Voices of the Bench invites you to follow us on Instagram Rebca Nikedemos: Hi, Voices of the Bench community. I'm, Laura Prosser, the digital market. Barbara: Manager here for iacclar North America. And I would like to invite you to start following us on Instagram. Rebca Nikedemos: It's your chance to obtain exclusive updates. Barbara: On product announcements, industry news, upcoming educational. Rebca Nikedemos: Events, and heartwarming stories about our local. Barbara: Team and industry professionals. Rebca Nikedemos: So let's get social together. Barbara: Simply start following us, on Instagram Iaclar na. That's Instagram Iaclar na. Elvis: 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 celebrates seven years of podcasting Greetings and welcome to episode 364, Voices from the Bench. My name is Alvis. Barbara: My name's Barbara. You're sounding a little raspy, partner. Elvis: It's just an early morning. I don't know, I was sounding fine a minute ago until we started doing this. Barbara: Are you over the vid? Elvis: I am, I'm completely over. I'm back working. I've gone on multiple runs. Rebca Nikedemos: Good, good. Elvis: Consider m myself healthy again. Barbara: All right? And consider yourself lucky that it was two weeks before you leave for idfmm. Elvis: But you know what, Barb? We have a very exciting thing to celebrate today. I know, I know, this is pretty cool. So let's do some simple math. There's 52 weeks every year. Barbara: Yep. Elvis: That's roughly 52 Mondays. We have release an episode of this podcast every Mondayane. We've never missed one. Barbara: Wow. So, okay, divide it let. Elvis: Yep. If you take 364 and you divide it by 52, that gives us a nice round number of seven. So that tells us we are celebrating seven years of doing voices from the bench. Barbara: Seven years is ridiculous. And happy Effin birthday. Elvis: Two birthday anniversary. Not really sure what we would call it. It doesn't seem like it's a day past six and a half years. Barbara: Let me tell true that we've been very focused. It's, you know, some weeks hasn't been easy, some weeks I've missed, some weeks we've had to move around. But every single week I really enjoy talking to somebody new, hearing their story and it's just so much fun. Elvis: Absolutely. It's been an absolute pleasure of ours to do what we do and we can't do this enough. But we're going to take a quick hot minute to thank everyone that's ever listened to usep, everyone that's been on the podcast, and especially those very special people that have sponsored us. Barbara: Yes. Elvis: Just helped this little thing that Barb and I, you know, we decided to do seven years ago just because we love our industry so much. Barbara: And we're really not seven years older. Actually, we're the same age. Elvis: Yeah. Actually, younger. Podcasting is the secret of youth. Barbara: Yes, it is. And we have no plans of slowing down, maybe even doing bigger and better things in the future. And I know what you're going to talk about now, so go. Elvis: Well, of course, because in the very near future, like in, less than two weeks, we're at IDS March 25th, and for four full days, we're going toa be recording at the biggest dental show in the world. Of course, at the great people of Exocad at their booth. Barbara: Thank you, Exocad again for the millionth time. Elvis: and a million more to follow. Barbara: Yep. Elvis: And if you do find yourself at ids, come on and head over to us. We're at Hall 1. We're going to be in the big sea of people wearing purple. Come by, say hi, and, get on the podcast. Barbara: And that's if we find out where we're going. Elvis: So haul one is all I'm remembering. So after that, we'll see. Barbara: I like that it's one, because I'm hoping that it's. As soon as you walk in the door, you're at one. So that's in my. What I'm thinking. Elvis: That's assuming they only have one door. Oh, boy. This week, we bring on two international students to talk about dental education This week, we are, of course, taking a break from the lab day episodes, because for the seventh time, we welcome back our very first guest that started all this, Renata Budney. Barbara: Yes. Elvis: Renataa is at the New York City College of Technology and their restorative dentistry department. Now, that's a fancy way of saying their dental lab department. Renata is just one of the team that teaches about 60 students a year all the ways of dental technology. Barbara: And that's a lot of students. Elvis: That's quite a bit. Barbara: Yeah. Elvis: But this year, she brings on two international students to talk about their experiences at the school. So first is Srvesiani Purcellis, who has graduated and was already back in Greece, where she runs a lab with her father. We're also joined by Repbka Nicodemus, who is from Ethiopia that is currently in her first year at the school. So both of them come on to share their journey to finding the school, what it's like attending, and for Siva, what life is like in Greece after the school. Sevastiani Perselis: Right. Elvis: And for Rebka, what dental technology is like in Ethiopia and how she's going to change it when she graduates. Barbara: Love love. Elvis: so join us as we chat with Renata, Buddy, Siva, Perscellas and Repka Nicodivas. Are you a dental lab in need more talent to improve your bottom line 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 winw Wingo. And this is precisely why Win Wingo was created. The dental lab and dental tech community. Barbara: Needed a place where labs and technicians can meet, talk about their needs, and. Elvis: Connect in ways that foster a win win outcome as a tech. Barbara: If you're ready to make a change. Elvis: Thinking about moving in the next year or just cure ifious what's out there, sign up today. Barbara: It's totally free. Elvis: 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. WinWnGo.com is simply the best place for lab techs and lab owners to actively engage in creating their ideal future. Wininggo.com comm how dental techs find Paradise Voices from the Bench the interview well, Barb, it's time to light the candles and have Renata blow them out. Once again, we are back for our seventh year anniversary with Renatao Bundee Once again, we are back for our seventh year anniversary. And of course we welcome back for the seventh, our very first guest. The one who decided these people aren't as crazy as they sound. Barbara: They are. Elvis: Renatao Bundee. Welcome back. How are you? Renata Budny: I wish I had like the whole orchestra here, guys, for you. I'm wonderful. I can't believe in seven years already. Barbara: No doubt. Oh my God. Elvis: Kind of insane in every year that I go to Chicago. I remember it was at CDT fest where we're like, hey, you interested? And you're like, what the heck? And I actually couldn't even make the connection work. It was you that got it to work and thus the first episode. Barbara: I said the same thinga and you. Renata Budny: Guys are doing amazing. Your podcasts are just taking you through the world and back. And we are so happy you'doing them. Barbara: Thank you. You always bring with you fantastic guests, and this year I think we got some stellar ones You have two students that you're bringing on. today I'mnna let Elvis introduce them. Elvis: Well, I'm going to do my best here. So Renata, I mean, we love you, but if we talk to you every year by yourself for seven years, you'd probably'd get kind of bored. Yeah, you know, not much happens. I Get it? I get it. So you always bring with you fantastic guests, and this year I think we got some stellar ones. So. Sevesiani. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes. Hi. Elvis: Oh, yes. Go ahead and say your full name. I'm not even gonna try with the last. Sevastiani Perselis: Okay. My name is Sevastiani Pocellas Perscellas. Elvis: That's not that bad. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeahcellas. Elvis: And you come to us from Greece, but you went to New York. New York City College of Technology. Am I saying that? Renata Budny: Did Bravway Elvis. Elvis: Yeah. Nice. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes. Elvis: And then also joining us is Reepka Nike demos. Renata Budny: Close. Rebca Nikedemos: Almost O. Almost. Elvis: No. Barbara: Announce yourself. Rebca Nikedemos: Okay. hi, everyone. My name is Repka. Nicod Demus. Barbara: N. Nicod Demus Nika. Elvis: It s spelled Nike demos, though, saying I am throwing that out there. It's not me, it's everybody else. So how is everybody? Barbara: Yeah. What is your nationality real quick? Rebca Nikedemos: I'm originally Ethiopian. Barbara: Oh, wow. I love your name. Rebca Nikedemos: Thank you. Barbara: Love it. Beautiful. Elvis: Okay, sorry, Syvesnian. Sevastiani Perselis: No, for short, you'call me Seva. Elvis: Seva. Sevastiani Perselis: Oh, I love that. Barbara: That's really good. Sevastiani Perselis: I think he can do that because it's a long name, you know? Elvis: Yes. I'm writing this down. Seva came to America when she was in sixth grade Okay, so, Seva, you are in Greece, but I think you've already gone through this school. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes. Elvis: Give us your story. Let's start with you since you've already graduated. How did you find out about a school in New York? Sevastiani Perselis: Okay, so first, I came to America when I was in sixth grade, so I left home pretty young, so I didn't really know what was going on. I didn't really know. I just only wanted. I. I knew that I didn't want to leave home. Barbara: Can you give me the short story? Why did d you guys leave? Sevastiani Perselis: So we live. We left because my father and my mom wanted us to go to school and be. And do something that we love. Renata Budny: Aw. Sevastiani Perselis: so, I had the opportunity. My mom is American, so she made me and my sister, American from little. Barbara: Yeah. She gave your father a little nudge and said, we're moving. Sevastiani Perselis: But it was my father's idea to go to America because he was, Because my mom knew the life in America, it was very, like, stressful. Like, you don't really have time for yourself. You're always. It's kind of like rush, rush always. Elvis: Oh, non. Rebca Nikedemos: I don'tactactly. Barbara: So I do not disagree. Okay. Sevastiani Perselis: My dad is a dental technician. He's been a dental technician for 30 years now. so I really. I was looking up to him since I was 7 years old. So it was something that I didn't really know and looked at myself to become something else than, ah, a dental technician. Because I was always in my father's, shoes and like, everywhere with him in the lab because he's been owning a lab, in RHS in Greece for around 1996. Elvis: Wow. Sevastiani Perselis: So, yeah. Elvis: so you grew up in the lab, you played with stuff, you put you to work. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes, yes. I basically, I remember when I was little, I remember the smell when I was walking into my's lab, the smell of acrylic. And it just brings me back so many memories since now, since this day. Since this day. I go in the lab and I'm like, this acrylic smell is so good. Barbara: I bet it brings you back from when you were super young and went in the lab and smelled it. We talked to a lot of people and they remember that smell distinctly. Elvis: Start selling it in candles pretty soon. Sevastiani Perselis: Oh, no, I really don't want to. But, so, yeah, we came to America around 2013. My dad started working in a, Greek lab just to start off. He actually went first to America so he could start working so we could have, like, a stable job so we as a family could go. And then me and my sister went. It was very hard in the beginning that them to adjust the food. Everything was different. Elvis: Different good or different bad? I'm curious on your take on that. Sevastiani Perselis: You know, the. There's no other. Like the food in Greec. Yeah, the oil, everything. The veggies. Everything is very different from America. Elvis: Not as much fried food from. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes, yeah. Yes. Yeah, exactly. But, I got used to it. You know, I didn't have any other choice. You know, like, I was little, but I got used to it. And, you know, I finished high school and then the only school that I was really interested in and had the program that I wanted to become a dental technician was New York City College of Technology. so I tried my best to get into the school. I tried my best to get into the program. the professors, my classmates were very friendly. I'm very thankful for them since now, you know, and it was, it was a roller coaster. It was a roller coaster for me. Renata Budny: You were also veryovered. Elvis: Oh, Covid. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes. Renata Budny: She graduated in 2022, so she was that cohort that had to go through the work. Barbara: Oh, my God. Rebca Nikedemos: It was, it was hard. Sevastiani Perselis: It was, it was hard. but we got used to it. Everything worked well. I'm very happy That I got the opportunity to go to that school to meet those professors. everybody was amazing. You know, I love them so. I love them dearly, you know. And I'm not, I'm never gonna forget what they taught me, you know. It, it's very touching, you know. And yeah, I came back home because I had the lab here in my fathers lab. Your parents moved back to Greece after you went to university Barbara: I was gonna ask. So you went to school and you guys moved to America, but then somewhere between you going into the university, they moved back to Greece. Sevastiani Perselis: Mmm. Correct. I graduated and I moved back to Greece. The reason why I, you know, I left little, I didn't really enjoy my friends, my grandparents, my cousins here back home. I always had the mindset to just come back home, you know. And the most important thing that I was, that was in my mind was I have a lab that's all mine. Barbara: I'm digging that. Sevastiani Perselis: It's the future is there for me, you know. And that's pretty much it. You know, I was, I was that mindset. Barbara: At ah, what point did your parents move back to Greece and open the lab up after you guys moved to. Sevastiani Perselis: The US So actually my sister left first America and then it was me and then my parents. So my parents were last. So as soon actually my mom was last, my dad came, he was the third to come. So when he came, we opened the lab. It was closed for 10 years. So it was hard to start again. but my dad and I worked very hard to get the dentist that my dad was working with for 30 years. And I went out and I got new doctors in it my age, kind of, you know, like new. I just open. Renata Budny: Perfect. Sevastiani Perselis: That's the future. That's my future. And that's what you got to do. You gotta, you gotta go out and you got, gotta kick it sell, you know, and work. And if something doesn't work, then be thankful that you just got the opportunity to just go and you know. But You gott, you gotta try things. If you don't try things, you will never know. Barbara: Agree. That's well said for a young lady. Elvis: Totally agree. Barbara: Well, good for you guys. Sevastiani Perselis: Thank you. Rebca Nikedemos: Thank youreciate it. Sevastiani Perselis: So. Yeah, that's my story. Barbara: Bo. Rebecca's grandfather was the first dentist in Ethiopia Elvis: All right. Re. Barbara: Next. Elvis: Rebecca. Reika. Rebca Nikedemos: Re. Barbara: It's Reva. Elvis: Revka. All right, Revka. Renata Budny: Yep. Elvis: Let's hear your story. Rebca Nikedemos: Well, my story goes my grandfather was the first dental clinic owner in Ethiopia and what? Elvis: The first ever. Rebca Nikedemos: First ever in Ethiopia? Yes. He was the first dentist. Elvis: That is crazy. Barbara: What year was that? Rebca Nikedemos: So a little before 1975. Not. I mean, it hasn't been too long, but it's been a long while at the same time. Elvis: Yeah. Barbara: That's an honor. Rebca Nikedemos: So after he got his clinic, he then proposed to my mom, saying, hey, why don't you own your own clinic? And she would be the first