Hey there, voice of the Bench community. This is Trish Jones with Ivocar. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new IPS Emacs zirconia offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait.
Reach out to your local Ivaclar rep today and discover how IPSE Max Zirconia can help streamline your workflow. So Barb, an overdue congratulations are in order.
Oh my God. What did I do now, Elvis?
Didn't you all recently announce the Simply Arch studio?
Yes, we did.
That's awesome. You know that's right up my alley there.
Of course I do, yeah.
And just for anyone who hasn't seen the announcement, what is this Simply Arch thing?
All right, so Simply Arch is our dedicated full Arch lab. So it's high quality. Full Arch cases are a big big part of what we do, and we wanted a team and a dedicated workflow and a production environment built specifically around them.
So basically just no distractions.
Exactly. Just a bunch of full arch nerds doing full arch things.
Oh God, a bunch of nerds sounds terrifying.
It's never terrifying of us.
And does a new studio also mean new toys?
Yes. And of course, we recently brought in Xterra mill as part of the project.
Hell yeah, nice.
Yeah, and then of course came the cam decision.
Ah, here we go, the old cam decision.
You know, Elvis, we tested a couple options and of course we landed on Hyperdent.
Like Hyperdent, just as easy as that, huh?
As easy as that, pretty much. The quality off the machine was excellent. So that means also no hand finishing and the mill Milling times were excellent also.
You're right. That does make the decision quite easy.
But honestly, what really stood out to us was the testing and implementation process.
How so?
You could immediately tell these guys live in a world of high, complex milling challenges.
That's got to build a lot of confidence.
You know what? It really did, and it really does. They weren't just showing us how the software works. They were advising us on the best way to build an entire workflow for our lab. You could tell they've done it 100 times, guys.
That's a whole new different level of expertise. Well, congratulations on the new studio, Barb.
Thank you. Hats off to my dad for the studio. So it means a lot to me.
Aw. Welcome to Voices from the Bench, a dental laboratory podcast. Send us an e-mail at info at voicesfromthebench.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Greetings and welcome to episode 433 of Voices from the Bench. My name is Elvis.
My name is Barbara.
What's happening, Barb? I'm so excited to talk to you because you just got back from a weekend of planning for one of my favorite meetings, Calab.
Oh my God, Elvis. Calab is where... leaders gather. That's our new tagline. Oh my God, we've got new everything. We've got a new purpose. We are realigned who we are. We know where we're going moving forward. But CalAb, for all of you guys listening, is the two meeting. It's where leaders go to network and talk. And I just think it's the biggest meeting of the year. It's a really strong board. We care about it. We care about our industry. And we have just revamped the whole thing. And so for going into one We are going to kick baby. You're going to see us on social media. You're going to see us all over the place. So please check it out because we are going to explode. Yeah.
I love this. Have you already picked speakers? Is it too early?
Yes. So that's what I was doing. So we form our meeting.
Yeah.
When we go to the board meeting, figure out who we want to be, what day one is, what day 2 is. But we had a facilitator come in on Thursday. And so our whole board gathered on Thursday, a whole day earlier. And we redefined our mission, our purpose, who we are, what does the industry think we are? And who do we want to tell the industry we are? And we hired a marketing firm and we changed our logo. We are where leaders gather. And it's going to be super exciting next year. So 101.
That's legit the tagline.
It is legit because marketing is where leaders go. to learn what's happening and talk to who's who. And I don't know, I'm just super excited.
I am super excited too, because I mean, we've said this on the podcast for over 8 years. I mean, one of the best meetings, even before you were the chair.
Yeah. The best meeting?
And early on in my career, I was taken to Chicago and I would do Cal Lab and then LMT. And I always loved Cal Lab a little bit more. Nothing against LMT. It's just a different beast.
It's a different animal. And And we want to touch, some of the younger leaders, some of the young lab owners, but it's definitely a lab owner slash upper management meeting. And we want to focus on those things. It's not necessarily technical, but that's not bad because leaders need to learn. what, how to be better. So it was super exciting. I'm a little juiced. Can you tell?
Yeah, you sound like it. Yeah. And for personal reasons, let's make sure whoever provided yo-yos last year does it again. I really enjoy that and still use mine today.
I will actually. And I'm wearing my Cal Lab shirt right now. Thank you, Dan.
Are you? Yeah.
I love my Cal Lab shirt. I wear it to bed every night.
Well, awesome. It's good to have you back.
Thank you.
And good job on just making one of the best meetings better. We appreciate it.
BJ looked up ChatGPT on a podcast and we came up. We were on it. Oh no, it was Anton. And Anton's like reading all about voices from the bench because we were like top three on ChatGPT about general.
Shut up.
Yes. And I was like, we're a little famous.
Yeah.
And I don't mean that egotistically. I mean that like we've worked hard. It's been eight years.
Yeah.
And we do, I think we do a great job bringing contact.
I think we do too.
So it's nice to see that nod.
Yeah, that's awesome. We should have him back on sometime.
Yes, we should.
But hey, what? This week we're going to start the conversations that we got while at the GPS Digital RPD booth at the FDLA Symposium in Florida.
Amazing.
That's a lot of abbreviations.
Yeah.
GPS, RPD, FDLA, CBT, ABC. we just want to say a big thanks to the lab that can design and print you a metal frame in just a few days at a great price. I talked to a lot of labs about frameworks recently, and so many mention how great GPS Digital RPD does for them. Give them a try.
Yes, right now.
They're really good at what they do. And more importantly, and I love this about them, they're proud of our industry and they love supporting it. They're always involved.
Andrew's amazing.
Andrew and Josh, the crazy RPD guy. First up is a really, really good friend and someone else who has given a lot back to this industry.
Morris Fucarino. I'll say it. Morris Fucarino. Fifty, 50, 50, 50.
I'm really close to saying his name in a Morris Fucarino way. Yes, I know. So Morris was at the FDLA meeting like he is every year, as you mentioned, because you got ahead of me to receive an amazing milestone of having a CDT certification for 50 amazing years. He talks about getting that certification back in 1976, what it means to him to have it, and what's it been like to keep it, and how after all this time, he still loved what he does.
Then we talk to Enja Dorge from Sackard Dental Arts. Enja was on a long time ago, but this time we catch up with her as she moves to the Executive Board as the Secretary of the FDLA. We chat about the importance of not just attending local shows, but giving back when you can to make them better. Those that remember from past episodes, SACR is that lab that is made-up of five duplexes in a row, and Enjit talks about the interesting workflow and how they are excited to be under the same roof pretty soon.
And then we wrap up the episode with a young and enthusiastic technician from Puerto Rico, Joseph Nunez-Riaz. Joseph talks about learning about the profession and going to school in his home country, but he eventually ends up in Orlando, Florida and finds his way to GPS Digital Dental Lab where he's getting involved with digital as their CAM supervisor.
This is a great story, man. Like seriously.
It's so good. He talks about his journey, what he loves about what he does, and some hopeful plans that we think he might actually just pull off. So join us as we chat with Morris Fucarino, Inja Dorge, and Joseph Nunez Riaz.
Elvis, anyone out there ever notice the busiest labs aren't always the ones working the longest hours?
They're usually the ones with the workflow that keeps moving, even after everybody heads home.
Exactly my point. Productivity isn't about asking your team to do more. It's about having the right tools, doing more for your team.
And that's where Roland's DG Shaped DWX milling solutions really shine. They're built to keep production moving, whether you're milling a single case or you're running it overnight.
So guys, instead of spending your day babysitting your equipment, your technicians can focus on finishing cases, serving customers, and growing the business.
And that's what real productivity looks like. More output, fewer interruptions, and less time spent chasing problems.
And like I said, every hour your mill is producing is another hour your lab is creating value.
And that's how smart labs get more done without adding more stress to their day.
