind of better what I'm doing, you know, and improve my skills and move on. And, you know, then I decided that it was a time to step back and actually get qualified. Elvis: Okay. Julia: And I moved to Brighton in the UK and I was very fortunate to get a job on site with an implant clinic. Elvis: Oh. Julia: And that's where I learnedt all on X. The level of education in the UK is poor, Ashley says Elvis: Okay. So the last lab. Did you ever go above night guards and m? Julia: No, I didn't go, like, setting up small little partial dentures possibly, but nothing's pretty easy. Elvis: Right. Find a tooth that fits. Julia: Yeah. I mean, squeeze it in the g. Yeah. Elvis: I mean'do a lot of setups, but to me, a partl seems easy. You just find something similar. Julia: Yeah. I mean, sometimes they're easy, sometimes pain. Elvis: But not trying to downplay anybody. But then you go to this other one, and you're right into implants and all on X. Yeah. Basically, you keep getting jobs that you don't. Julia: That, I'm not qualified for. I guess I always put my hands up and say, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm here to learn. Elvis: That's awesome. Julia: Basically. So, you know, and don't get me wrong, they didn't just throw me in doing my immediate load on the first day. Yeah. Go ahead. Y. Yeah. Do you want to put the implants ine Anybody fancy an osteereotomy Come on. You know, it's basically I've. Yeah, I'm somebody that I do. I put my hands up and I go, I don't know how to do this, but I really want to learn. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: So I'm willing to learn and I'm willing to do what I need to do for. You used guys to teach me. Elvis: Basically you have this job, but you said you were getting qualified. Julia: Yeah. Yes, I was studying at the same time. Elvis: Is that going to a school? Julia: Yeah. Elvis: So you have to go to a school to become qualified? Julia: Yes. Yeah. Elvis: And that's how long? Three years. Julia: three years, yeah. But it was only one day a week. Elvis: So this is the schools we need here in America. Julia: Well, I mean, I'll be honest with you, the level of education in the UK is poor. Elvis: I don't see how it could not be poor if you go one day a week. I mean, I'm m gonna forget what you just said in 20 minutes, let alone a week later. You know what I mean? Julia: Yeah. Elvis: But you have to go through the process. Julia: Yeah, you do. Elvis: and what do you get a certificate? Julia: You get a qualification at the end of it and then it just Sundays. Elvis: You lasted three years. Julia: Well done. Elvis: Day a week. Yeah, yeah. Congratulations. Julia: But that's how you lear learn on. No, no, it's not. I mean, it's a shame because it used to be like back in the day, the old school technicians actually did have a really good education. But I don't know whether it's the same in the States. But I see it with the clinicians as well. The actual level of education has really dropped. Elvis: Clinicians here in the States? Yes. They don't do nearly as much clinical. I'm sure a lot of dentists have different experience, but overall probably not the level of technicians here in this state. There's so few schools left, but the ones that are left are killing it. Yeah, they're doing the best they can. Julia: They can, yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, yeah. Elvis: But they don't go one day a week. It's like a full time thing. Julia: Yeah, it should be. You know, it's the same in Europe. We've got technicians that come over from Europe and the calorer of their education is above and beyond the uk massively. Elvis: Really. Julia: You know, I don't want to slate the guys that are at the colleges in the UK because they really do try their hardest. But there's no funding, there is no drive for technology. So, you know, it's all very basic old school stuff which is important to learn. don't get me wrong, you don. Want to be employable, you need experience with where the industry is going now. You know, we've got some really pinnacle people within the industry that are trying to change that. Ashley Burns is one of them. Elvis: Y. Julia: You know, he's really pushing for education. Steve Campbell is. You know, these guys are, Andrea Johnson. Like, they really are trying to get it out there that we need to change. Elvis: Change the level of education. I. I mean, if you're gonna have it, have it. Yeah, I'm surprised they just haven't gotten rid of it. Julia: Well, I mean, it's not far from that, really. Elvis: That's sad. For you to practice, you have to have GDC registration Julia: Yeah. Yeah, it is. Elvis: So you have your certificate. It means you're qualified. Julia: You qualified. M. Basically, I can become GDC registered, which is our government registration. Elvis: Is, that like a CDT here? Julia: Yeah, it must. It must be. So, like, is it like a registered dental technician? Basically. So there's a government register of all dentists and dental technicians and dental nurses. For you to practice, you have to have your GDC registration. Elvis: And basically that just says, we know. Julia: Who you are and we can trace back to you. Elvis: If we back to you. And you have to pay, brother, every year because keep it up. Julia: Y. Yeah, basically your annual retention fee comes. Elvis: Do you have any sort of continuing education to keep it up? Required to. Julia: We have to do 10 hours of CPD every year. Bas. Elvis: That's almost more than school. Julia: Yes, basically. Well, I mean, it'not it's close. Elvis: So where do you get those? Where do you go? Julia: Youring education, you know, so just courses that are run. Elvis: What's the big one over there? Julia: There's DTs. The big dental show. Yeah, you can go to'one. Elvis: I always see everybody in the UK going to maybe that's it. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: The one that has the reard show. Julia: U. no, no. So that. That's just the Dentistry Awards, basically. There's, you know, there's more awards than. Elvis: We did something like that here. That's so fancy. You guys look like you're having a gu monscers. You know what I mean? Julia: Yes. The Private Dentistry Award Starling is, Yeah, it's, it's good fun, actually, I will have to say. Yeah. When. When I worked for Ceramic Designs, we went to the lab awards and, Yeah, we all got dressed up and get a table. Yeah. Elvis: How the food is. But it looks like it's fun. Yeah, yeah. Julia: Ah, you know, it's. Yes, we did, actually. Yeah. Elvis: Nice. Julia: Yeah, we won, so we went for four. We were highly commended for two. And we won the other two. So we won. I think we won best lab and best dental. Ah, Best digital tool. Sorry. Elvis: Nice. You know, what does that come with? Julia: Unfortunately, not just a lovely little statue with your name on it. yeah, it is. And it's all part of parcel of it, you know. and actually it was a really good lab to trainaining, you know, to learn from some amazing surgeons and some amazing prosthodontists and some amazing technicians. You know, it was, you know, that set me up. That's why I can, you know, I now have a huge passion for all on X and I have a lot of experience in that. You know, I worked my way up in the 10 years of being there, from being a junior and learning everything to then running the prosthetics department. Elvis: You ran the pressig to. Julia: Yah, yeah. And that's where I met Lola. Elvis: So she worked there too. Yeah. Ah, that's where you got. That's where you became the work wife. Julia: Yes. Elvis: Or she became the work wife. How does this relationship. Julia: Well, we were work wives. Elvis: Okay. Julia: Aual. But yeah, she was a senior, prosthetic technician there. So she. We worked together for about eight years. Elvis: Wowah. Did. Was she already a senior when you started or you both I together? Julia: No, I started there before her. Your team grew to about 16 people. How many doctors doing surgeries Yeah. And then she came two. Yeah, I think two years. Yeah, Two and a half years of me being there. but she came with a huge amount of experience. She'd been doing all on X for years in London. Elvis: Yeah. So, yes, you're there for 10 years. