Megan Gardner: Bridging the Generation Gap With Technology

Working at her parents' lab was the last thing Megan Gardner thought she'd be doing when she graduated with a graphic design degree. But when the company she worked for went under and she needed a job, her parents had an opening in the model room. It was when she moved into waxing, though, that she had her "aha" moment.

"Waxing up copings and full cast crowns was very reminiscent of my sculpture and pottery courses, so not only was I applying skills I learned in school, but I was using my hands to create something that helped people. It was a rewarding feeling," says Gardner, who then opted to attend a one-year dental technology program at a local technical college.

Gardner's education in graphic design has practically made learning the lab's new Nobel Procera system second nature. She was already accustomed to digitally manipulating shapes and many of the software tools are similar to design software she worked with in school. What Gardner finds the most exciting...