So if you're ready to get more from every production day, visit RolandDental.com and discover Roland's DG Shape DWX milling solutions today.
Voices from the bench, The Interview, Hopefully everything will continue to record. You checking Facebook?
Yes.
Thanks.
Reading about Billy. Sorry.
It's all good.
All right, let's do this.
FDLA 2026 back in the Sunshine State. Yes, Barb's hometown. We have a fellow sunshiner with us. Back for his second time. When's the first time we talked?
Yeah, when was the first time?
I was number 59 when I was.
You're on the 59th episode.
You were in the first 100 chair.
Chair of NBC.
That was a long time ago, my friend. Wow.
Well, we're over 300 now, right?
Yeah. Oh, no, over 426 or something.
Eight years. Way, way, way long. Yeah. It's crazy.
See, the longest thing we've ever done. So we're celebrating. Yes. 50 years of CDT.
50 years, you know. 55 and a half years in a dental laboratory.
Does it sound crazy when you say that out loud?
Yes, it does. You know, it's just.
I mean, you're not that old. I don't understand.
Yeah, I know. It's amazing being 38 and having a 50-year CDT.
I cheated a little bit.
So back then, so 50 years ago was what, 19...
1976.
That makes sense.
Yes. That same year I got married for the first time and got my CDT.
What one meant more to you?
Wow.
Which one lasted longer?
Now CDT. Yeah. So back then, what was the CDT like? Was it like more technicians were doing it? Was it?
Well, to be honest, at that time, the talk was, and Barb's father was part of that too. The talk was that you were going to have to be a CDT in order to have a dental laboratory or work on a dental laboratory.
To work in one.
The talk was back then.
That it was going to be--.
They were hoping this. We all still hoped that that was the situation. So it was one of those things where you need to get it before-- The law went into effect.
Before they make you get it.
Yes.
So was that your motivation, fear of not being able to work?
Not really, because I wasn't worried about it because I was really that's right. You guys were in?
That tiny little room.
I remember 15 by 15 rooms.
You got one hell of a memory.
I don't know.
And you know, my partner at the time and mentor who he was, he was the CDD too. So we figured we'd do it. I wanted to do it because, you know, to me it meant something.
Sure.
Do you feel like it was harder? I mean, you've been in the NBC chair, you've been through the boards. Do you feel like the test was Harder back then, or is it?
Well, you had to do it by candlelight, so it was really harsh.
Well, you had the Air Force manual as well, right? So you studied your rear end off, for sure.
But there wasn't as much technology back then as there is now to know. Back then it was mostly materials and melting points and all that kind of stuff, and a lot of anatomy and stuff.
And you couldn't Google an answer. That's true. I mean, you actually had to know someone that knows it in order to find out.
And to be honest with you, 50 years ago, I don't remember how I prepared other than obviously reading the manual. I did have the manual. I vaguely remember that. But it was just that and just knowledge of the industry that learning and learning. I had to read almost five years in doing this, so I learned a lot. I was very fortunate. My mentor, who became my partner, he He was one of the best technicians in town, so I learned a lot from him. And then, you know, I went to these meetings too, that far back.
Can you remind me how you got into dental technology, our listeners as well.
Well, I started, I was planning on going to dental school. Well, my father was planning on me going to dental school. So my father had dibbled in a little bit when he was in the military. And so he said, this will be good for you to get a good background if you're going to go to dental school. So happens that my mentor partner, he was my father's cousin's brother-in-law.
OK, so his family had a connection. Yeah.
So we went there and and I.
Think that's a very Florida statement?
You were like, this is pretty awesome. Like you just immediately knew that you fell in love with it.
I liked it. I enjoyed it. wasn't good in school. So that eliminated dentistry. So I really liked it, you know, and it was a good fight. And in a way, it's the best thing that ever happened because I, you know, I'm glad I didn't go to dental school, whatever. Although the dentist that I was working, we worked in a dentist office for 15 years, which was a great experience for me.
Yeah.
And he was very, he was looking to me to be his protege in a sense, you know, he was I already knew the school he was going to send me to and all that kind of stuff, but it wasn't in the cards. I mean, I just, I wasn't at that time, point in my life, I was not a good student. It was very hard to get into any.
Sure.
Easier back then than it is now, but it was still hard.
Yeah.
So where'd you go to do your exam 50 years ago? Like, was it Punta Gorda? Where? Did you travel? Did you go to the school?
No, it was in Punta Gorda, Florida. They had it.
Who to what at Florida.
Punta Gorda.
Punta Gorda. South of here on the West Coast.
Was it another lab?
I don't remember. I think it was a school or something, as far as I can remember. I remember we were in like a classroom or something, and went down there and did it. But back then, it's like it is now. You were able to do the practical work in your laboratory. And then you shipped it in. Exactly. No way.
Wow.
Even when I started, people were doing that in the lab back in like 2008, I think I saw.
Yeah. So, it's the honesty program per se, but I mean, we weren't monitored like you are now.
Sure.
But it was...
Did you really do the work back then?
I really did.
Okay, just making sure. Because we'll take this 50 year back.
Just say your photo is amazing.
It doesn't mean anything if you cheat, okay?
That's true.
I've never understood why people would... take the CDTs and what's the point in that?
To get the letters.
To get the letters. And most people tell you they don't get CDT because it doesn't mean anything anyway. Nobody cares, you know.
Well, I was going to ask you that, but it is meaningful for you. So if you share it with our listeners, you know, some of those naysayers out there about the certification and being a CDT, what that emotional connection is for you and why it's meaningful.
It's meaningful to me because I love this profession. Let's call it a profession, right? I love it. And my personal opinion is that if you are in a profession, you should achieve the highest possible position you can or certified or whatever it is it's your responsibility it really.
Is to be the best that you can be.
And be the best and it's a marker for you okay you don't do it for other people so many people say the dentist don't care if you have it you don't do it for the dentist you're doing it for you to prove to yourself that you're capable and worthy you know and People comes up with all kinds of excuse as why they don't want to take it, right? most of the time it's fear, okay? And it involves work because it's not easy. You know it's not easy. You know, Barbara, we've spent hours on testing and questions. It's a lot. And I learned a lot being on the board and doing and preparing and being a...
You weren't an examiner, were you? I wasn't an examiner. You did the task force analysis.
Exactly.
That's what it was.
We were, what's the term we used for, the experts?
Subject matter experts.
Subject matter, SMEs, okay.
Oh, that's what I'm talking about. Fancy. That's right.
And we'd spend hours, and you'd have to update all the time the questions, okay? And by doing all this here, it gave me any appreciation what I did achieve, okay? Because there's a lot in it, and a lot of people don't realize how often we have to update these questions to keep it relevant to these times. The wording, and we go, how many questions do we have? 5,000 questions in the test.
Yeah, 5,000.
A ton.
Yes.
There's a lot.
The test has 5,000 questions.
There's a lot in that bank. No, the total questions. The total banks that they cheat from.
They don't use them all.
Right.
So every time you take a test, they take, it's different. Oh.
It's like a lottery of questions.
So you can't cheat because you don't know which questions are going to be on.
Technically right. Exactly. Yeah.
Interesting. So how many questions do you think were on your test that are still on today's test?
Very few.
Very few, okay.
Because we eliminated a lot of stuff just in the last couple weeks.
We got rid of all the older ones. Yes, stuff doesn't have to update.
But it's not relevant anymore.
Yeah, for stupid questions like Flux and stuff like that, that people don't use anymore because they don't cast, but back then you had to know that stuff.
Sure.
But that's what it means to me is that you're achieving something, you reach a goal, and you're showing showing that you are valid in a sense in this profession. Yeah.
I mean, for me, go ahead. I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I learned so much that I never would have learned. Absolutely. Being able to expose myself to all of these other things that now I know and I'll never unlearn, but I wouldn't have known.
Yeah.