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: It's a lot of arches. I bet. Julia: Yes. Elvis: How big was your team? Julia: So the actual lab itself, we grew to about 16 people. Elvis: 16. How many doctors doing surgeries? Julia: So there were five surgeons. Yeah. Elvis: You know, constantly doing arches. Julia: I mean, it wasn't constant. We were doing probably a good week. We were doing three immediate loads a week. Elvis: Okay. Julia: You know, whether that were single arches or four mouths. Elvis: But you're also doing dentures. Julia: Yes, we're doing dentures. we're doing hater bar dentures. Elvis: Hater bars. I love a hater bar. People here hate the hater. Julia: Yeah. But you know what is s a good restoration if you do it right. Elvis: Yeah, it's a good bar. Julia: Yeah, it's a really good restoration. And I think that's the thing is not going. You know, we did have one surgeon that he wanted the bulletproof prosthesis. He wanted to know what the One was. And I was like, there's never going to be one. No, it's not a one fits. All these things are very patient specific and that's what you've got to do. And I'm a great believer in. You don't figure that out at the end. Once you've done the immediate lead, you figure that out at the beginning. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: You know, I'm constantly thinking of the end of the journey and working my way backwards. And then that's how I can determine what we can advise the best for the patient. Basically. Elvis: Are you brought in at this place early? like pre surgery, like, what's our game plan? How much reduction should I do? Julia: Yeah. So we would have joint clinics where because there were surgeons and restorers. So. And then we actually cut out the restorer. when it came to patient consultations and the technicians were doing. We were doing them ourselves. Elvis: Oh, wow. Julia: So it was a lot easier, you know, because you know yourself when you're actually watching somebody and you're watching how they speak and how they naturally smile and how they naturally laugh. Because it doesn't matter how much you prepare a patient, when you ask them to smile, something happens. They do the biggest smile and it's this biggest focus. Elvis: Like nobody does it. Julia: No. And it's like when you ask them to bite together and all of a sudden it's like they've never bitten together in their life, you know, so it's actually nice to just go in there and have a chat. And that's what I used to say to them is like, you know, we're just here. I want to know from you, why are you here? Elvis: Y. Julia: you know, what are you looking for? Elvis: Yeah, it's a lot, it's a lot of interaction. It's a lot of emotion. Julia: Yeah, yeah. But it was actually really lovely, you know. And I used to say to my patients, because don't forget, huge amount of people are dental phobic. Julia: And I get it, you know, you're asked to lay back in a chair, open your mouth up wide, and you can't see what the hell'going on. Know? And we wonder why these people are scared. And there's all of these weird smells and noises going on and it's like, what the hell are you doing to me? And these are big procedures, you know, they're really big procedures and it's a lot of money, it's a lot of commitment for people. So we used to say to them, don't worry, we're going to Walk this together. And actually, it was just really nice to be able to walk the journey with them. Elvis: Yeah, but that's a lot on the technician, though. Julia: Yeah. But, you know, it's a big responsibility that we're being given. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: and I think it's very important for us to not forget that. Elvis: Very true. Julia: You know, because normally we're not chairside. Elvis: No. Julia: And actually it is the dentist that is facing. Elvis: And that's where the communication breaks down. Julia: Yeah. You know, and communication is the most imperative part. And once we would have our consultations with our patients, you know, I would go back, and actually I would look at the case and I would assess everything, and I would then tell the surgeon, I need this amount of bone reduction. Is it possible? And we'd look at the CT scans together and we'd look with the restorer and we'd figure it out as a team. Lucrone: We went from temporaries to definitives very quickly But I'll be honest with you, that's why we did have a really good success rate for, you know, when we were going from temporaries to definitives, we were changing. Very minimal. Elvis: Oh, that's huge. Yeah. Julia: You know, and then it's all of a sudden, the definitive didn't take eight, nine visits to make, took three, three, possibly four. Elvis: You know, this is all analog. Julia: Yes, this was analog at the time. Elvis: So you're taking dentures, converting. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: Traditional pickup of temp cylinders. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: And then when you go to final, you're going bite blocks again. jigs. Julia: Well, no, because what we would do is the day of the immediate load, we would actually use the dentures. Like a special tray. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: And we'd pick them up in silicon. We'd go, we'd pour a model, we'd articulate, we'd make a key, and then we would archive all of that information. So when the patient came back in six months to have their definitive. Three to six months. We had already had a try in and a jig and special tray all made, so there were no need for be blocks or anything other. So we skipped all of those arbitrary stages because the information that we'd collated from the immediate load led us, like, two, three appointments ahead. Elvis: But it's still all acrylic and den your teeth. Julia: Yes, it is. Yeah. Elvis: Okay, so you're obviously not there anymore. So where'd you go? Julia: So I moved on to, a really great lab in Oxfordshire with Ashley Burns. Elvis: yeah, we knowns. Julia: Yeah, he on the podcast. Elvis: Great guy. Julia: Yeah. Really good guy. you know, really pushes forward with digital. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: and you know, I've got a huge amount of respect for the way that he is in the industry and actually, his vision and the way that he is reading the industry. I mean, him and his wife Allison, who, they come here every year for the last ten years I believe. And they, you know, they were actually the people that pretty much inspired me to come, along with like Lola and Mark and things like that. And it was like, okay, hang on a minute. You know, Ash has been talking about Chicago Lab Day for a long time and actually how much more advanced you guys. You're probably about three years ahead of us in certain things. Elvis: Interesting. Yeah. Julia: so yeah, it was like, right, okay, let's come here and see what we can do. and you know, was I was only with Ash for a short a period of time. but again that's just purely logistical with the fact that I was offered a remote design position. Elvis: Okay, so did Burns teach you the digital. Julia: So I'd started, we had, at the end of my time at the clinic, we'd implemented zircons. Arm. Elvis: Okay. Julia: Yeah. So basically I started teaching myself how to design metal bars, how to design, full setups, dentures, you know, that sort of thing. and yeah, basically, again, just so. Elvis: You were converting digitally at that point towards the end? Julia: Yeeah, I was milling out a denture that I designed and then we hadn't mastered the full digital workflow at that point. Elvis: You're still doing a traditional pickup, but on a digital denture? Yes, got it. Julia: But you know what the difference was? You know, instead of just showing somebody a set up on a model, we were able to show them the setup digitally and morph in the, you know, the pre op and everything. So all of a sudden it was easier to try and explain what we were doing and how we were doing's. Elvis: Amazing how you can explain to a patient when they can see it. Julia: Yeahah. It makes a huge amount of difference. so again, you know, it. Elvis: So you're at Burns and you just did the same thing? Julia: No, at Burn, I actually learned how to use Exocad. Elvis: Oh, nice. Julia: Yeah, so I mean again, Exocad kind of develops zircon on software. Yeah, I hear it's the same thing'basically and I focused more on digital dentures actually. So I learned all about Lucrone and you know, then I was teaching myself how to stain with the Vita accent stains and how to do composite. Elvis: Doing any all on X'OR you just doing? Julia: Not really, no. That was Done by sort of another department. He brought me in as purely as a prosthetic technician. but I m missed the all on X. That's my specialty. That's what I've been doing for 10 years. Years, you know. So it was m. I wanted to be able to do that again. But also my life changed and I wanted a bit more freedom. My partner lives in Switzerland. So for me to be able to kind of flip backwards and forwards. Yeah, it was when remote ideal. Yeah. Elvis: Work anywhere. Julia: And it was, you know, it was Lola again that had moved to another laboratory. and you know, she became a planner for these people. Elvis: So you're just following her? Julia: Yeah, basically, you know, talking her. Don't tell her. But yeah, she phoned me up and said, look, there's an opportunity here. And actually I think you'd be a really good fit. do you fancy having a chat with. With James, our boss and so you. Elvis: Design all on X'remotely on Exocad? Guided Smiles is a company that works remotely with dental implants Julia: Yeah. Yeah. Elvis: Basically day of surgery, like people need it done in 20 minutes type situation. Julia: No, what we do is actually we work with guided smile. Elvis: Oh yes. Julia: Yeah. So we do the stackable guides. So basically what I will do is I will take a case, I will set up the provisional. I will then give that set up to Lola. She will plan the implants and then Lola will then give that back to me once it's been approved. And I will put that into real guide and make the stackable guides come. Elvis: You don't plan the implants. Julia: It's just something that I haven't learned yet. Are you time? Elvis: Yeahah. You know the best way to learn? Place an implants, someone tells you that's not where they go. Julia: Perfect. Elvis: Dude. I've done so many of them without any clue on what's going on. I probably did three of them before I realized what was bone and what wasn't bone. Just that difference. And this gu's like, why is that right there? And I'm like, you tell me. Move it here. That makes more sense to me. That's how you learn. Julia: Yeah, I mean Lola took me through it briefly in our, in our old place. and we kind of played about with She was using Blue Sky Bio at the time. Played about with that software. But I haven't done it because again, you know, you know, I'm trying to learn everything that I can. Elvis: So Guided Smiles is here in like Ohio? Julia: Yes. Yeah. Elvis: And are you a part of that company division of. Julia: So actually I went to Alan Banks s, lecture yesterday. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: And he put up a map of all of the labs that are affiliated with Guided, and it was all of, like, the U.S. and then there was just us, in Ireland over here'a little old US Quarland. Yeah. Elvis: You're in Ireland now, so. Julia: No, I don't live in Ireland. I live in the uk. Elvis: I re. Julia: Yeah, yeah. So, but, the lab is actually in the northwest of Ireland. Elvis: Lola in Ireland or is she remote? Julia: Yeah, she's an island. Elvis: Oh, I didn't know that. I can't keep track. Julia: I know she's here, there and everywhere, always, you know. Elvis: You like the remote work? Julia: I do, actually. Yeah, I do. Yeah. I miss working with my hands. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: But the freedom that working remotely gives me and also the, you know, the challenges of trying to get around the communication and things like that. But, you know, again, I'm very forward with things. I will call the dentist't. I'm not scared to talk to these people because I speak clinician. Elvis: Yeah. Do you call them and talk to them about their caseids? Julia: Yeah, all the time. Elvis: Do you ever ask to talk to the patient? Julia: I've offered sometimes because, you know, there's. The dentists are like, I don't know how, you know, the patient is's really wanting this. And I've said, look, I will beam in on a conference call with you when you've, got them in the chair. I will quite happily be on a video call and I will explain to them the restrictions that we haveeah know, so that you're not on your own. And actually, they don't think that they're being fobbed off. Elvis: That's funny. Julia: you know, because I think it's so important to have a good relationship when you're working with your clinicians. Elvis: Oh, 100%. Julia: And it'it's so easy for us to force an issue as well. And actually, like, in life, we're not all meant to be friends. some people we get on with, some we don't. And it's the same with technicians and clinicians. You know, sometimes we're just not meant to work together. O yeah, that's okay. Elvis: That's one of the hardest things that took for me to learn. I wanted to work with everybodye. And eventually you're like, it's not. Julia: Yeah. And it's not worth it. You know, actually, there's someone out there that's better for you, and there's someone out there that's better for me, so let's just stop muing about and Part our ways. And because I'm very much about communication. And I think what has really helped me with starting as a nurse and understanding that clinical side and the restrictions and sometimes that they have there. and I've been very fortunate to work with some really receptive clinicians that actually don't have that God complex. Elvis: Yeah. That's so great. Julia: They want to be able to do the best job that they can. And they have taught me so much, and I have taught them so much. Elvis: Bring you with them. Julia: Yeah. And, you know, we've created some amazing work together. Was it hard to disconnect yourself from the manufacturing of what you're making Elvis: Was it hard to disconnect yourself from. From the manufacturing of what you're making? Because you design it and you're like, I hope they print it right. Julia: I hope they'better finish that right. Because if they don't. Elvis: I mean, seriously. Julia: No, it is. It is difficult. Especially because the way that I've always worked is from start to end. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: Unfortunately, the way that the industry is going now, that's not an efficient way of doing it. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: You have designers and you have finishers. Elvis: And they're not always in the same building. Julia: No. And it's, you know, the industry is changing massively and at a very rapid pace. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: and I understand that we have to adapt with it. Elvis: Oh, yeah. Sink or swim. Julia: Yeah. You know, and it's not to be scared of certain things. You know, I hear it so much. AI is going to take my job. AI is s not going to take your job. But what is AI is going to help us do the things that are time consuming that actually are a waste of our time and a waste of our skills? Elvis: I mean, surgical guide planning is a great example of that. Because three years ago, trying to mark a nerve or doing all this just like, it's awful. Julia: Like the bone segmentation. Elvis: Yeah. Or bringing the model in to match the CBCT T scan. It was just like I would spend hours lining it up. Now it's literally a button. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: And it's like, oh, let me double check it spot on. That's the AI I wanteah 100%. It's not putting implants anywhere. Julia: No. Elvis: It's not designing the guide yet. Julia: But all of a sudden, you can probably do two to three times more. Elvis: Than what you could do more. I would spend so much time trying to line up that stupid model to. The CBCT scan because the one thing that is happening worldwide Julia: The CBCT scan because the one thing that is happening worldwide and again is happening at such a fast rate is the amount of technicians that we're losing. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: And actually the amount that are Retiring or changing profession to the amount that are coming through it worlds apart. And all of a sudden, in the next sort of six years, we're going to have probably, I'd say, 60% less than what we've got now. Elvis: Interesting. Julia: And all of that knowledge going toa go with iteah. And then we've got these baby technicians that are being thrown into a computer because actually they're better with a computer than I am. I'm a Luddite, you know, I'm lucky I know how to turn the thing on, let alone anything else. Elvis: Yeah, no comment on my end. Julia: They don't know teeth. Elvis: No. Julia: And that's the problem. And then you've got these baby clinicians coming in. Elvis: They don't knowet. Julia: They don't know t either, you know, so you've got the blind leading the blind and it's, it's gonna be a very precarious time. And, I'm interested to see how we can help prevent something catastrophic from happening. Elvis: what's funny though is there's more and more people coming to LMT Lab Day Chicago. Julia: Yeah. Elvis: So they're coming from somewherewheree, you know. Julia: But there is more coming from everywhere around the world here. Elvis: Every year they keep talking about it. I mean, more and more dentists are showing up to see what the lab is doing. Julia: Yeah. Because Midwintter is just down the road. Elvis: Isn well, I've never been over there. I don't need to see Colgate. I mean, I've seen toothpaste. Julia: Yeah. That's enough for me. Yeah, I get it. But, you know, it's good to see that they are coming over here, they're interested. Yeah. because it's important. Again, so many years, a lot of people just thought, well, you just open a drawer and you pick that crown out. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: Which one is it? Any in min In m. Okay, I'll take you. Yeah, but actually, you know, it'it's really important for them to understand the process because then they can do their part better. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: And you know, they need to do their part better. We need do ours better. Elvis: We need to know their processes. Julia: Yeah, hundred percent. Elvis: I mean, once I got chairside, my mind exploded with, oh, really? Yeah. I say this all the time. I was 13 years in a lab and I never saw a single thing we made putting them out. because I was just in there cranking it out, you know, and I'm like, it just now I see it all the time and it's like, it's. Julia: A different World, is't it? Yeah. Elvis: When things go bad, that's the time the technician needs to see it. Julia: Do you know what that's my favorite day would be. Immediate load day. And it would be at 4:30 when. When they're fitting it up. And me and the clinician would stand there as the chairs coming up. Elvis: Ye. Julia: And you've still got that o. Have we done it right? Elvis: Yeah. Julia: And then you'd see them smile and you'd be like, we nailed it. Elvis: It's to me, it's. I need that anterior bite to look good. Julia: yeah's. Yeah. Elvis: I don't care if the back is open, I don't care if the midlines off. If that comes together, job done, I'm winning. Julia: Yeah, no, I get it. But it is, you know, to be able to give that back to somebody and actually, yeah, you know, I mean, I work very closely with a charity called Dentech. Elvis: Yeah, I've heard you all talk about it online. Y. Julia: We do a huge amount of work with domestic violence victims and recovering alcoholics and homeless. And actually being able to give them their smile back is not just their smile. You know, it's nutrition, it's confidence. You know, it's all of these things. Elvis: Everything. Julia: Yeah. and also the PTSD aspect of it. You know, when you have a domestic violence victim that'been through what they've been through, and every day they look in the mirror and they can see that their teeth have been knocked out. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: That is triggering every single day, you know, so to be able to have that privilege, to be able to give that to somebody and to help get them past something or give them back their confidence. Elvis: That's what this is, their life over. To get a job to whatevereah. Julia: And that can be from just one tooth to a whole reconstruction. Elvis: Sure. You know what, do you do cases at a discount for free or does. Julia: So yeah, we do pro bono, basically. So, yeah. Ah, we pair up clinicians and technicians. Elvis: Okay. And we do something here similar. Used to be called donated dental, but now it's called lifeline or something. Julia: Oay. Elvis: But labs sign up, dentists refer denist. See, these patients, I don't think they're restricted on certain situations, but they're people that have to meet a criteria. Yeah, we've done hundreds of those things. Shavik Cohen: Thank you for having me. Always a pleasure. I hope you come every year And they's just fun to do, knowing that you helped. You know, you try to use it as a relationship builder with the dentist too. Maybe they've never worked with you before. Now they will. But it's a nice thing to do? Julia: Yeah. 100%. Elvis: Yeah. Julia: 100%. Elvis: Julia, thank you so much. Julia: Thank you for having me. Elvis: It's a pleasure to see you every year. I hope you come every year. Julia: I can't believe you wore my outfit, though. Yeah, well, twinning here, it's because I want to be like you. Elvis: I understand. And it's. I think it's only us. I've not seen a sc. Oh, no. Justin had a shirt on, so, Julia: You can always rely on Justin. Elvis: He's always got our backag. Julia, thank you so much. Julia: Thank you very much. Elvis: Always a pleasure. And we'll see you next year, hopefully. Julia: So. Elvis: So take care. I'm never gonna get this Shav. Shavit tone like, she likes to eat. Shavit: Shavit. Elvis: Oh, that's funny. She likes to eat. Shav. Eat. And is it Coen? Shavit: Yeah. Elvis: Cohen. Shavik Cohen Spark Dental lab, Flushings, New York. Shavit: Yes. Elvis: Where's Flushings in New York? I'm not flashing New Yorkeah. Shavit: It's in Queens. Elvis: Okay, so you're down. Down downtown. Shavit: Yeah. Nothing special. Elvis: Okay. Shavitat was applying to dental school when 3D printing came up So, Shavit, you came up to me, you haven't even graduated dental technology school and you own a lab doing full arch cases. Shavit: Yep. Elvis: This is kind of unique. So let's go back. How did you find out about dental technology? What happened? Shavit: so I was actually applying to dental school. Elvis: You wanted to be a dentist? Shavit: Yes. Elvis: Why did you want to be a dentist? Shavit: I loved seeing people smile. Ok, the reason behind the smiles? Elvis: No. You didn't have a dental family? Shavit: Nothing. Elvis: Not at all. Shavit: My entire family is actually scared of the dentist. They were scared of me? Elvis: Yeah. Okay, so you try to get into dental school. Shavit: Yeah. So a part of that is working in a dental office. So I was the patient care coordinator at a very new dental office. And the doctor comes to me, he's like, hey, Shavitat, you want a 3D print? And I was like, what are we, 3D printing? Elvis: You? Shavit: And he was like, no teeth. And I was like, holy. Can I curse? Elvis: Of course. Shavit: Holy. Elvis: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Shavit: And he's like, okay. So my role quickly changed. Elvis: So he bought a printer. He bought Dennis. Shavit: Yeah. Elvis: And had no idea how to use it. Shavit: Or he did it at his previous office for all on X cases. And with the help of Rick Ferguson, of course. Elvis: I know Rick Ferguson. Yeah. Shavit: so quickly I went from patient care coordinator to his in house 3D printing person. Elvis: Okay, so you became an in office technician. Shavit: Exactly. Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: And then I, was like, wait, I like this. I like being behind the Scenes. Elvis: You don't like being a patient coordinator or. Shavit: I didn't want to be a dentist dealing with insurance. Truthfully. Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: So quickly it evolved and I dropped everything for dental school and. Elvis: Okay, so how did you find out about Renataa's New York School of Dental? I don't know that full name. Shavit: New New York City College of Technology. Shavit: Yeah. Shavit: The Restorative Dentisthip Program. Elvis: Yeah, yeah. It's a long name, but yeah, Renataa. Shavit: Right. So I basically looked to see if there's some sort of program to bring this more into my life. Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: And it was very quick. The Anthony Sina, he was like, yeah, just come in. Drop me into the spring semester. Not even in fall with all the other students. Elvis: They just got you in? Shavit: He just start. And I was like, okay. And then that's how it all started. Elvis: Okay, so you go to this school. Was there anything that was shocking to you? Like. No, it's not just printing. It's like a lot. The morphology and the anatomy. You got all that. Did it come natural? Shavit: I think it came very natural. It was as if it was my second instinct. Elvis: Really. Shavit: Yeah, I just felt like I was in my place. You did four years of school and then switched gears to an associate's program Elvis: How long have you been in the school? Shavit: It's been like, two years. Elvis: Two years, that's what. Shavit: Doing a four year bachelor's degree and starting my master. Elvis: So you're doing a four years? Shavit: I was. I already finished. Elvis: You did four years of school and. Shavit: And then I completely switched gears to go into an associate's program. Elvis: Wow. Shavit: And I was starting my master's degree and everything. Elvis: And your master's degree is in. Shavit: It was supposed to be in biology, but it's no longer in existence. Elvis: Oh, so you started that, but then you totally switch gears. Shavit: Yeah. Elvis: What the hell. Shavit: We don't need a master'agree. To do this. Elvis: Sadly, to change lives, we don't need. so what did you like about the school? I mean they don't. Do they have a lot of digital there? Shavit: Not at all. Not at all. They're really just starting. But it's beautiful. Elvis: Yeah. And I mean, obviously you learned a lot, right? Shavit: Of course, of course. There's ah, Daniel Alter. He's here. Elvis: Yeah, he's. He's a smart. Shavit: He's a genius. Elvis: Ah. Shavit: I come to him with the craziest question. She'like that's not right. Let's make it right. Elvis: Yeah. He's a good guy. So how did you end up starting Spark? With my dentist Elvis: So how did you end up starting Spark? Shavit: So with my dentist. He's like, how about we stop outsourcing our. Elvis: So this is the same dentist. Shavit: Same dentist. Elvis: So during this time, you're working at with him and going to school. Okay. Ye. Shavit: And he's like, how about we stop outsourcing all of our hyper cases and maybe we can do it here? And I was like, great. So we just separated and kind of. I still do their 3D printing, but we separated. I started spark, and now we do everything. We do crowns or ka crowns. And we're doing. Elvis: Did he open this lab for you? Did he buy all this equipment? You did? Shavit: Yeah, it's all me. Elvis: How did you come up with the. I mean, you're a college student and. Shavit: Yeah, a very old college student. Elvis: No one knows our. What we look like. Come on now. we're all in our early 20s. Shavit: Wink, win, wink. Elvis: So, yeah, I mean, what'd you get out of, like, a loan or. Shavit: Of course. I mean, how else? Yeah, that's a big step. We're growing slowly, obviously, ca because we are in a very expensive industry, but, yeah, we're getting things. Elvis: What's the first thing you ###d what. Shavit: Is called a furnishing oven? Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: Yeah, that was the first thing. I was like, if we can make some crowns, make some, veneers, I think. Elvis: I mean, you get a mill right away. Shavit: No, we did not get a mill right away. Elvis: So what did you outsource the milling and then you bring it back and then you finish it. So you started just, like, what, glazing? Shavit: All glazing. Packing porcelain. And just started. Elvis: And his full arches. You send out the zirconia, get it back, you finish it. Shavit: Exactly. I think that's the fun part. Elvis: Yeah, sure. Are you eventually gonna get a million? Shavit: Oh, yeah. We're shopping around o. Elvis: That why you're here now? What are you thinking of so far? Shavit: I like, I took their flyer. Don'remember. The company, but they have a good deal with 3D printer. Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: So. Yeah. Elvis: I thought he had a 3D printer. Shavit: He does, but we need an upgrade. Oh, what'sting on now we're doing, frozen. Elvis: Oh, wow. He is really. Shavit: Yeah. Elvis: Bare bones in it. That's the one you get when you don't really want it. But he's doing full arches in those things. Shavit: Yeah, we, started with Onyx. tough. Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: And now we're moving on to Rodin. Elvis: Oh, nice. Shavit: Yeah. So we'll see how it goes. Elvis: And you don't know the printer. You're looking at it. Shavit: Getting printer. It was with. It was a 3D Biocad. They had it over there. Elvis: Oh, I know the company, but I think they just sell other. Yeah, yeah. Shavit: And we'looking also into the Zbler. Read on. They're greatazing. So that's a big, Elvis: Yeah. You're opening a lab and you haven't even graduated yet Wow. Are you by yourself? Do you have employees? Shavit: No. Elvis: You're doing it all yourself? Shavit: Just me. Elvis: So how long is your day? That long, huh? Shavit: It's fun. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. And I leave at 5 o'clock, but I have my little laptop with me. Design cases at home while I'm watching friends. Elvis: There you go. How did you learn design? Do they teach at the school or. No. Taught yourself? Shavit: Yeah, just taught myself. Started with Metit. Elvis: Okay. Yeah. Shavit: Very basiceah. Elvis: Ah. Shavit: And now we're in Exocad. Elvis: Nice. Shavit: Yeah, It's a lot of fun. Elvis: Wow. M. Are you only doing the doctor's work? Are you doing. Shavit: So for right now, yes. Elvis: Yeah. Shavit: while we're perfecting everything, I think it's really. Elvis: How long has this been home, man? Shavit: Since one month. Elvis: February. Shavit: So since September. October. Elvis: Oh, really? So you're talking just like what, six months or something? Wow, this is super early. Why'd you name it Spark? Shavit: Because I want to give every patient their spark. Elvis: That's beautiful. I love that. Shavit: Yeah. Elvis: So the idea is growing employees and becoming crazy and getting more. Shavit: Oh yeah. Elvis: And becoming like a hundred less. Hundred. Technician lab. Shavit: Hopefully. Hopefully. Elvis: Seriously, do you those ambitions? I do, of course. Of course. Shavit: I think our industry is beautiful and what we do is beautiful. So why not give the opportunity even to students that are just looking to put their foot in the door somewhere. Elvis: How close are you to the school, O Lord? Shavit: That drive is about an hour, but. Elvis: You could still find employees. Shavit: Oh yeah, yeah, of course. Elvis: That's a great school to hand pick and just grab. Shavit: Yeah, they're great. Elvis: So when do you graduate? Shavit: And may. And that's it? Yeah. I'm so sad. I love. Elvis: You're gonna have a lot more time for work though. Shavit: Exactly. Or for traveling. Elvis: You want to grow a lab. What are you gonna do? Travel. You got to be in there. Crank? No. Shavit: Why? We go to Germany. Elvis: Are you going to ids? Shavit: I wish. Elvis: Oh, you. Shavit: I gotta stay. I took days off for this, so I had to choose and I ch this. Elvis: That's so fantastic. Shavit: Yeah, it's exciting. Elvis: It's super exciting. Do you understand how unique your story is? You opening a lab and you haven't even graduated yet. Shavit: I know. Elvis: So crazy. Shavit: I was very scared, but I. It is a very big step to just jump right In. But hey, it'it's working. I hope you have a great time in Chicago and I hope you get all the equipment you need It's going great's awesome and I love it, so why not? Elvis: I hope so much success comes your. Shavit: Thank you. Christine McClymont: Thank you. Shavit: And, honestly, you' what I hear on the way to school and on the way back. So just keep talking. Elvis: Okay. Shavit: We'll keep you listing. Elvis: Well, one day you're gonna hear yourself and you're gonna hear this story and it's gonna inspire others. Shavit: Thank you. I hope so. And whoever is looking for an opportunity, our doors are wide open. Elvis: That's awesome. Of course. Thank you so much than you have a great time in Chicago and I hope you get all the equipment you need. Shavit: I hope so too. Elvis: Thank you. Shavit: Thank you. Barb and Elvis welcome Christine McLawmont Claremont to ids Elvis: So we can't even begin to describe how excited Barb and I are to talk to Christine McLawmont Claremont. Barbara: Yes. Elvis: Close enough. Christine likeise close enough. Barbara: Close enough. Elvis: I'm sorry, it's got toa be at least close enough. We all know her as the global head of marketing with Exocad and the lady that's making it possible that Barb and I are at ids. Christine, how are you? Christine McClymont: I'm so, so excited. yeah, seeing you at latte was a blast. I always loved the vibe there. But, yeah, we cannot wait to bring you to IDS to have you on a booth. I cannot tell you how excited the entire team is. yeah, it's going to be so great. we'll have a br spot for you on our booth and yeah, we can't wait to record live from IDS and bring all of the news into the world and. Barbara: Yeah, well, let me tell you, from our perspective, it's a dream come true. I know I can speak for Elvis and me. And, we would like to personally thank you as well as Exocad for bringing us to ids. And we're just. We're excited and we're gonna. We're gonna work hard for you guys. Christine McClymont: We're very thankful to have you. Exocad has been going to IDS for 15 years now Elvis: So how long has Exocad been going to IDS? Is this. I mean, you've been around, what, 15 years, I think I saw. Christine McClymont: Yes, it's our 15th anniversary. And yeah, I've seen pictures of the first foodoth that I asked to tell a lie now. but I want to say, yeah, from the early years on. And yeah, we've grown a loss. So the first booth was rather small as a company. As a company is grown. So it has our booth. And yeah, we're now in Hall 1, which is a fantastic brandan Hall open the last I's and you we have a large booth there which is very open in its design just like our software. Elvis: I love that. Barbara: That was great. Christine McClymont: I should work in marketing and. No, we just want to give you know, plenty space for collaboration, for interaction, feedback. I mean we'ren to have plenty of our team there including some of our developers. So it's a really you know, exciting platform for us as a company and also for all the users and interested parties and manufacturer parties. It's a comeon meet that ideas. So yeah, we have a huge space for collaboration and interaction. Elvis: When you say huge, like compare it to what you did in Chicago a couple weeks ago. Christine McClymont: Yeah, yeah. Elvis: So five times big, 100 times as big. Barbara: Gosh. Christine McClymont: so we have more than 300 square meters. Elvis: Don't know how much. Barbara: Thousand. Elvis: Yah. We don't know what that is. Christine McClymont: Yeah, it's pretty large and yeah we have meeting rooms on site as well because of course we meet with all of our reteller partners and that's important for us and yeah but just our booth space is huge and it's usually very busy. I mean we love Lab day. It's fantastic. the interaction there and of course yeah at ideas we have a very international audience ah lot of football at the bo. So