female, clinic owner in Ethiopia. Elvis: What the. Rebca Nikedemos: It's been. Barbara: It's a family ch to fil, young lady. Elvis: I know we always have royalty on this. Barbara: That's great. Rebca Nikedemos: Not too long ago, after Covid, I went back home because my parents, you know, as they were getting older, somebody had to help them. And once I went back to Ethiopia because I was here for school, you know, they were like, hey, why don't you help us? And I did at least the business side of it. And then I realized in the lab, we have a lab attached to our clinic, that we had foreigners coming in and working for us. And sometimes it would be very hard to keep them at the lab because they would get a better offer somewhere else, you know, and so there would always be. It was like a revolving door. And my dad was like, hey, like, why don't you try finding a school and you become the technician? And I'm like, well, okay, if you say so. I don't know what makes you think that I would be a good technician, but he's like, don't try. And, I did apply, and I was lucky not to get into the program. And this is my second semester, so I have yet to finish the program. But so far, I've been having so much fun that you're meeting a lot of interesting people. And, you know, the professors tell you about all their experience and the fact that they get to travel. You know, you're not just sitting at a desk if you're really good at what you're doing. You know, you get to travel the world explaining to people what you do and how to do it. Elvis: Yeah. Rebca Nikedemos: So I found that very interesting. And yeah, here I am, second semester student at cuny. first year. Oh, yeah. This is first year. This is. Barbara: It's only your first year or so. Give us your take on it. Like, what's it like starting dental technology school in those first, like, month? Rebca Nikedemos: It's so scary. Some, like, New York. It'so scary at first because you're like, am I doing this right? Am I making a mistake? And then you'have the professor just like, oh, this is not a big deal. Restart again or do this again. You're just like, oh, no, it Took me what takes the professors two minutes, takes us like six hours to do. So when they're like, start over. Yeah. it's kind of nerve wracking at first, but then once you realize, oh wait, this is just, you know, wax, you can restart, you can redo it, and the more you do it, the better you get at it. So yeah, like I said, it was scary at first, but now. But now we're okay now. Now we're actually getting a little cotn though. Yeah. Barbara: How you say it's just wax or you know, it s just wax, but it is wax. Rebca Nikedemos: And you can mix it, you can fix with it. Yeah. And this is how you learn. Right? We're here to learn. So mistakes you make are going toa be your learning curves here. So the professors don't, don't use it against you in a sense that they'll be like, oh, I'm glad you made this mistake. Usually the mistakes will be used as an example in class so that other students don't make the mistake. Yeah. So, it's not like making it. They don't make a big deal out it, but if that makes sense. Renata Budny: Yeah, we make a big deal out of it. To learn. Rebca Nikedemos: To learn. Renata Budny: Yeah. And I love when students make mistakes. I've said it before. Yeah, it's great. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. Elvis: Mistakes are fine. I'm curious. You're an Ethiopia and you're googling dental technology schools I'm curious. You're an Ethiopia and you're googling dental technology schools. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. Elvis: How does one in New York show up? I mean, aren't there a ton of schools in that part of the hemisphere? Rebca Nikedemos: Yes, there are a lot of schools. There are programs that let you finish in like six months or I saw one in Thailand that's like for two months. And I'm like, what am I gonna learn in two months? Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah. Elvis: Somebody had one to one that was three years, but they went once a day a week for three years. Barbara: Yeah. Rebca Nikedemos: That's a long programs out there. Yeah, for sure. But once I started, you know, going deep dive into like what is actually the right type of program, you know, CUNY just stood out. It was. Yeah. I mean you have the two year program. It's taught. This is one of the oldest program. It is the oldest in the US So it wasn't after a while you're like, all right, I know what school I have to try to get into. But definitely you get a very interesting, list of schools. Two months, three years. Yeahable. Ah. Renata Budny: And she chose us. Rebca Nikedemos: Yes. Renata Budny: We are very lucky. Barbara: Yeah. Renataa, I've got to ask this question. How did you choose these two young ladies Renataa, I've got to ask this question. So we do this every year for seven years. And for the last five we've asked you to please bring on students. And I love the way your brain works. And we text back and forth. How did you choose these two young ladies? Renata Budny: Well, we have maybe we have three students right now who are international students. I think one from Europe, one from, Korea, one from Ethiopia. And then we had a couple of students that came from the past. So I figured might be interesting for you to hear from the student that already graduated and it's successful in what she's doing and stayed in the field in another country. And then re guy spoke with her in the first semester and she just started and I thought Ethiopia is a very exotic country for us because we've had students from Europe, we have students from, from Asia, but here's Ethiopia. That's like very original. And the other two students are in the second year. So I usually handle first year students in my classes. So it's just easier to just ask Rapka. And she agreed. So I thought here's the perspective of first year student who is in the program. And here is a perspective of a graduate who graduated and successful after finishing the program. Barbara: So you literally own this episode. Finally. It's not Elvis. Renata Budny: Yay. It took seven years. Elvis: I'm happy to pass it along. Renata Budny: I'm so proud of you guys. Seven years, that's, you know, that's a great anniversary. I love it. Congratulations. Barbara: Well, I like the way you think. Siva learned under your father dental technology when you came to America Elvis: So Siva, when you were learning in Greece and you did your, your family move to New York? Sevastiani Perselis: So my mom's parents were already there. They were living all their years in America. Elvis: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: So my mom just only moved to Greece. She met my dad in Greece and that's how she wanted to stay in Greece. Elvis: Yes. So when you came to America, you've already kind of learned under your father dental technology. How different was it from when you started in school? Sevastiani Perselis: So I was looking from my dad, but, when I started in school, I was really something that I never really saw. Like I never really saw and remembered. So when I started school, I. Elvis: You didn't learn the why from your dad? Sevastiani Perselis: Maybe I did. I always used to ask you questions. Barbara: Your dad was probably like, don't do it, don't do it. I'm just kidding. Sevastiani Perselis: Like the first wax ups that I was doing, he was like, okay, like, fix this cusp. The marginal groove, like he was telling me. And the setups of the dentures that I first I. The first semester I did it Was a good. Oh, my God. I'm frozen out. Sorry. Renata Budny: You've been in greense for too long. Sevastiani Perselis: M. Barbara: It's 11pm Y'all'even be up right now? Elvis: That's what I said. Renata Budny: It's 4p. Sevastiani Perselis: It was, So my dad. Barbara: Yeah, I was gonna say. Were you looking for the word mentor? Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah, exactly, like. Barbara: Okay, good. That's what I was thinking. Sevastiani Perselis: You were thinking I forgot my English as well. Rebca Nikedemos: Yes. Barbara: I love that my dad was my mentor. Sevastiani Perselis: Just. Yeah, so it was a big help. It was a big help. And not only my father, but the professors as well. I was. I was listening to the professors, a lot. They, like, reka said, their experiences. Barbara: Did you feel, like, an automatic connection? Like that was what you were meant to do for a living? Like you just loved it? Sevastiani Perselis: Totally felt I couldn't see myself doing something else in my life. Barbara: Yeah. Which part of it, like, going through the curriculum did you fall in love with? Other than the smell. Rebca Nikedemos: Or. Barbara: Yeah. Was there, of course, reata. But was there one particular part of it that you gravitated for, like ceramics or the CAD part of it that you liked and you just, like, were like, that's it. Sevastiani Perselis: Honestly, everything. Everything. Ceramics CADC cam that I am. We have in the lab as well. We're digital and in Greece, in my lab. Ye. And it's something that I kind of rely on because, my dad is maybe, like, doing the setups, doing summer ceramics. I am. I have a lot of working in CADC cam. Barbara: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: And I design, but I also do setups. Like, it'it's. Balance with my father. Yeah, it's. It's. Yeah, everything is balanced. But, you know, working with your father, sometimes it's overwhelming because you have, you know, you're very comfortable. I'm very comfortable with my dad. So it usually gets hectic sometimes. Barbara: No, come on. You have a lot of challenges in this job, Renatao Sevastiani Perselis: You have a lot of challenges in this job, you know, and. Barbara: Oh, yeah, doctors are very demanding. Sevastiani Perselis: Demanding. Yeah, they're very demanding. You know, if. If a technician can do what's on the gypsum, the, doctor also has to work on it on the patient. It's not only my side, but it's their side as well. So I've faced a lot of challenges is with that. Because we had a case where the doctor wanted full there on the lower part of the jaw, and we did it so many times because he was. The impression was not good at first. the second impression, something was shrinking. Maybe their. Their impression was shrinking. Maybe my gypsum Were shrinking. We couldn't really find the problem. And we firstly did s sing, which is the metal that we. I designed and I sent it to Athens and then the Athens sends it to me and I built on porcelain. O. sweet. Barbara: It's like Argan in our country. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes. And that went wrong as well. So I'm like, I was talking to my father. I was like, what are we gonna do? Like we have to change something as well. Not only the doctor has to change, but we have to change something. So we got a new dice stone. Maybe my DY stone was wrong. Maybe their impression material was. I don't know. Elvis: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: So yeah, you face a lot of challenges, but it all works out in the end, you know. And the most important thing is the patient has to be happy in the end. Because if the patient is happy, the dentist is happening, then the technician is happing. So it goes. It goes like that. Yeah. Elvis: Do you teach that in the school, Renatao? no. Renata Budny: I just going to say mission accomplished. She's a troubleshish. She a. She's a problem solver. Done. Accomplished. In Ethiopia, there aren't enough labs compared to dental offices in Greece What can I say? Elvis: How did your dad take to you bring it in? Digital. Is he excited about it? Sevastiani Perselis: Yes, very excited. So he used to work in America. So after that lab he used to work in. In Astoria. he used to. He changed a lot of labs. So the last lab that before he left America was he was in a dental office where there were multiple dentists. There was a general dentist, periodontist, endodontist, orthodontist. So there were all thoseists that working with my dad because he was the only technician in that lab. Elvis: That's a lot of work. Barbara: Heck, yeah. Yeah, no pressure there. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah, yeah, it was. It was a lot, but he managed. And it was very nice to see my father working with implants. Mostly implants, because there was a periodontist, in the dent in the dental office. So he was doing all kinds of stuff. And I was sometimes going there and looking and seeing what he's working on in that dental office. He also was scanning with int or scanner. The dental office had. So he was designing also crowns, bridges, everything. And they had the milling machine in there in the lab. So it was just. He was just sending it and it was milling and then it was ready. So he definitely knew digital. And then we recently got the cat cam because everything is digital now. Elvis: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: And lot of doctors ask for zirconia because it's something aesthetic and nice and pleasing, which I understand and. But usually doctors Here in Greece, they sometimes want the cheaper way, not the expensive way o work. That works everywhere, I think. Elvis: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: but you could make PFM that's cheap but looks expensive. So some doctors don't really have to because doctors know what kind of work we do here. me, and my father as well. that's what I'm talking. Like me, my father, we have a lot of PFM'because they like the anatomy, they like everything about it. But we also have the CAD cam that I'm designing. I'm sending it out to another lab here in Greece that I'm very good friends with. And me and my father, we have very good communication. And it's a big lab where they have the milling machine and they cut it for us. It's pretty. You know, in, in school I learned three shape in New York City College technology. That's what, that's what they taught us. But I learned exocad as well, which is something pretty similar to 3 shape. So it was nothing new to me. You know, I adapted very, very fast. And so I do everything. I do temporaries, temporary bridges. I sent it out to the other lab actually because I am on the lookout to get a 3D printer now. Elvis: Nice. Sevastiani Perselis: yeah, because there's a lot of temporaries that, doctors are asking so before, like the final job. And so it's, it's, it's pretty good to have CAT cam in the lab. You know, it's. Everybody's asking everybody. You have intro or scanners coming from other doctors? Mostly the new ones that I've, talked to and I'm working with. They have intro or scanner. Elvis: Sure. Sevastiani Perselis: So I have to have a ca can for me to work. Elvis: Sure. Is that similar in Ethiopia? Do they have interal scanners? Rebca Nikedemos: Well, there's. So in Ethiopia with dentistry and like having labs. Yeah, I would say there aren't enough labs compared to the dental offices that exist in Ethiopia. Basically, dental offices are like Starbucks. They're everywhere. yeah. Really everywhere. There's only a few large big enough able, you know, enough to have these big machineries because we all know they cost a lot. And if, you know, like $1, for example, in my country back home in Ethiopia, it's around 200 local, $2. So it's a lot. When you exchange it, it comes out to a lot. So only a few labs, I believe only five labs are big enough to buy these big machines. And these, or the software, it's expensive. So usually you have second Labs in Dubai, in Sweden. We send them out there, they get done. And then, yeah, at the same time, you have to think of how, technologically advanced we are to be able to, you know, host all these, different lab techniques and lab tech machineries to bring them to Ethiopia. Sometimes the doctors are not as equipped to even know what to do. We don't have a lot of endodontists. We have general surgeons to begin with. There aren't a lot of a variety of doctors to have, for example, implants for us. We have one doctor out of five who knows how to do implants. And when he'doing. When he's working on implants, we send