And so it just opened my eyes to so much more. Like Morris was saying, the materials and the chroma and the shades and all of the stuff that goes into it, the model material, it was just like, you never would know that. Even nowadays, for sure.
Like I said, you have a greater appreciation on what effort goes into this testing that makes the testing valid, okay? It's not easy. It's not an easy test, and it shouldn't be. It should be difficult to show that you passed that.
Yeah, if it was easy, everybody would do it, just because it'd be easy.
Yeah, it's one of those. Well said.
That was great.
I don't know about you, Barb, but a lot of times, you ever ask people, ask you, what do you do? And I tell them, I'm a certified dental technician. And they go, oh, that's great. And I always ask, do you know what that is? No. I make teeth. I have no clue. I make teeth, whatever. But that's how you educate people to what you do, because you can tell them what you do, but most people don't know what it is.
Yeah, most people don't even know the industry exists, let alone that there's a certification available.
They do call us a cottage industry. There's truth to it.
Pretty much.
Yeah. It's a small time. I mean, my wife, Paula, didn't even know what it was, you know?
We could hear Paula screaming like a **** today when we found stuff.
Yeah, I was 50.
She held back, too. Yeah, she did good.
I've been waiting to hear her. There she is. She's got Morris's head on her shoulder, just saying. Morris's head is all over the place. Where's mine? What did I lose it?
It's on the floor.
Don't step on his head.
We can't put baby on the floor.
Face down, man. I got it.
So with your 50 years, you must have had to do continuing education every year. That's a lot. Do you have any idea how many hours you've had to get in 50 years? How many hours do you need every year?
I would say mode.
12 hours a year. 12 hours a year, I believe is what it is, right? So that's, you know, 12 hours a year, 1050s, that's what, that's minimum, right?
Yeah.
Well, that's 600 years, 600 hours.
600 hours.
That's amazing. So it's more like in the thousands because I've always gone over to minimum, you know.
Yeah, you go away to a lot more meetings.
Exactly. Plus, you know, you learn just reading also, because you can earn hours from JDT I don't take I don't take a lot of those quizzes or anything like that but then all the the ones you you watch on now that you can watch on video and stuff that yeah all the seminars you can watch so I don't count that a lot of times but you're doing it it's it's a it's a continuous thing you know oh sure and that's one thing about CDT is it also motivates you to keep learning and anything you do You gotta keep growing.
Oh, 100%, yeah.
So, you just don't stop, you know, and stop your learning.
And there's absolutely no point of, you know, not learning when you do anything, but CDT kind of forces you to stay engaged. Absolutely, yeah, exactly.
Stay learning and stay ahead of the curve.
If you're really part of a great fraternity, let's call it, of people, in other words, you know, it's really...
You guys won't let me in the club, I get it.
Got to qualify. I know.
I'm not cool enough.
So I've got a question. Do you never want to retire? Or are you just still -- and I'm not saying you're old, I'm saying you're still passionate. Is it because you just love it so much that you can't see yourself stepping out of it? Or do you see an end game for you somewhere in the next couple of years, five years or so?
The only end game that I see is if my health changes it or I don't have any doctors wanting me to provide.
-- So you have no intention of -- As.
Long as I can do it, you know, I don't work -- I don't kill myself, you know, to do stuff. But I enjoy it. I want to keep doing it. I enjoy making smiles. I enjoy the feedback. My people are happy about making them beautiful smiles. Plus, my doctors, I only have three accounts, but I love their appreciation for what I do, you know? And one thing that I focus on now is that you're not paying so much for my product as you are for my knowledge. And that's where I'm talking about the CDT comes in. It's the knowledge that I have and have gained from it. That's what your worth is, not your, everybody puts out a product.
Yeah.
Okay. I'm not saying I'm common, but that's basically, you know, they choose me because I know more And I provide something that they like at a fair enough price. Okay.
What type of restorations are you making? Are you doing zirconia?
I think you're doing PFMs, right? Still.
I do PFMs, I do Emacs, and I do gold crowns. Smart.
And are you still casting?
Cast.
At his house.
All this is at your house.
Your lab's in your lab. Well, it's not in your house, but it's off-site at your house.
It's an old building there, and then I do it all in, which is a... Great. That also has to why I'll keep doing it because that's right there, right?
Because you don't have to deal with co-workers. Exactly.
And that's the other thing because working by myself is the way I like to work. So, and I've done it all both ways, but you don't, it takes a lot of stress off you when you don't have to worry about other people keeping them busy and dealing with personalities. Dramas and whatnot. Exactly.
It does get hectic, you know, with all of that. but I can see completely working by myself.
So how much do you think you work a week? Are you putting in 40 hours, 30 hours, 120? I mean, I can't.
Okay. Yeah, I cannot. That's one thing I'd have learned. As I get older, I can't put in those long hours like I used to. Once in a while, there's a situation where I have to work a 10 hour day and I'm done. Yeah, I'm done.
Is it more mental or physical or both?
Both.
Yeah.
You know, I get I go to the chiropractor once a month. I go to massage every three weeks. I do red light therapy, whatever it is, because the toll it takes on your body over the years.
You got to stop casting, man.
I do red light therapy on my face. I've got a mask. It's a good thing. But you have to because it does take a toll on you.
You got to take care of your body and it's not hard. But I probably, to be honest with you, I do a good My average I like to do is 10 units a week. Okay. That's it. Okay. And 10 units I can do in two days, 2 1/2 days. Yeah. Not having to work 8 hour days or something. And if I don't want to take a day off or whatever, I'll do it and I'll catch up.
Yeah.
You know, like I've got to finish 5 units by Tuesday. It's no problem. That's fantastic.
Have you had all this equipment for 50 years?
There are some things I have. I bet. My waxing instruments and stuff like that. Those are just special. They never go bad. Yeah, you take care of them. And when I started, handpieces were belt driven.
Oh yeah.
So it's come a long ways. I was just talking with.
Belt driven. Scott Pincus just retired last Friday and he's got a belt driven.
I.
Found one in the closet of the lab.
They go forever. The only thing that goes bad is the belt, really.
And they're just replaceable. Exactly.
Yeah. When I started off, it was the string belts, you know, the things. And then they went to a plastic one or whatever.
Like it was legit string.
It was like a like a rope almost, No kidding.
Interesting.
One of those things got a hold of my hair when I was like 22.
Is that that bald spot you were hiding?
And it whipped my hair and I literally had to cut it out because it was like, pulled my hair up and turned it into a knot and cut that out. Oh yeah, that was fun. Scared the crap out.
It scared the crap out of you when you're working on that belt rope.
Oh yeah. I'm awake. I'm alive.
Awesome.
Are you doing any digital or?
No. That's fantastic. I believe in it. I think it has to be done. Okay, but at this point in my period, why should I make that kind of a vessel? I'll never get my money out of it.
Yeah, sure.
Plus, I just like, I like working with my hands. I don't want it. I can't stand it.
I saw you today sitting a two-hour lecture about it. It's all.
Digital. But like he said, he stays with it though.
You just want to learn it.
You learn it. You know it.
You're not going to do photogrammetry next week when you get back to the lab. You're not going to pick up and get it.
Well, I'm thinking in my head, I'm going, I ain't never going to do that.
But I'll watch it.
That's cool. Thank God I'm at the end, okay? I can do this.
But you're doctors too, right? So they know what you do and that's what they order. If they want zirconia, I'm sure they go to somebody else. Exactly. Or they don't.
Two of the three that I have are not digital.
At all.
At all. I mean, they're not scanning, okay? One of them does, you know, but the other one, the other scan.
Does he scan to you?
No, I don't take scans. Everything is impressions and, you know, so.
Do you still like doing model work?
That can't be fun. No, that's the part I dislike the most. OK, especially if I get a mother load of work, you know, and it's just it's two days of hell, you know?
