February 2017

With 3Shape lab scanners, you can easily scan models on articulators and, in the process, transfer the position of the mounted models from the articulator into Dental System™.

Learn how Martha Martin, CEO and Co-Owner, Triad Dental Studio, beefed up the lab's marketing efforts to gain 17 new clients in four months.

It’s fair to say that layered porcelain has been replaced to a large degree by milled full contour zirconia (FCZ). Many of the small- and medium-sized laboratory owners I talk to are disenchanted with the fee structure of FCZ restorations; they feel forced into the FCZ price wars, are struggling...

Gary Morgan, CDT, Vice President of Safelink Consulting explains the top five OSHA violations and how you can stay in compliance.

Al Hodges explains how he broke into the high-end market and how you can, too.

Kent Kohl, CDT, shows how to calibrate your porcelain furnace.

Quality control for removable prosthetics is about more than how esthetic and clean the final product looks. Just as important is the tissue side of the prosthesis and how it affects the patient’s mouth once it’s in constant contact and making micro movements when in function. Nothing is...

In the spirit of the “how to” theme of the February issue, I made a list of some of the fundamental elements I believe create excellence within an organization. If you have to wonder whether or not you and your laboratory deliver excellence,...

When it comes to ceramic restorations, fracture toughness is a much better indicator of the long-term clinical success than flexural strength.

Removable partial dentures have made a resurgence recently, thanks to higher insurance reimbursement rates, the economy and the prevalence of 3D printing. While there’s still a need for metal frameworks for certain indications, other viable options including nylon-based flexible partials and thermoplastic...

When Steve Szara, Owner of Szara Dental Laboratory in Northville, MI, started making orthodontic videos for YouTube, his goals were twofold: sharing his techniques and getting others to share in return. “As a one-man ortho lab, I was finding it difficult to find information on orthodontics and...

Frequent stretching can help reduce muscle fatigue and stiffness that comes with the repetitive and intricate work at the bench. Here are six simple stretches you can do periodically throughout the day that target the areas of your body most likely t

Hybrid dentures are growing in popularity but getting a strong bond between the denture base acrylic and the milled titanium bar can be challenging. Read how Dennis Urban, CDT, does it.

Don Inman, Owner of Inman Orthodontics, started working with a PEO which allows him to offer his employees Fortune 500-level benefits.

Kathy Rusler, Co-Owner of Indiana Dental Prosthetics, shares how she keeps things fun in her laboratory.

Dr. Phillip Russo addresses the pollutants in the laboratory that can affect your lungs and what you can do to protect yourself.

It’s estimated that over 205 billion emails are sent every day. With all that competition flooding people’s inboxes, you need to make sure your marketing emails command the attention they deserve. How? With awesome subject lines.

Learn how laboratory owners are taking a proactive approach and finding ways to partner with dentists in order to foster relationships.

Chairside assistance is a good differentiator and valuable customer service tool, but it also raises liability concerns. Learn how to protect yourself in this new trend.

Long days in the lab, rushing to meet deadlines and working on difficult cases can wreak havoc on your body and your mind. Here are easy ways to reduce stress in just minutes:

See how three different laboratories have streamlined their workflows after they implemented DAMAS.

Joshua Polansky offers his tips for creating beautiful case photos to show off your skills on your website and social media.

Christian Saurman's lab boasts five in-house 3D printers for printing models. Learn how he incorporated high-volume digital procedures into his workflow.

Ken Kincaid, CDT, TE, offers his tips on how to solve common digital RPD production problems.

Bob Yenkner offers tips for streamlining your workflow by drawing a spaghetti diagram.

Two laboratory owners team up to complement each others’ strengths and compete in the tough Northern California marketplace