yeah this year we will have eight then say software demonstration boosts on at IDS with our very own EXET experts. Those are application specialists that people can come to ask specific questions on the software, receive demos on all of their three software type C new features and how they work and yeah always very in very high demand. So we want to make sure we have enough space and different language capabilities there as well for our very international audience from all over the world. Elvis: How do you handle that? Is that a first come first serve or can people sign up for a time to get a demoh? Christine McClymont: Yeah we actually we tried to sign up for a demo but then we realized keeping track of your schedule at a big show like I. Yes it can be challenging. So it's first come first serve. Yeah, right. We typically try heat demonstrations up at around a 15 minute you know, kind of time fr kind of like. Barbara: Elvis in excep. Christine McClymont: And yeah but usually it works. It works really well. And yeah and then so this year additionally to the normal software demonstration counters we also have giving the opportunity for, for users or interested parties to try out our software hands on. You may have seen at Lab Day our so Called Arcade Stations. Yeah, yeah so we will have four Stations where yeah visitors can try our software latest featurese really hand on and see how easy it is. We will have supervisors there to help and To kind of guide them through. But yeah this is the first time we're doing that I'm very excited about. Elvis: Barb, have you ever designed to crown? Barbara: No. Elvis: Want to try say? Barbara: Absolutely. So do you guys have to get there a whole day before to set all of that up? Christine McClymont: Yeah, actually a couple days before. Yeah I will get in on Sunday and I bring have some you know meetings and yeah we get to meet with the entire team from all over the world. So obviously also highlight for me to see everybody or well not everybody but at least all of our sales colleagues from all around the world exocath Come to Cologne. So it's yeah it's wonderful to connect with their customers but also connect internally and yeah we have a few days of setup happening and We're launching our new testimonial service at IDS this year Very excited from personally from a marketing perspective we're actually launching our new testimonial country Barbara: Oh yes. What is that? Christine McClymont: That is. So we advertise only with real exitise users so faces that you know you may have seen or may upcoming you know kind rising stars the people that genuinely use our software and can testify to that. So We have a selection process and yeah and then we're very happy when we win them for campaign motive and initually those are the faces of exitat for two years and we're launching this at ideas. So I'm personally was very excited to see that going up on the walls. Barbara: yeah. Christine McClymont: And Again they have very diverse this year. Barbara: And so IDS is similar to Chicago. You have something huge to launch. Correct. So do you have to actually wait so you didn't launch it in Chicago so you actually wait for ids? Christine McClymont: Yes. Barbara: Wow. Christine McClymont: We're waiting to. We have the whole campaign line up of course then social media coming. Yes, we can't wait. And this year also was something new at our booth. Christine McClymont: Taking center stage is. No I just kidding you don't want saf you gu. I can't write that there. Christine McClymont: Need to goie. Anyway so Yeah we will have EIC cut art. so the so called art experience of three smaller demo calers and a huge demonstration of what that means when we talk about bringing the worlds of restorative and orthodontic closer together and how. Yeah and how that will improve patient outme and also how this will you know Kind of maximize the opportunity for the lab. So this is a new solution for dental laboratoriesies u enabling them to offer aligner treatment and offer minimally. Barbara: Invasive dentistry to their doctors. Christine McClymont: To their doctors. Barbara: You're kidding me. Christine McClymont: Yeah. Barbara: That's amazing. Christine McClymont: Yeah. So can't wait for you to see that there and then at the booth. And yeah, that'as I said takes that stage at IDS for us at the booth. And then we recently actually in Chicago and at the end of last year also in New York, we talked about brand new features of Denel Caat Eleina. Ah. So AI services that we now offer through our software which is on the one hand AI design. So this is where dental labs can generate single crown design suggestions from within dental cad. And we've so received great feedback. Barbara: Why? Christine McClymont: Because we all know that dental technicians are hard to come by these days and to train them up is also take some time. So we find that with the use of AI design and that single cr, generation you, the dental technician or the lead technician can focus on perhaps the more complex cases and have the homearding just eased up a little bit with this functionality and scale. Barbara: Yeah, for sure. Elvis and I, we talked to a lot of people about AI and it's not a negative buzzword. I mean I really believe that we need that in our industry to set up some of those single units so that you can take all that skill and do it on the harder cases. So I think that's fantastic you guys are launching that. Elvis: Well now you'll need it on ortho and minimal prep. Christine McClymont: Well, I'll tell you one thing that is that'be awesome break to try out. It's another AI service called True Smile Video. You'll be able to see it at the show as well which is a photo realistic after treatment simulation of the patient outcome. So not only are you able to you know, design a smile which you know you can, you can do now, but with, with J of Had Eleina you can now call for a video generation which visualizes you know, in, in the patient phase a reliable and achievable outcome. So yeah, you know, something real. Yeah, something so it's not very a motivational markup tool. It's really an achievable outcome based on the individual tooth setup of the dental labatory. So again a new feature we'very excited about. We're quite sure we'll get some, some traction and some interest therely. Elvis: I think somebody showed me a video of that in Chicago. Is that where there's a video of somebody talking and then right next to it was that same video but with their new teethactly. That was so cool. Barbara: How do you guys come up with these things? Christine McClymont: Our developer team is very close to the market and yeah. And of course ye so our leadership is great. T and Mike our founders and of course nobody they have Yeah. Very deep market understanding the very close to the market exitat also constantly asks for feedback which I think was quite unique. Barbara: Yeah feedback is huge. Christine McClymont: We listen to our users. That's important to us. Yeah but this is so very excited about these new features to show them there. And Yeah. The 1515isod315 is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year Then what else do we have going on every day? we invite so here with everyone all the listeners are invited at 1515isod315 every day we are going to celebrate our 15th anniversary at Theoooth so to. Barbara: Come by for 1515. I love that that was your idea wasn't it's