Can't farm it out, can't bring somebody in.
I used to have somebody helping me out working, you know, stuff like that. But it actually, when COVID changed everything, I just had to, you know, let go of my helper, you know, and And then I said, heck, I just do it myself. Everything slowed down. Yeah.
It was weird.
But I'm very fortunate. My accounts are very open with me. You know, whatever it takes, whatever time you need. I don't. I'm not under pressure to get it done.
What is your turnaround time? Whenever they need it.
That's a great question.
Standard 3 weeks.
Wow.
Three weeks for one crown.
Yes.
God bless you, sir. That's amazing.
Well, I have to do it that way because a lot of times I'll go to town once a week. So if I pick it up this week, I'm not even going to start on it till next week. And then I got to have time.
So he drives from where he is to Tampa. So that's an hour, hour.
Yeah, hour.
So doctors are an hour away.
So once he picks it up and do you make that drive how often?
Once a week.
Yeah. So there you go.
Only if I have to, like.
So you'll pick up.
I didn't go this week because I had. have nothing finished, and if I pick it up, I'm not going to work on it anyway, so I'm also staying there. Wow. Interesting.
I mean, we live in a world where we went a week to make something, and that's not fast enough.
Yeah, so it'll be overnight.
Yeah, that's amazing.
I can rush stuff if I have to, but...
How often do they ask you to rush stuff?
Very seldom. But you're not going to make any money doing one crown at a time, so I got to do it in groups. So I do it in groups. It makes sense. I've always done it that way. Awesome. And so it's either Gold Crown, PFL, or Emax. So if you're doing all three- Well, gold's taking.
The place of zirconia, right? So you don't need to do zirconia when you're doing full gold, in my opinion, anyway.
Well, the doctors I do them for don't do zirconia. Yeah. Bottom line. None of my doctors do zirconia.
Are you doing mostly high noble or is it base?
That's got to cost you a ton and them.
Yeah.
$4,000 an ounce for PFL. I mean, you know, that's. Do you make them?
Send the work first before you buy the alloy? I would.
Well, obviously, I'm very strategic when I buy it because I know when my American Express bill is due.
That's brilliant.
And when the building cycle is over, that's what I order right then. So that gives me the whole month plus. That's smart.
And you're getting points for all those gold.
Of course.
That's why you're here. And we see you in Vegas and we see you in Chicago and we see you.
And he says he's going to a lab fest this year. Are you?
Nice.
That's a great show. We'll see you at NOLA.
I'm looking forward to it after the group. Yeah, huge.
Fun.
I'm looking forward to it.
I've heard nothing but good things. And I was on a family cruise, so Elvis went solo and I'm going this year and I cannot wait.
It's a lot of fun.
Well, we're going to make that our vacation this year. So yeah.
So I get to see you guys again.
Yes.
Love it.
New Orleans.
Yeah.
So since Paula's retiring at the, I cut myself.
Seven months, she told me. You all right?
Yeah. I won't die.
Do you need something?
I got it right here.
How the hell did you cut yourself? You got to blame these guys.
I'm going to blame.
You put that on your finger and you cut.
You.
I got it. I bleed easily now. Okay. Don't take much.
All right.
I'm good. Anyway. Yeah, we're looking for it.
We're still here.
Still talking about you. know, you go to a lot of these shows and everyone's talking about exit plan. Exit plan. Who's going to take over? Do you even think about that or are you just going to shut the door one day?
Shut it.
Yeah.
You know, I'll. My business is only worth the used equipment that I have.
Or it's you, it's your knowledge.
You know how it is. The type of work I do is even if I had people that I was working with, if your doctor's used to what you do, it's like everybody does something.
They're going to know your signature.
They know who you do. So if you're having somebody else to do it, they're going to know it. So they're paying for me to do it. So that's what I do.
How many remakes do you have?
Very few.
I was going to say it's probably less than.
It's always the doctor's fault. Be honest with you, I'm so amazed at how many crowns go in that I go, this is terrible, but you know.
Sign of the cross. Good luck.
You know, when I get an impression that's bad, my thing is.
You only work with three doctors. Why are you working with one that sends bad impressions? You could be so picky.
Because it pays right on time.
Okay, fair, fair, fair.
Yep, that's fair.
But my theory is if they send you an impression, they looked at it, right? They would hope. They think it's okay. They own it. Okay? Because what happens, you tell them how many times you've probably done the same thing. You say, I need a, this isn't going to work. They take another impression that's worse than the first one. So I try to do it.
They do actually, and you just go.
How do you guys see it? I make it work and I go, wow, that's amazing. How'd that go? Oh, it went great. OK. You know, everybody has everybody. We've all been there.
We've all been there.
You know, I like, you know, they're good people. That's the main thing. It's like we were talking earlier about relationships with your accountants. It's the most important thing. That's why I like to go to town once a week. If I don't get to talk to them, I at least will pop my head in and say, how you doing? Everything OK? You know, so.
I bet you they love seeing you.
They appreciate it, I think, knowing that you care and that you're thinking about anything problem. So I'm always available, so they can whatever they want to do. But they all said, one account told me, he goes, as soon as you retire, if you retire, I'm out of here.
They're waiting for you.
You're waiting for them and they're waiting for you. That's pretty cool.
Next thing you know, 20 years are going to go by and we're both going, why don't you retire first? No, you first. No, you first.
Well, you know, some people, they don't, they like working one-on-one with a technician, which is a dead art right now. This is not possible. So they're not going to find that hard, you know. So if they, you know, you're not going to do it with any lab, there's, you know, most of your labs are bigger or whatever. You're not going to talk to the same technician twice. No. Different things.
I mean, I work at a pretty decent sized lab and I love it when doctors.
Are working now, by the way.
Where I love it when doctors can say, Can I work with just one specific technician? I'm like, On what, in what step? Because even a crown has five people touching it.
That's so true.
You want to talk to all of them? They just don't get it. But with you, you can offer that. I mean, you do it all start to finish.
It's very.
Rare.
Yep. And that's the way I learned too. My mentor, we did everything in the lab. And even when we brought his kids in and stuff like that, everybody in that lab does Their own stuff, and after a while we got somebody to do model work, and I just said, I'll do it myself. I'm very particular, very organized, and I says, If any model, you know how it is, if it's bad model work, if it's bad amount of work, it's hard to work on.
He just doesn't feel the same in your hands. You're a **** clinician. I remember that when I went to.
Did he use those exact words?
No. Oh, that'd be nice. He cleaned it up a little.
I have no respect for the guy if he did. That's the barber version.
I'm sorry, listeners.
Well, of course, you know what? We're here celebrating your 50th. year of CDT certification. That's right.
And it's an honor.
It's amazing. I don't know the number that get that far. I don't know what it is, but huge achievement.
It's exceptional.
I need to ask Rachel. I looked it up. You can't find it on the website. It can't be. I mean, it's only been around 60 years, so.
And you're a good friend of ours.
Interesting.
It's just been amazing for the industry.
It's really interesting. So you might be the first person to get 60 years CDT certification.
I think there's some already.
Oh, really? Yes.
There was a 55 today.
Yeah, I saw that. Yeah.
It's pretty awesome.
So we got to take some people out, Morris, get you in there. But seriously, we're going to talk to you again when we do the 100th. Let's do it. It's going to be amazing.
Congratulations. Yeah.
Pull that one off on me something. That'll be the most for you.
They're going to wheel you right in and we're going to we're going to watch you drool and we'll talk to you. Awesome.
Let's go do a toast.
Thank you so much. We always appreciate you.
Thank you. Awesome.
So this is exciting.
She's going to have a hard time. You better just say your last name.
Engine. Engine. I remember Engine. Dorge. Because you just drop off the C-H-U-L-U-A-C-H-A.
I was going to say, there's like 20 letters that you don't say.