them to our lab in Sweden. We have a partnership there. So it's very hard to get a full spectrum of what you can do dental orally. So it's a little bit more complicated than Ethiopia, I guess. Elvis: Yeah. That's fascinating the difference. Are you planning to go back to Ethiopia and work for your father And what is your plan? Are you eventually going to go back to Ethiopia and work for your father? Rebca Nikedemos: I'm going toa be able to do that, yes. But I'm not looking forward to having my dad as my boss. It's. Barbara: Let's hope he's not listening with this. Rebca Nikedemos: But yeah, he's the one who pushed me to come to this program and do this and saw the potential in me. So I do definitely want to go back and work. And there's more. I feel like there will be more opportunities for me there because there now when I'm here, I'm looking at the machines we're using at schools, the tools I'm taking pictures so that I send him back and, you know, he looks at what he has in his lab and's like, oh, we don't need this machine. We already have it. Or he'll be like, oh, this is great. Ask your teachers or your professors, what machine is this and what exactly it does? So he's interested in updating his lab, as I'm also, you know, learning here. But yeah, he's definitely a tech guy to himself. So, he's always been talking about CADC Cam. Even before I knew what CADC Cam was, he was always like, cat Cam. Renata Budny: Cad Cam. Rebca Nikedemos: I'm like, dad, what is Cat Cam? So, there's only one Cat Cam machine, by the way, in Ethiopia. Only one lab has it. Yeah. You're kidding me. it's crazy when, you think about it. But, yeah. So hopefully we'll be able to upgrade ourselves and to becoming better lab tech. Elvis: I Was gonna say, are you gonna be the second lab with it? Rebca Nikedemos: And at least, you know, having the program or having the machine sometimes doesn't make it better because you also need the lab tech technician who knows how to use. Elvis: Oh, 100%. Yeah, yeaheah. Barbara: Right. Rebca Nikedemos: And I believe the person, the owner of the lab who has the CAD cam, she hasn't been able to get a technician who knows how to work it. So it's kind of just been sitting thered collecting dust. Right. So like I told you, if you were always hiring foreigners, because we don't have, lab technicians in Ethiopia, we just, I think the first batch of graduates was in September last year. The first school opened and then they finally graduated after eight months of going to school or something like that. So it's just now starting in Ethiopia. So we're eager to learn. How did your father gravitate to lab technology when there are few in Ethiopia Barbara: So I've got to ask this question then, and you might not know the answer, but how did your father gravitate to lab technology when there is so few in Ethiopia? Like, how did he find it? Rebca Nikedemos: So I'll be honest with you, it's mainly m money. It's all about money. But, we were the first lab to open in Ethiopia, so he was always looking to update and upgrade himself. And not only the dental lab, but also the dental, office, since it's attached to everything. The Dental association in Ethiopia has basically taken our office and our lab offices as a blueprint for the standard of what a dental office or a dental lab should look like. So as we are growing, so is the standard, so is the information for what the standard is. And my dad having the partnership in Sweden, he would always go and look and see where they're at, what level have they achieved. And he would come back and say, oh, we need this machine or we need, you know, the doctors to go and get training somewhere else. And that's how he got interested, that's how he heard and saw, like, oh. Because CADCAM may be new to us, but I think it's been around for, you know, quite some time now. Yes. Barbara: Sounds to me like he threw you a line. And then it might be really great working for him because you can bring all of this knowledge back. Possibly started y. I hope so. When you first arrived at NYU, what did you think about the school Elvis: So when you showed up to the school in New York, what did you think? Bernarda was the best. We get that. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeaheahvious. Renata Budny: Elvis, don't put. Rebca Nikedemos: No, she is, she is the best. But we learned. When I first showed up here, I don't know, I was nervous. It was crazy because I didn't expect it to be so I guess disor organized that. I just thought, you know, you go into labs and you're like, there's so much going on. But no, we were, you know, it was great. It was a little nervous at the time. Yeah. And then, you know, they, you know, they set us at our benches and they're like, go, do this and do that. And actually for Professor Bundny, you are our first professor. Y. Yeah, she was the first exposure was with professor the gatekeeper. Yeah. Barbara: You had the best. Rebca Nikedemos: Exactly, exactly. Renata Budny: After all these years, I'm very surprised. Rebca Nikedemos: She was our tooth morphology professor last semester. So we learned from the best. Renata Budny: Oh, thank you. Thank you. Renataa: We have about 60 students enrolled right now Elvis: How many students do you have right now, Renataa? Renata Budny: Well, right now we have enrolled about 60 students. Yeah, 60 students. We enrolled in a fall and in the second semester we have 6. Barbara: 0. Renata Budny: Yeah, we always enroll 60 students. Yeah, that's our maximum. And actually for the fourth year, I believe in a row we have or even longer, we have the waiting list. So we are very lucky in that respect. I know that other programs struggle. Barbara: Yeah. What do you think the difference is, Renata, that you have a waiting list in 60 students? Is it the location? Do you guys do marketing? Is it word of mouth? Elvis: Is it maybe all of that yearly podcast? Renata Budny: I mean, look, they find us in Ethiopia, so I know, that's what I mean. Barbara: Like how we students sometime from other. Renata Budny: States, we get students from other countries, which is amazing. And we must be doing something right. I don't know. And part of it is probably good luck, you know, like, like I'm good luck for you guys for seven years. I'm, probably good luck for the program. No, but we have about 60 students in our first year, 50 students in the second year, so that makes about 110 students. And last year, you know, we usually take 60 students in the first year. First yeareah for the first year. So we graduated 38 last year. So that's like 63% of for graduation out of 60 that we entered with. Barbara: And how does a, technical college such as yours, you know, stay up? Like, do you have different companies that offer you different types of mills or equipment or software? How does that work for you guys anyway, that the podcast can get it out there to, to possibly help people invest? Renata Budny: Definitely. We are state and federal, state, city and federal funded institutions. So we get funding for regular expenses through that. And some years are better, some. Some years are worse. We do have many companies that reach out to us either with Materials or with equipment even sometimes with you know, materials that are slightly expired, we can still use them in a classroom for you know, project. So we always appreciate that when it comes to equipment we have to be very careful because it's going to be very easy for us to just bring the equipment and never use it. You know. So we have to be careful of how we can adapt it to our projects in a classroom. And if we find a use for it and we can adopt it, we can take it as a tax deductible donation probably for the company. Rebca Nikedemos: U. Renata Budny: but then again, you know, we have to be able to use it in a collgen has to be in a working condition. So we do work with many companies and we do get tax exemption and deals for educational institutions. When it comes to CATM and some other equipment that we work with, we always look for different quotes from different