Joshua Polansky: Educated By the Masters

Joshua Polansky hasn't had just any mentors. Although initially intending to become a dentist like his father, he worked in several laboratories during college and 'fell in love' with dental technology. However, it was in 2003 when he had a one-on-one apprenticeship with Master Technician Olivier Tric that Polansky knew he had found his calling.

"Studying with Olivier opened up a world of possibilities to me; it was the direct opposite of the kind of laboratories I had been exposed to," says Polansky. "He showed me it was possible to create an environment where you craft your own cases from start to finish, work closely with patients as well as doctors, and earn respect for yourself as a technician."
Polansky continued to immerse himself in the work, attending industry meetings and earning his Master's Degree in Dental Ceramics from UCLA. He also seized the opportunity to spend time studying with Klaus Müterthies in Germany and Walter Gebhard in Switzerland, shadowing...