Well, that's the introduction. Here we are at FDLA. Engine's back.
Thank you, thank you.
I just reminded myself that you were on a pivotal episode early in this podcast when we tried to do a three-shape versus Exocad.
Yes, I was.
And you came on, you were representing Exocad, but at Zircon Zahn.
Correct.
And that's how I learned Zircon. Zaun is actually just Exocad rebranded.
How long ago was that? Three years? Four years.
No, this had to have been the second year. Six years, 7 years, probably. Yeah.
Boy, we've been doing this too long, my friend.
But that was a great episode and a lot of people really, mentioned it or said it was helpful. It's just great to have you back. Thank you.
Thank you.
You're at SACR.
SACR Dental.
Yes.
Here in Orlando.
Yeah.
Also on the FDLA board, right?
I'm also on the FDLA board. I got nominated to be a secretary this year. High five, you're going through the chairs. Good for you.
So talk about that process. Why did you get involved with it originally?
I've been in the industry almost 20 Ten years now, doesn't feel like it, but I wanted to give back, right? Wanna get involved a little more with the industry, because we're always just in our little holes, we don't talk to people, we don't meet people.
We are a little introverted when we're not drinking.
I wanted to get a little more involved and also give back, right? There's a lot of new technicians coming up and coming in, and there's a lot.
There's a lot of young people here.
Yes, a lot of older technicians are retiring, so we gotta we gotta do something, somebody's gotta do something, so I said.
Why is that not me, right?
Yes, that's so great. Yeah, I'll do where I can help, and I think being on the board was... Something I could do and help, and I took my example from you. I saw you on the board quite a few years, so I said, Okay, let me do it.
To be honest with you, the FDLA board's no joke. I mean, there's a lot of time commitment for that, and you really have to be completely into it, and you must love it. Because I mean, it's putting a meeting like this together takes a lot of hours.
Yes, I mean, the partners are great, right? They, do the bulk of the work, but we kind of set the direction. help out, talk to the vendors, talk about the education. And the FDLA, we want to keep growing it. I just heard yesterday, this was our 63rd annual meeting. Wow. This has been going on for 63 years. 63 years.
I had no idea.
So I don't want something, you know, that long history to die out. Now that's just not nice.
Wow. 63 years. I am from Florida. My dad was involved.
Yes.
Probably back then.
Do you think your dad started it?
No, but I think he was probably pretty close to that time. So wow, I got to ask him.
And now there's only seven state associations.
No, we saw that yesterday in the slide. But Florida's the largest.
Florida's the largest. So we want to keep the people engaged because I feel like technicians are kind of the redheaded stepchildren of the dental industry. We've had those conversations today. So I want to bring our people a little to the forefront, right? Like have a technician meeting, be us the important people. Yes, of course, doctors are important and those meetings are great and we want to be where our clients are. But also at the same time, you can learn a lot from each other.
Yeah.
And kind of bring our own industry up.
But isn't that part of being on a board when you guys collaborate about talking about that and everybody comes with an idea to stay fresh and to keep people coming? I mean, that's harder than I think people realize.
Yes, So if anybody wants to be on the board with in Florida, feel free, come up.
That's a great suggestion.
What is the commitment?
What is the commitment?
Actually, not too bad. We have four meetings, quarterly meetings throughout the year.
Is that Zoomed or yeah.
It's Zoomed meeting. Each of them about hour and a half to two hours long. And then we have one in-person meeting the day before the show.
Oh, okay.
Yeah. So, you know, we have our financials presented. We have our plans. You know, we kind of get our homework on outreach and how we're going to do the meeting next year. You know, we Yeah, I love that magazine.
It's a really great magazine.
It's a free magazine, but I have some tech tips, some information.
I've seen several articles. Sorry, go ahead.
No, can I get that free magazine outside of Florida? I think you could.
I think you have to be an FDLA member to get the magazine. Just like JDT with NADL and CDT, FDLA has their Focus magazine. And it's excellent. You've had several articles, tech tips that I've seen. And I know they've been amazing.
As a lab, not as me.
Yeah, I don't think any other state has their own magazine, though. That's got to be, yeah.
So we want to keep it going, want to get people engaged.
Is this the only meeting the board does, or is there smaller ones around the state through the year?
No, we do put together some education, some hands-on education and courses throughout the year, webinars. This is the main one, yeah. And we just want to, engage more of the people, get them, Let the board know that Knight Dental, that.
Anytime you guys want to be in my location, you're more than welcome to use that facility.
Okay.
It's a really nice area. That would be great.
Do you have a big training area?
We've got like what we call the fishbowl and it's encased and it's glass and it's a training area. I mean, it's like, Did I?
See that when I was there?
It's pretty fair amount. It's in the very front of the building and it's really nice. That's where we had an FDLA course a couple years ago. I can't remember who came, but the beautiful Polish girl. What was her name? Oh, it'll come to you.
Oh, she's in Indiana?
Her name is very long. Her.
She came.
So sorry. You got to edit this out because that's kind of embarrassing.
I think she would like to be called beautiful Polish girl.
This is the charm of your podcast.
It's real. We know what we're doing.
So don't edit it out.
That was an eye roll, by the way, from Elvis. For those of you that aren't here, eye roll.
And I'm also very proud of you guys. Thank you. It's been going on many, many, many.
Many, many, many years. Eight years. Eight years.
Going on nine years. And we still like each other. Unlike a marriage.
So talk about Stacker.
Talk about the lab.
We've had Danny on. We've had Nick on. I mean, what a great lab. I went there when I was with pre. I loved going there because it had such this unique, like they got like a little neighborhood. Like down the street, there's like how many buildings?
Five buildings, little duplexes, yeah.
And they go in between them. You got to go outside, cars parked and everywhere. Yeah.
Do you have like one of those cycles where you just go like you in freaking Chicago?
Oh my God.
That's not a bad idea though.
But Danny says you're building a facility and like you're going to centralize it. That was a year ago. How close are we to moving?
Maybe beginning of next year or end of this year, hopefully.
Why so long? Or maybe this is how it usually takes?
Well, it took us like a year to just plan it out.
Oh, sure.
Right. And then I have to wait for permitting and stuff. And then now we're moving. Now we're actually doing some physical work.
Construction.
Yeah, electricians coming in, plumbing, data, internet, you know, IT.
So did he get everybody's opinion on what it should look like and how? How you should design the layout.
Well, we went through like LMT, right? Looked at other labs, how they're doing, we talked to different companies that make benches, smart cells, and designs, but really my coworker Ryan, he took the bulk of it and he's familiar with our lab, how we work, and also... Trying to design it the best we can.
How do you go from a workflow that's five separate buildings? I'm just gonna say, yeah, they're like houses, right? I mean, they're little rooms and little, yeah.
So each house is a department, basically. Is it actually a house? It's a house, yeah, it's a duplex, so it's a two-bedroom and a two-bedroom duplex. And then we make it one big house and then cut the wall open. That's crazy. So you'll have, Cuz I did a presentation there and it was like.
It was like in a kitchen. It was like a house kitchen they use as a break room or something. It's really unique.
It is very unique. And, you know, it's bittersweet now we're moving, you know, because that's kind of part of our history.
I was going to say.
You want to get bigger and better, but also it's, you know. But then everybody's going to be in the same building.
Are you guys all going to get along?
I think so. I think so. The main thing I'm worried about is the noise, you know, because in a big warehouse, it's reverberating, echoes. And then the smells, the monomer, whatever.
You keep that pretty separate now.
Yeah. So, but once we get there, I'm sure we'll figure it out. I love it.
What is your role there? You're managing pretty much the whole thing.
Yeah, I'm a general manager, operations manager at Sacher Dental. I've been with them almost 10 years now.
Wow.
Yeah. When I started, we had about 30 people. Now we're about 100.
Oh my God. Yeah.
In 10 years.