companies. And so we do have a lot of good equipment, a lot of good equipment for many projects. We are currently changing projects on regular basis to you know, digital projects. Just you know, we also have to comply with Koda. And I have to say that Koda is coming next week for the site visit that happens every seven years. This, this time around it's happening every eight years because of COVID was postponed for a year. But that's a big deal because they coming, they're taking a snap snapshot in time and they're checking if we comply with the standards and even the standards change. So this, there was a standard change from doing for example saldering. We don't, we no longer have to do saldering in a classroom so we can empty that bucket in that part of the class and we can put some digital projects for example. And that's, that's what we're working on. So it's constantly influx the curriculum and we are constantly trying to improve and having that many students and many faculty. You know, it's, it's a big project. Koda is commissioned on dental accreditation and it accredits all dental programs Barbara: Can you really quickly tell our audience what the difference is between a CODA accredited school? What does that mean? Renata Budny: Okay, so Koda is commissioned on dental accreditation and it accredits all the dental programs, all dental hygiene, all dental assisting and dental therapy programs and dental technology programs. So any, any reputable program out there that is dental going to be COODA accredited. That's the only, only accrediting body that we have at the moment. And it's, it's throughue American Dental Association. So American Dental association is the big umbrella. COOTA is under them. But it's also sponsored in a way by Education Department, United States Department of Education. So all these accrediting bodies have to go through the Department of Education. And so this is ours. And so I've been on many coda site visits as I am m a site visitor as well. So we know exactly what means. There's five standards. They pertain to faculty, they pertain to curriculum, to the institution, to emergencies. Like when it comes to u even Covid was part of that. Different kinds of emergencies and facilities and things like. So we have to comply with with all of these ST standards and Koda checks on us and then every seven years comes and actually visits in place, sends the visitors and they check on all these standards. If we complying with everything and if we don't, we get the slap on the wrist. We have to fix it. We have to showc that we fixed it, how we fixed it. They look through it again and they give us, they continue giving us accreditation. So accreditation is not, not something you get once you have to continue continuously work towards it. Kind of like you have a CDT and you have to constantly learn and renew your cdt. That's how we have to renew our accreditation. Barbara: Well, thank you for answering that. That was pretty clear. I was a little confused because we hear that every so often, but I didn't really recognize exactly what it meant. So thank you. Renata Budny: You also ask me Barb about non accredited program. So the non accredited programs, because they don't have to comply with all these standards, they don't have to be two year programs, we have to be two year programs. They don't have to necessarily teach crown and bridge ceramics, dentures, partial dentures, you know, all of the facets of dental technology and anatomy and occlusion and some other aspects of it. They can just concentrate on fix or just removable, you know and they can offer those programs. So there'a lot more flexibility in non accredited programs. But then accredited have certain standards and have to comply with those standards. Rebca Nikedemos: Wow. Elvis: When either of you looked at this school, did that even register that it was a coda? Rebca Nikedemos: No, not at first until Professor Buddy actually explained it to us. And what kota was because I had no idea that was when I first walked in. But now I know I go to school that is Coda credited. That's pretty cool. Elvis: It's definitely a flex. Rebca Nikedemos: It's defactly. It is a flex. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah, definitely. Renata Budny: And I think the institutions also appreciate accredited programs because they know they have to comply with standards. So when, students graduate from this program, they know that they carry with them certain knowledge and experiences. And that's not just something pertaining to dentistry, but it's also in ophthalmology and engineering and architecture and other fields that have their own accreditations. Elvis: Yeah. One of the things that you have to have in this job is patience So Siva, when you graduated, you walk in, you open up a lab in Greece, you're good to go. Did you learn everything you needed to know in school? Sevastiani Perselis: I mean, I, I would say if you don't get in the bench, you don't get on the bench and you don't start looking what you have in front of you, what kind of case you have in front of you, you don't really like. You have to practice, you have to do it. Elvis: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: Every day you will learn something new. I still every day learn something new on the job. So definitely I learned the basics and everything important. Not to do wrong, not to do not, you know, not to do mistakes. But definitely you have to, you will know on the job. You will know once you get on that bench and you start working. Sevastiani Perselis: Definitely. One of the things that you have to have in this job is patience. Barbara: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: If you, if you sometimes, you know, lose it, you just go out, get some fresh air and just take a breath and just, you know, maybe that's. Elvis: How they do gre. Sevastiani Perselis: But ye. Exactly. Again, you know, it gets frustrating. It's, it's normal for this job. But I love the job though. Yeah, I like I, you know, it's, it gets frustrating. But I love the job. Barbara: Do you guys get to see. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah, I have the opportunity to. Sometimes the doctor calls me, he's like seva. like calm. Because this is not sitting right. What is wrong with that? Like you. They need assiststing also, like they need the technician's hand somewhere. Because sometimes one of the doctors is afraid to touch the restoration, like to even just grind it a little bit. So they, they're afraid that they're gonna break. they're afraid. So it's important for me to be there and they, they want me there. Like they, they, they call me and they're like, come. Because I don't know like what to do. So I have the opportunity to see patients. I have the opportunity to see smiles that I make. Barbara: Yes. Sevastiani Perselis: Which is very, very nice to see. I get so happy. Like the most important thing is I see the patient smiling and they're happy with what they're wearing, you know. Barbara: Heck yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: It's, it's very, it's, it's very nice to See, you know, and I think. Barbara: It'S a learning experience too. When you actually get to see the restorations and you see the lips in the smile and you meet that emotion and the happiness and the gratitude and all of that. It really takes what we do to another level. Like there's just no other feeling like that. I feel. Sevastiani Perselis: Whenever my dad, when I was in school, my dad used to always show me, always put your thumb on top of the gypsum, like on top of the, the restoration to see what the patient'lips would look like. Yeah, it was one of the things that he first taught, like, taught me and told me, when I started my first wax ups and it was, I still do it every day. Like you, you can't just not see what the patient's lips look, how it shows on the restorations. Elvis: Do you do that, Barb? Barbara: Yeah, I was just go goingna say my dad taught me that as well. Yeah, you kind of like hold it and you use your thumb and you put it over that, the gingival area. And it's almost like, you know, it shows you the shadowing and it. Yes, absolutely. Elvis: Renata, do you teach that at the school? Renata Budny: I do mention it to students, but, you know, having them in the first semester gets a little clumsy sometimes. if they remember when they leave, it's a different story because it's overwhelming amount of information and I have to give them that. And each class they have four classes and it's material class morphology class fixed prostodontics and dentures. So imagine, you know, learning everything all at once and things behind theory. It's crazy. Barbara: Yeah, that's a lot. Elvis: Does it seem like there's a lot to learn that first year, that first. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah, that first semester, it's a lot of information. And sometimes some classes, it could be a little bit overwhelming other. And others you're just like, oh, you know, it's okay because you learned it in a different class. And sometimes it's repetition, which is good because, you know, the information will stay in your head. Ye. but it is the first, like, I'm goingna say half of the semester, you're a little overwhelmed. It's your first time doing most of these projects using these tools. And you know, sometimes the projects just come out looking, you know, a little wonky. Barbara: Not as good as you'd like. Yeah, yeah. Rebca Nikedemos: And it's your first time, you're like trying to be perfect at it. You're trying to be good and you don't even have the experience, it's kind of. It's kind of crazy, but after a while, you get more comfortable. Like I said, you get this idea. This is not, you know, the end all be all. You have to keep practicing. Elvis: Yeah. Rebca Nikedemos: And that's what I believe. Professor Bunny is like, we have tooth morphology with her. So we wax, and she's like, oh, this is just wax. Don't worry. She, like, scrapes the wax that you worked so hard. Renata Budny: S. Well, first thing, I teach them to actually break the coping. Rebca Nikedemos: She breaks it, and you're just. Your heart is broken. Renata Budny: I'm like, I gotta break your heart at first. and then you're notnna be broken every now. Rebca Nikedemos: Yes. It's crazy. Many students leave college emotionally drained, but they're general technicians Elvis: It's not. Favorite part. Renata Budny: Y. Rebca Nikedemos: It is. And we do. We have to do that in dentures, by the way. I can't believe, like, we bring theenture we worked that hard so that they can break it. And I don't know if I can. If I can watch that. I don't know if I can watch and break it, but, yeah. So it's a fun roller coaster. Elvis: Yeah. People leave emotionally drained, but they're general technicians. Renata Budny: But guess what happens by the end of two years? They don't want to leave. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. How? Renata Budny: many students are like, I can't wait when I'm done. And they're like, I don't want to leave. By the end of the two years, asking if you still miss us. I take a you. Sevastiani Perselis: I think of you every day. Rebca Nikedemos: See? Sevastiani Perselis: But it's very hard for me to come for now. It's very hard. But I will come. I want to visit the school. I talk to Shnardo. I ask him, like, how the professors have you gotten there? Like, you know, trying to, like, catch up and see where everybody's at. I know Shash is doing very well. I'm very proud of her. Yeah, I'm very proud of everybody. Everybody I've seen, because I have them on social media. they're becoming something successful, and I'm very proud of them. All of them. Barbara: That's got toa be fun. Elvis: Is a student group pretty tight nip is it like, every year? I mean, friendships are found and resources are shared for years after. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I think that my classash we were pretty together, like. Renata Budny: And you're still keeping in touch on social media, you mentioned. So social media will do that. You know, that's. That's a great venue. Sevastiani Perselis: Y. Rebca Nikedemos: But through the first group you're with, you have that shared u. you know, yeah, Shar suffering that we kind of tend to stick with that. We plan our schedules for like the next semester. We'like what class are you taking? We should do schedule A and B. And we're trying to stick together, you know, So I think that's the many reasons why we'll have like, shared experience after we're done graduating, you know. Rebka says she has one more year in the dental program Barbara: So, Rebka, how long do you have left? So you're in your first or where are you at in the program? Rebca Nikedemos: Well, this is our second semester, but it's our first year in the program, so I have one more year. Elvis: When does this semester end? Rebca Nikedemos: May. Renata Budny: Right at the end of my May. Elvis: And is there a summer break? Rebca Nikedemos: They give us a summer break. Thank goodness. Elvis: Are you gonna go work in a lab or what's. Barbara: Well, that's what. That's where I was leading to. So you don't. Who are you living with and like, what do you do on the off time? Rebca Nikedemos: And I live on my own in New. I'm lucky enough to have a, you know, to live on my own here in New York. But, Barbara: Wow. Rebca Nikedemos: usually I visit families during my breaks. I have family here in the US So I go and visit them or I go back home. That's what I did for Christmas break. I went back to Ethiopia. It was the summertime there, so we're opposite weather. Elvis: That's awesome. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah, it was very sunny. It was great. It was hot. We went to the pool and then I came back here and it was. Was minus three. Take me back home. But we do have an internship coming this semester, our externshipgh professor in the summertime. So we get to experience what a real lab looks like, which is pretty cool. So we kind of get an idea how it actually functions and we get to work there. And, I'm kind of excited for that part. Elvis: How do you find those? Do. Do you have to find. Barbara: I'nn say Renata. That's probably gotta be you guys, right? Renataa? Renata Budny: Yeah. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. We sign up for like, which borough we want to stay in. We sign up at the beginning of the semester. They will assign us a lab. But then I believe we have to contact them. Yes. Renata Budny: So we have the externship program, in a college for our program. And we have bunch of prostodontists and laboratories that we were associated with. And they're very supportive, they're extremely good to us. And they always take a couple of students for the externship, which is scheduled for 24 hours. So which means like three days of eight hours. But w. what ends up being is that if the place is willing and the student wants to come and just observe, they let them come and observe or maybe do a little tasks. So they really go there many to observe. But if they get to do something, it's great. And you know, if they go to the lab, more likely they will do something. But if they go to the dentist's office that has in house lab, maybe they go into clinical setting and the doctor shows them how to prep, how he's prepping the tool or inserting the crown or a bridge or something like this. Or they, they just hang out with the technicians and they take care of them and show them around and show them what they're doing. Part of the color requirement as well. Barbara: I like that. Because you're either going to stay or you'ren toa run. Renata Budny: And some of these externship end up being the future jobs. Elvis: Oh sure. Barbara: Right. Renata Budny: Yeah. Many of the externships would hire our students and it's just reciprocal relationship which we really love. Elvis: Where did you go, Siva? Sevastiani Perselis: I actually I had my team and we interviewed my father in the m. In the dental office that he was working with. Barbara: Wow. Sevastiani Perselis: So I got to have a zoom meeting and I was with my father and my teammates. They were zoom meeting with my father and they were asking him questions. Everything, everything about the job, how many years he's been a technician. Everything. Yeah. Renata Budny: And the reason she had the zoom meeting was because this was during COVID That's right. Yeah. Stopped and we couldn't go to the lab. So we created, you know something instead of going on externship, they still had the experiences, which was wonderful. Elvis: Yeah. You got the bum deal though. Renata Budny: It was. I remember those late nights when we stayed in the lab till 8pm it was the late, late lab and Seva was going home with her parents and they were coming get her and stuff. So. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. Sevastiani Perselis: Wow. Good. Renata Budny: This day when I see students and they say, oh, I graduated this and this year and I don't recognize them because they were constantly in a mask, you know. Elvis: So you don't remember. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. Renata Budny: But when she, she's talking about zoom, I'm like, wait, usually they are in person. So that's the only reason. Ye. Is it just you and your dad. Or just me and my father Elvis: So your lab now, Siva. Is it just you and your dad. Sevastiani Perselis: Or just me and my father? Yeah, just me and my father. My mom is also in the kind of business, she sends out the the cost. Elvis: Yeah, the invoice and stuff. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah, yeah, the invoices. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah. So she helps out with that a lot. And she picks up the phone. Yeah. Rebca Nikedemos: Secret. Elvis: That's a hard job. Sevastiani Perselis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because sometimes me and my father don't have the time to just. Except if a doctor needs talk to us because usually the the dental assistants call us if they have something. She also does the deliveries and the pickups. Oh wow, that's nice. Yeah. Because me and my father can't go out of the lab because we have work. Elvis: Y. Sevastiani Perselis: You know, if you get out of the bench, you, you sometimes lose the momentum. Yeah. Where you working? You lose your track. Elvis: Yeah, for sure. Sevastiani Perselis: Soeah. We have mom. Elvis: Are you always going toa keep it family? Are you looking to expand and hire other people and pick people from the New York school to come and move to Greece? Sevastiani Perselis: I mean I want to, I want. I. When I I like I tell shnda, my classmate, I tell him when are you going toa come to Greece? I want to show you my law list. I want to, I want them to come see it. And hopefully one of my professors comes comments as well. Like I'm coming, I'm coming. Barbara: Aw, I love that. I want to go too. Elvis: Can I go with you want a podcast to show up? Renata Budny: Yeah, let go. Barbara: I want to go to Greece. Sevastiani Perselis: Of course of you're all welcome to come. Elvis: I love it. Sevastiani Perselis: In the future I want to. You know when my dad usually, when he gets retired, I don't know how I'm gonna manage all the work. So I'm definitely gonna have somebody that's gonna do like the plaster work. Like I'm thinking the plasterwork and the most basic stuff. Because my father when he was alone he had a person that he was also a dental technician, but he had him to work at the basic workating maybe like setting up the teeth, but ceramics and everything else my dad was. Barbara: Working on, that's actually really smart because he might just be working 20 hour days if he didn't have somebody doing some of that for him. Sevastiani Perselis: Exactly. And you know, sometimes the doctors, they want the, the fast, the fast delivery and it's when you're by yourself and you're working by yourself. It's, it's. You can't do that. Like you don't have the ability to be fast when you're by yourself. So you know, one of the things that me and my father have right now is we're fast delivery where we have good work and we're fast delivery because we Think of the patient not having the restoration is. It's not comfortable likettist and for the patient. So we just work fast, you know, it's something that we, we. Barbara: Have as a lab and that's great too because you know, five day turnaround time. The dentist is happy, the patient's happy. Hopefully you guys are getting paid on time so it all works exact. Sevastiani Perselis: Yep, yep, for sure. Elvis: Nice. Rebc will be working in the second CADCAM lab in Ethiopia Barbara: Awesome. Elvis: Well Rebc, good luck on your next year. I'm sure you'renna be super successful in the second CADCAM lab in Ethiopia. Rebca Nikedemos: Yeah. Elvis: We want you to come back on and tell us that story once you get that up and running. Rebca Nikedemos: I will for sure. Thank you guys for having me. I really appreciate it. Barbara: Yes, absolutely. Sevastiani Perselis: Love it. Elvis: And Siva, amazing. And thank you for joining us so late at night from Greece. Barbara: Yeah, it's midnight. Sevastiani Perselis: Thank you. I'm not going to bed yet. Elvis: You probably should bored work. Barbara: I don't feel bad. Sevastiani Perselis: Yes. And I'm gonna go early morning tomorrow in the lab so I have work to do. But I'm very thankful, very happy to have the opportunity. Thank you for inviting me. It was very nice to have you guys and meeting youk you even just only with ving voices. But hopefully one day I get to meet all. Elvis: Oh no, we're all showing up. We're all goingna show up. Sevastiani Perselis: One today for coming you in. Elvis: I hope your lab is big enough for all four of us. Sevastiani Perselis: It'sty, it s pretty big so don't worry about it. Barbara: And Renataa, of course, much love. Renata Budny: Thank you. Anything I can do, you know where to find me. Elvis: Well yes, in 11 and a half months I'll be reaching out so I'll be here. Thank you everybody and thank you allget. Just keep doing what you're doing and we'll talk to you soon. Sevastiani Perselis: Thank you. Rebca Nikedemos: Thank you. Sevastiani Perselis: Than. Rebca Nikedemos: Bye bye. Voices from the Bench celebrates seventh year of talking to dentists Barbara: I would just like to acknowledge for one second how well Elvis pronounced those names because we're not easy and we all know, you know if you listen to our podcast it's kind of an ongoing joke but it's not. He's not great with names so good job. Good job. Elvis: Thank you. Thank you for acknowledging seven years later. Still have no idea. Barbara: But a huge thanks to Renataa, Siva and Revka, for coming on our podcast to celebrate our seventh year of talking to people in our industry. There are not a lot of schools left in case anybody knows that in the US But Renataa, ah at her school and her team are killing it by educating some passionate young people, as we can just tell by talking to Seba and Rebka. And I'll tell you what, this was Renataa's episode, man. She's a genius. So thank you, sba, for taking time out of your busy lab to talk to us and sharing your amazing story. We wish you a ton of success, and we will definitely be showing up at your lab in Greace one day. I think that's a great idea, so be prepared. Elvis: Yeah. Barbara: And thank you, Rebka. super awesome. You shared your great story of living with an amazing family history of dentistry and Ethiopia. Like, who would have thought? Loved talking to her. So we know you will graduate with all the knowledge that you need to take it to the next level. So good luck to you, good luck to everybody, and again, thank you, Renataa. We will talk to you on our eighth year. Elvis: Mmm. All right, everybody, heading out to ids, so we will definitely talk to you next week. Renata Budny: Yep. Barbara: Safve travels, my friend. Have a great week, everybody. Rebca Nikedemos: Bye. Elvis: Yeah, we're gonna see this, we're gonna see that. We'renna see this, we're gonna see that. And I'm like, when do we sleep and eat? 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.