How I Came Out of Retirement to Open a Digital Lab

In 2012, after 40 years in the business—including growing and ultimately selling my Michigan-based laboratory to National Dentex—I retired from dental technology. Four years later, I wanted back in.

I missed the industry and decided I was too young to stop working. My wife—who is a hygienist—and I decided to start a new lab in Florida, where we had been spending winters. And this old analog technician knew that digital was the only smart way to go.

We visited CAP’s Florida facility and ended up purchasing a 3Shape scanner and two Roland mills. As I watched the CAP technicians design crowns, mill cases, custom color the restorations and stain and glaze, I thought to myself, ‘I can do this; it looks easy and fun.’

But let’s be clear: this was the biggest and hardest challenge I’ve taken on in my...