I didn't realize you guys were that big.
In about 10 years. And then, you know, every day's a struggle though, you know, every day.
How do you general manage 5 buildings?
Well, it's not just me, right? We have our department managers. Each department managers have like one or two supervisors, right? And then we have our lead technicians, we have our intermediate technicians, we have our new technicians. So yeah, it's all layered up. And you know, I just, I call myself the problem solver. So if If everybody else doesn't want to take it on and it falls on me and I say, okay, so I have a very fluid role in the company. And sometimes I'm a driver, and that's okay.
Like a literal driver.
Yeah, I got to go do this. I got to fill this case. Same here. You know, at 1030, you got to go. And all the drivers are out. You know, you got to go.
What building are you in?
Well, I've. Been kicked out three times.
Oh my gosh. Cause I need the space.
I need the space. So they say, okay, and Jack, can I move you down? I said, okay, because we had three buildings when I started.
Yeah. Were the people living in the other two?
I think so, yes, on the third building. They moved me to the 4th building, yeah, and then they needed my room again. They say, okay, can you move next door again? So I've just been keep moving down the street.
I'm here. I'm ready. Let's go.
How do you communicate? Is it by phone or is there like an intercom system? Yeah, walkie-talkies.
Yes and no. We have, you know, Yeah, we're trying to still streamline it, right? So we have e-mail and Teams, so that's kind of our, yeah, that's how we do it. We have texts and phone calls.
Yeah. And.
Then we just run around, stick our head in each building, say, standing here. I was gonna say, do you like go?
From building to building during your day, like three, four or five times.
Yes, I have to, yeah, to check on everything. I check on everybody, look at the numbers, you know, talk to the people, see what's going on.
Does work slow down when it rains, 'cause you gotta move stuff between buildings?
We don't know yet. So once we get to our new building, we'll, I guess, figure out how much efficiency we have, lost or gained or whatever.
Because I imagine someone's like, take all these to building three and you look outside and be like, I'll wait an hour.
Well, yes and no. Like, you know, they can wait if it's, yeah, they're pouring, but if it's a rush case, like it's a real line, they got, we have umbrellas outside.
Yeah, this needs to go now.
Yeah. Because we do try to provide the best services we can. So we're still doing same-day relines, same-day repairs.
Oh, sure.
Do you do it for like 20 miles away? Like, what do you consider local when you're in somewhere like Orlando?
Is it 50 miles? Less than 20, yeah. So from Orlando to, yeah, like... Not even Disney, like a little above Disney, Sand Lake area, that's where we drive. Yeah. Okay. So if we have a driver that goes in the area, that's considered local.
How many drivers do you guys have?
Currently we have 5 drivers. That's A lot.
That is a lot. Yeah. more local and some that go like, what, 100 miles out? Or are you all pretty much 20 miles around?
It's about 20 mile radius.
We go like 80 miles out. That's why I'm asking. We did have three, but now we're all UPS now. We changed. We brought everything internally.
I mean, that's the Glidewells, I think, model.
We just did that like a month ago.
Do you think you'll lose clients?
Yes, I think the clients like the driver. It's so weird how much they like that.
I also think there's a lot of offices that hate boxing, taping, getting a label, finding the UPS driver.
I think that they do like that customized local face that comes by every day. So we did get a fair amount of, I had one driver that was ****** that he was being eliminated come to me saying, the clients are going to hate that. You just wait. You just wait. It wasn't my decision. But I was like, yeah, I think you're right though. So yeah. So 5 drivers, that's pretty awesome. That's not small. So what do you do? You get everything ready at night and then they go and just.
At night, 5060 cases a piece.
Yep.
Are they all retired people?
Almost all of them. That's a very true point. Yep. Almost all of them.
Yes.
And they're good.
They're good workers. They really are.
They're good workers. Yeah. It does complicate things, but you know, like UPS would be much easier and yeah, faster. But There is that client service aspect to it.
They're the face of the company.
Yes, consider.
Hopefully they look decent and they have a nice shirt, but yeah.
Well, think about most UPS drivers.
Yeah, I know.
Sweaty, dirty, just drop it off and running.
So are you guys having trouble finding new technicians or do you have like a secret to hiring?
No, we're doing okay now. We're just doing a lot of in-house training ourselves. Cross-training, moving people around. Yeah, most of our people either start in the model room or scanning, nesting, post-processing. So that's kind of their first three jobs that they rotate through.
And see how they do.
See how they do. Keep going. Yeah, and then if they're artistic, then we start them and move them up to design. You have a lot of in-lab designers. Four or five designers, I think, yeah, wow, and if they're multitasking, then they run around finding cases, rushing them, moving them along, yeah, that's the line, so we try to work to everybody's strengths, but it doesn't always work out, which is okay. I guess business is business, right? We can have a very shiny exterior and nobody knows what's going on the inside until you go in there and that's every business. You know, you just gotta have faith in and keep going.
So does your boss come in every day? Oh, really?
He comes in every day. He's in there every day.
Is he a technician? Just remind me, obviously. I don't remember.
Yeah, he is. Is he still a bench? Mostly like on the phone, right? And that's part of my job too, on the phone. Yeah. You're probably not on the bench at all anymore. I would love to just go back on the bench once in a while, just switch a job for somebody a day and say, okay, here, I can scan.
Do you not get to do that?
I don't.
Yeah. You should be like, take the day off.
I'm gonna do your job.
I'm gonna fill in for you.
Well, I don't know if I'll be as good as them, so.
I'm sure you're good.
Yeah. But, being on the bench would be nice once in a while.
Every now and again, it's nice just to not have to deal with the problems, not have to deal with the issues, the phones, all that.
Yep, Just go back to work. Our business is going okay. Well, good.
Yep. Do you guys have a Salesforce?
We don't.
Wow. So it's pretty much you guys on the phone and keeping everybody happy and referrals and that sort of growth.
Yeah, we try to do some education, we're part of some study clubs. And then we go, we do here, we go to the Florida process meeting. Danny's actually lecturing at the Florida convention, the dental convention next year. That's a good meeting that's a big meeting. Yeah.
So he gets to meet docs like that. And that's smart.
Yeah. And assistants. And even FDLA were thinking about having, you know, doc, how to attract doctors and assistants here.
I saw, I told Elvis, I saw a doctor, a dentist here at the coffee area. I was like, there's a DDS here. We should chat with him. I've seen several this weekend.
Assistants are doing a lot of lab work now. You know, they have printers.
Even Lab Day Chicago, they say their biggest growth is clinicians.
Yeah. So maybe we can attract them and bring them here 100% to the FDLA, because it's a really good meeting. As a board, we are trying to keep the education very high quality.
Of course.
So if we can have more people to come here and support us and learn, that'd be even better.
Yeah, of course.
That's the goal.
So what's your job as secretary? I can't remember.
I'm not sure. I just got nominated. I just find out yesterday.
Oh, congratulations.
So I know treasurer.
I think secretary, I mean, kind of keeps track of the minutes, the notes.
I think treasurer slash treasurer is what my title was.
So you get to look at the financials and figure out all of that. That's going to be fun. Another job. Part-time, of course, but another one. Oh, that's great. Congratulations, because that basically, you're now going to be president eventually. So congratulations. If you choose to. Yes, I know, we know how that works. They elect you and then you go up into the chairs. So it's wonderful. I look forward to that.
Yeah. Because some jobs, you know, you're good at it. You don't have to pick it, right? If it's given to you. So I'm keeping it open. Open mindset.
Yeah.
Well, thank you so much. It's always great catching up with you. Very exciting.
Thank you for having me again.
Good luck to you. Congratulations.
Thank you guys. All right. Appreciate you guys being here.
Thank you.
Of course. We are back. Day two of the FDLA. Am I really loud?
Yeah, I feel like you are.
Sorry. Let's start again. Maybe you're just turned up on the headphone.