awesome. Christine McClymont: And you can also win some swag during the birthday hour. Yeah. So definitely everybody should come by for that. And we're going to announce the insights 2026 days at the show y N and so hopefully you can come back for that. Barbara: Absolutely. Christine McClymont: Having you there. Elvis: Is that an official offer? I just want this on record. Christine McClymont: And then We will actually also have pre sale of a limited amount of tickets at a special priceize for insight6@ids so there's really a lot to see do at the bo and explore and we're also very excited to launch a charity t shirt design. Barbara: We'bl oh, I want that. Barbara: Yeah. Christine McClymont: And once again it's for a charattable dental cause ye we're collecting those t shirt proceeds. Barbara: Yeah. Christine McClymont: So that's also something that will be. Barbara: Do those T shirts were amazing in malrca I think I bought three of them. The artistry and just the whole way I love them. So you're having a new one and I'm goingna get one or three. Get three. Christine McClymont: I'll think so. For new of course. Elvis: Awesome. Christine McClymont: yeah, the team one and designing those I have. Barbara: Oh yeah. Between. Christine McClymont: Yeah. So that's kind of what's happening. We also have some speakers at the booth Mnet Stepven Campll I also saw him in Chicago was speaking there. He's family any he'speaking of that day. Sweet Dr. Imar Oconell. You may seeing her on stage of insights. So they're gonna talk about exet art and our Very own nil varatoui. She is going to talk about her_ate cases with exit ad ye. so again, very interactive program happening ata. I think there's really something for everyone, whether you're starting out with digital or, you know, you're native and you just kind of want to go into a deeper learning. Yeah. Come by the extat. Elvis: I love it. Barbara: Wow. I'm so excited. Elvis: When you hear that this thing goes on for five days, you're like ##ah how do you fill that time? Well, I think you're go goingna have plenty to do, so it's gonna go. Christine McClymont: By in a slash. But I have to say, I have to admit we've been pretty busy in the last couple months. But good, good busy. We're very much looking forward to ideas. Barbara: Is feel that. Christine McClymont: Yeah, the most important show internationally. And yeah, just I mean everybody will be there. The companies, they all sa like the big announcements for that show. So of course we want to make use of this show as well. Barbara: And forgive me for not knowing, is it dental technicians and dentists or mostly labs and technicians? Christine McClymont: It's both so nickel and lab audience. Yeah. And so XF is really our software, you know, provides for great communication between lab, clinicians and collaboration. It's really our goal to once again showcase how that collaboration gets easier with so the data transfer is more secure and faster and you can work jointly, you can design remotely. You know, it has so much to offer and so much flexibility. I mean, we touched on the topic finding dental technicians to kind of work for your lab. Just being more flexible through being connectedive via theare. Yeah, those are just some of the pointsys that'been maybe even pain points we've been hearing at the past shows also in Chicago and just empowering. Pness. Barbara: Great word. Yeah. Christine McClymont: Important to us. Elis and Christine are heading to ids this week in Spain What do you guys look forward to at ids? Barbara: Oh, talking to everybody and being starstruck. What about you, Elis? Elvis: I'm a little worried that we're gonna be able to find our way around. Everyone keeps telling me how big this is and like how far you have to walk. I'm assuming we're staying the same hotel with all the other exoad people. So we can just follow you to the booth. Christine McClymont: Exactly. Elvis: Ye. Barbara: That's a great idea. Barbara: I. Christine McClymont: You have runting shoes anywhere? Elvis: Yeah. Barbara: Oh, yeah, for sure. Elvis: I'm just super excited to be set up and in this international and meet new people, have new people meet us, talk to some people that we. I just don't know about because it's such a large world and I'm so excited. Just in Spain, I was worried about having enough English speaking guests. Barbara: That's so true. Elvis: And it wasn't a problem at all. Barbara: Problem? Elvis: I'm hoping that same problem is, not there this time. Christine McClymont: Yeah. Elvis: I do have a question. Did the is the guy that found and saved my laptop, Jamie, he gonna be there? Christine McClymont: That is a very good question. We should reach out to the person. Elvis: I will. Barbara: If so we're taking him to dinner for sure. Elvis: Well, dad and I just want to get his number again so in case I do it again can. Barbara: That will not happen twice in one lifetime. Elvis: Better. Shavit: No. Christine McClymont: That was so nerve wracking for you. Barbara: Yeah. Elvis: But Christine, thank you so much'm so excited. Thank you. Barbara: And thank you to ex than you. Elvis: So much wa to see everybody tuning in. Come see us at the Exocad booth. I mean, even if you don't want to see us. It sounds like they got enough going on to, capture your. Yeah. So. Barbara: Heck yeah. Christine McClymont: You too. Elvis: Absolutely. Thank you so much. And see in a couple. Barbara: Great job. Yeah. A big thanks to Julia Shabbat for sitting down with Elvis in the Ivaclar Ballroom. I so missed it. Sincerely, Julia. I could listen to your accent, of course, all day long. And I loved hearing your story to eventually end up with a pretty sweet remote job. I kind of want to do that one day. Elvis, do you really? Elvis: There you go. Barbara: M sounds like you excel at everything that you try at. It's amazing for somebody to own a lab, run a lab, grow a lab, and still be in lab school. Like, how does that even happen? I WISH I was 20 again. So we have no doubt your lab will be as big as you want it to be. And we can't wait to have you on again sometime talking about all of your future successes. And of course, the wonderful, amazing Christine. I mean, Elvis. And I can't say enough about you, you guys at Exocad and the way that you've treated us and the amazing things you're doing. Thank you for everything. And for the week that we are about to have the opportunity that you and Exocab have given. Elvis and I is seriously making our dreams come true. So everyone go into ids, make sure you come to the Exocad booth. And if you're not going to ids, you gotta still check out Exocad because it's unbelievable software. Elvis: It's amazing. Barbara: Yes, sir. Barb and I are heading into four straight days of recording Elvis: All right, everybody, Barb and I are about to head into what, four straight days of recording. It'snna be some amazing content, so look forward to that. But of course, we'll still talk to you next week. Barbara: I'm just worried about getting from the airport to the hotel and on the train, and on the correct train after that. Elvis: I'll be all right. We'renna get you there. Don't worry. Have a good one. Barbara: Trav n_e no, and I'm really sore. And when I went for my run today, I thought I was goingna die. Elvis: M the views and opinions expressed on the Voices from the Bench podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the host or Voices from the Bench llc.