The Philippine Connection: LMT's Ground-Breaking Interview

In October 1985, amidst rumblings that U.S. laboratories were farming work out to offshore laboratories, LMT brought the issue out into the open. Our interview with Jerry Doviack, CDT, Owner of California-based Continental Dental Ceramics, took readers inside Interdent, his facility in the Philippines and sparked intense industry debate.

In the interview, Doviack explained his strategy behind setting up offshore production to provide outsourcing services to laboratories around the world, saying it wouldn’t take jobs away because the local laboratory would still provide a vital service to its dentist-clients. Still, readers spoke out about what they perceived as a threat to their businesses and their employees, as well as concern about the American economy.

Today some lab owners still object to the practice while others have found it to be a viable business opportunity.