Oh, that's good. Possibly.
I don't know what headphones you picked up. Better? Better? Better.
Yeah.
Better? Yeah. I think so. You good? I'm good. All right. That sounded loud again. Here we are at the FDLA. Day 2. GPS Digital Dental Lab.
Yo, where's your name badge?
Joseph.
Oh, right here.
Oh. Yep. All right.
So what's your name? Joseph.
Yeah, my name is Joseph. Joseph Nunez.
Nunez.
Yep.
What about the last part? You don't use that.
Yeah, I do. It's just I'm from Puerto Rico. So like we have two last names and yeah, it's Nunez Ray.
You have two last names in Puerto Rico.
Yeah, we do.
Why?
I don't know. I think it's just how it's always been. Like whenever, you know, my mom and dad when... So you keep both names. So I use my last two names, like 2 last names. Yeah.
So when people get married, they don't take one name there. They take both.
Take both. Yeah. It's always been like that. Yeah.
That's kind of interesting.
Joseph just taught Elvis something he didn't know on Instagram.
Well, yeah. He wanted to tag us on a story and I didn't, I didn't understand that. That would be something I would do, never you.
So thank you, by the way.
I've been schooled. So Joseph, tell us about how you ended up in the industry.
So I was born and raised in Puerto Rico for 19 years. Lived my whole life there, went to school there and everything. All my family still lives there. So I started over at studying biomedical engineering at a university there in Puerto Rico.
Why were you interested in that?
My grandpa, he grew up like with this, like, I don't know how to say it, like the, he was missing teeth and stuff. So he would always complain about that. And like he would, we were like low income family over there where I grew up.
And so there's an emotional tie there for you.
Yes, there is. Yeah. So I was always interested. And then I have a cousin that actually lives here. And He was over 1 Christmas in Puerto Rico, and I asked him, I was like, Oh, like what is it that you do? And he explained everything, what we do, and I thought by doing biomedical engineering, I was like gonna get away of like do being dental technician. But then there's a school, like a technical school, it's called ICPR Junior College in Puerto Rico, yeah, that they offer only like in two precincts and stuff, the dental technician course, it's one earlier, that's cool, so yeah, I switched over to the one, and was it easier?
Biomedical engineering sounds complicated.
Yeah, it was. I'm sorry. Yeah, to me, I was just like, I was taking biology classes and I was like, this is not what I want.
I can't pronounce half these words.
So it clicked, so you just loved it right off the bat.
Yeah, I started. I switched back to that school. It was mostly analog, like indentures and stuff, but everything was super quick. It was one year course, so everything was fast-paced. had to do first my first set of dentures, partials, and all that stuff. So I immediately fell in love with it. So I was there for a year. As I was studying, I started, I worked at a lab, a digital lab, where I was doing CAM, like I was running Roland Mills and stuff and doing GreenState. And then after that, I just decided to leave work for a couple of months with my dad. He has an auto part in Puerto Rico, but it I was like, no, this is not. I felt the pull from dental technology calling your name. So like in the in the curriculum, you have to do like a practice over at a lab. So over by my city, which is Arecibo and Atillo, there's a couple. It's a dentist and a dental technician. They're married. So they for me, it was one of the first experiences, but also one of the first labs in the lab clinic combo in-house.
Where you got to see patients?
Yes, I got to see patients. Got to see the whole process, the milling and stuff. So I did that for at least three months as well.
How was their marriage life? I mean, a dentist and a technician. I mean, just think about this.
Who was the dentist, the guy or the girl?
The girl, yeah, the girl.
So she was in charge, like normal.
Yeah, I guess that works then.
Yeah, so it was fun. Obviously, a lot of like-- Don't come.
Home until those margins are right. I don't know. Just in my mind, I'm thinking, how do you take that stress back home? But anyhow, sorry.
But yeah, I feel like they had a pretty good balance between keeping work and personal separate. So at work, it was always professional-related and stuff. So it was a good experience for me. I'm grateful for them, for giving me the opportunity to see that as well. So yeah, I did that for about 3 months. And then one day I was just like, I don't like my circumstances here in Puerto Rico. I'm going to look for something better. And I talked to my uncle. I was like, hey, can I go there with you, like here to Orlando? And he was like, sure.
You had to have been what? How old?
I was 19.
That's pretty ballsy.
Yes, it was. To move. It was like really impulsive decision. But I was just like, this is this is the right decision. Yeah, this is it's time. I know, like, my cousin was like putting pressure on me, like, hey, you need to come here. It's going to be better for you for like your career and stuff. So I was just like, why not? Let's let's do it.
And your parents were probably like, no.
Yeah, they were. They were like, please, are you sure? You know, like, even when, when I decided to switch from biomedical to dental technician, they were like, are you sure? Like, it's a pretty good career what you're doing over at biomedical.
Yeah.
So I was just like, yeah, I'm sure. I just, I want to do it.
Yeah, you got to be happy. So how long ago did you come here?
It was about three years.
Three years ago.
Okay. June. Well, it was April. I came by April 2023. But I was just like, I'm Okay, should I? was between coming back, looking for a job in Puerto Rico and coming back, or just staying here and looking for a job here. So, my uncle was actually the one who was like, You should look for jobs here, like you should look on, I don't know, Google Maps or everything. So, we used to live at Metro West area, so I just went to Google Maps and I looked for the closest labs, and the first one that showed up, it was GPS, and I was like, I actually like what I see, so I went to their website, I did the whole research about what they do, and I was looking more for the digital site. because of my previous experience. And I'm young.
And GPS is, I mean, they're big into that. I mean, to the point where they changed their name to include the word digital.
Yeah, that whole rebrand, I feel like it was a great idea to do it. So I came over at the lab. Well, actually, I sent my resume. I didn't get a call for about a week. So I was just like, that's pretty normal about dentals.
Well, we'll talk to Andrew about that.
But I was like, I called him. I was like, hey, did you guys get my resume and everything? So Andrew saw it. He was interested. And he called me. He called me over for an interview. When I went there, I met Basilio, Basilio Marrero. He used to work at the lab at the time. And he went like this. Yeah, he went like this because he's Puerto Rican. Yeah, he's Puerto Rican.
This is a podcast he put his arm around. No one saw you do that.
So, I went there and the interview went great, and I started working, but actually I started over at the model room. Yeah, so I started from.
That's where everybody puts them in the model.
Yes, that's so true.
It was an awesome experience.
What kind of model room did they have at the time? Was it all analog?
It was all, yeah, it was all analog. Like they had the... The duplicates, they had the articulation side, the post-processing and everything.
So it was all like digital, or it was all, what were they making at the time?
Oh, they're GPS is a full lab. GPS Digital RPD is just the frame.
All right, I got you.
These different businesses. Okay, thank you.
That's why I got confused.
Yeah, GPS, yeah.
Okay, yeah, so I was there for about like six months, doing like, I was setting bytes, I was duplicating models, but also, Using what I learned at school, which it was articulating models, I didn't get to set bytes and stuff that was like the next.
Step, that was higher level, yes, a little higher level.
But I was also like, while I was doing that, on my free time, I would go to the back, which they had a couple printers and stuff, hey gears, and I was always interested going back, talking to the guys and... And one day they were like, oh, do you want to come to this department? So I was just like, hell yeah. Yeah, of course. So I got the opportunity. I started working with like the printers, with the carbon and stuff. So it was awesome. It was what I was looking for.
What do they have there? Like technology wise, what kind of printers now?
So now we have gears mostly for 3D printers. We print like dentures, night guards, models, everything. Name it, so, but we also have the milling side, which we have IvoClar PM7 and ADI like the AMD and DCS as well.
So you got the good stuff.
Yeah, we mill crowns, we mill PMMA, all on Xs and all that stuff, so, like he said, we're a full lab, so full service, so we do everything back there.
So, what is your role now?
So, right now, I'm the camp supervisor. Okay, I see all the machines. Lately, I've been focusing more on the post-processing side and QCing all the things that the guys are coming out of the mask. Yeah, so I've been also taking this opportunity to record and do a content. The reason I ask for your Instagram is because I have a dental technician page where I post content and I collab with GPS and I just like do short, short.
Like videos?
Short videos, yeah, short videos. Is that you up?
There that I'm looking at the monitor.
Not that one.
Okay.
Not that one, yeah. But I just do like our process, what we do, printing dentures, milling teeth, milling zirconia, doing the oven, the furnaces and stuff.
So, what's your Instagram so people can follow you?
It's Renouver Dental Tech.
You're going to slow that down. What is it?
It's Renouver. It's my last two names. Munez, Reny, but backwards. Cool.
How'd you come up with that?
I don't know, like the ver, it comes from the Enover, where I used to work over at Puerto Rico. Okay, but the Renovar is from my last two names, so I was like, I like it Renovar, it's like more like a renovation, yeah, and stuff.
Interesting, yeah, it's pretty cool.
So, yeah, that's how I came up with the name, and I loved it. I was like, you know, it's... It's this is how it's going to be called. So.
So you just wanted to show the world what you guys are doing?
Yeah, yeah, basically, you know, I just want to showcase what we do over at the lab and hopefully we can more doctors and people can see what we do and be more interested in the field. It's a it's a goal of mine to, you know, also inspire people from Puerto Rico that they don't know what we do because I was very uneducated in the sense of like, I always thought that the doctor was the one designing, making everything, manufacturing.
Everybody that's not in this room right now thinks that way, yeah.
So getting to see that and also showing people that we're the ones making it, and we don't mostly take the credit for it. That's what I want to show the people.
You wanna bring us out? Yeah, that's pretty awesome.
What is the lab industry in Puerto Rico like? Is it similar to what it is here? Is there big labs? Are they all small?
I mean, I would say there are a couple labs that have a big name. Revolution is one of them over at Bayamon, like the metro area. They're doing a good job.
And how big is that lab?
I would say like 20 people, twenty-five people.
It's a good size.
Yeah, it's a good size. But it's very premature. Like Puerto Rico, they take a lot of time to get into the trends. Like something that it's here and like right now, it'll get to a couple years to get there.
I mean, that makes sense, I guess.
So like, why is that?
I don't know. Like even with everything, with fashion, with...
Yeah.
So it's like for one example that I can use is two years ago we were using hay gears and now is that they're starting to use hay gears over there. I don't know if it's because they didn't reach over there or like...
Sounds like a hay gear problem. They need to get in there a little quicker. What's your hold up?
Yeah.
So your parents still live there?
Do you go back and forth and visit them? It's in my roots. It's my sister still lives there, mom, dad, on my mom's family side, they still live there. So I go there a lot. And usually it's sometimes I do these crazy things where I go over the weekend. Like Friday, right? I fly. And it's like, I just go there for a weekend, come back, get ready to work. But it helps me because it recharges me, you know, like energy wise. Like it's like, sometimes I feel like a little bit down. So I'm like, I know what I need. I need to go home, reconnect, and I come back and it's like full throttle to come back to work.
Do they have dental shows there like this?
They do have one, but it's a combination of dentists and also dental labs.
Really.
Yeah. I don't know the name of it, but... But it's more focused on dentist side, so you don't get to see that much of A lab.
So you're gonna go back and go to it sometime?
I actually told Andrew that we should go there. Yeah, like I want us to actually get work, get work, and also like promo ourselves over there. I don't know, set up a booth or something, 'cause I feel like... There are not many labs that, for example, frame labs that are over there that I know of. Maybe they are.
There's not many here in the states either. Let's be honest. That's true. I can only imagine how few there are there.
So, yeah, I feel like it would be great if we get to go there and showcase what we do. Because, like I said, the trends over there, it's like it takes time to get there.
So I think you guys need to go. I think you need to take a podcast with you because I want to go to Puerto Rico.
Have you guys been to Puerto Rico yet? No, you should. You should.
I would love to.
I've been there.
We went on a cruise and we went all the way down and we stopped in Puerto Rico. So not like.
So you get to see San Juan.
Yeah.
OK. Yeah. San Juan is beautiful.
Did you get off the boat there?
Yeah.
OK. Yeah. So you've been there. Sure.
Yep.
That's awesome. So what are your goals? I mean, are you looking to run GPS someday? It's not like you got the grind to do it. I mean, Andrew's not young anymore. I'm just kidding.
Not really. Right now I'm just very focused on what I'm doing right now. Especially with the content. I'm just trying to put more content every day. I try to record a little bit of what we do. I get home, I edit it, I post it, and that's it. So in terms of goals.
You're freezing.
Yeah, it's freezing in here. Yeah, yeah.
It's really cold in here.
One of the goals, it's like, I've told him a couple times, I'm like, I want to run a lab in Puerto Rico, like from GTI.
I love it. Wow.
I planned the idea and he's like, That's a losting goal. But yeah, it's something that I just want to give my future goal. It's like to get back home and like, like do the same I do here.
Yep. Awesome.
So Andrew's a smart guy. You business plan that thing out, making money. Yeah. I don't see why you would.
So yeah, that's, that's kind of like the, that'd be cool. The end goal. But for now, let's just keep learning, keep going up. They recently gave me the opportunity to start learning about implants and stuff.
Whoa, that's fantastic.
So yeah, I started with soft tissue models and all that basic stuff. So it's, It's been great. It's been great to see all of it.
And implants are awesome.
Yeah.
My only warning is as soon as you think you know all of them, a new one will come out. Yeah. It's just like, I have this saying when I see a new implant, it's like, has it been 3 months already? It's just, really? They just pop in. He's like, I've never even heard of this before.
Elvis loves implants.
I do. I do.
He's an implant.
So do you guys work at the industry? Like are you guys?
Oh, absolutely. 100%. Yeah.
We both run labs and I'm a ceramist also. So yeah, we're technicians. I'm A technician. You're kind of a technician now. I do technician.
Yes. I do surgical guides. I do all that stuff. A lot of treatment planning, a lot of tears.
You got directed in the mouth. Yeah.
No, I don't go in the mouth.
But you're there.
I direct other people to go in the mouth.
Well, then you're a technician.
There you go. Thanks.
Yeah, that is.
I mean, come on. Well, Joseph, thank you so much. I appreciate you freezing here with us. What a great story. I don't think I've ever had someone from Puerto Rico on. That's exciting. And if we have, I apologize to the person we did. But thank you so much. All right.
Well, thank you very much.
And good luck to you.
Yeah, when you guys go to that show, let us know. We're right there with you. Yeah, I will. All right.
Thank you, sir.
Enjoy. Yep. Bye. A big thanks to Morris, Enja, and Joseph for coming to see us at the GPS Digital RPD booth during the FDLA show. What else can we say about Morris other than, God darn it, a huge congratulations. And actually that we love that we got to celebrate with you all weekend where those big Big 5-0 shades on stage. That was pretty awesome. And a shout out to Paula, his amazing wife. She is the bomb diggity.
She's the one during the conversation that ran up and went, love you.
I love you. So cool. And it's great to catch up with Enja and hear about Sacher Dental Arts and even more excited that the FDLA will have her for a few years to come because I'm assuming she's going to ascend a president. And it's always great to meet young and enthusiastic technicians that have a thirst. for knowledge and growth. So go to this episode's show notes, click on this profile, and follow him on Instagram. I'll bet you we will be seeing more of him in the future.
All right, everybody. That's all we got for you, and we will talk to you next week.
Have a good week. Don't get too busy at the bench. Get some balance. I did ask him. He says, yeah, this happens all the time. I was like, thanks for making me feel better. even though it doesn't.
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.