September 2017

If we trace the formative years of any entrepreneur, though there may be signs, it’s often not obvious how early experiences shape the future business leader. Of course you say; that’s one of the reasons life is an adventure. You never know where the next “big idea” might come...

Diana Shveyko, Owner of Design Dental Lab in Chicopee, MA, began drawing and painting a few years ago when she was going through a difficult time. “Art has really helped me,” she says. “If I have a problem or I’m in a bad mood, I take out my supplies and it helps lift my spirits.”

Shveyko...

Ana Carter, Vice President of Boling & Dean Lab in Columbus, OH, comes by her artistic talents naturally. The Cuban-born painter’s family is full of artists from all genres—musical, dramatic and visual—and she learned to draw from her brother at a young age.

Her Art in the Park...

Gingival composites are a precise and effective way to customize your restorations, especially removable prosthetics. Applied after the denture is processed, they’re more predictable than stains because the colors don’t run and you can visualize the colors before you light cure the composite....

“We’ve done over 1,200 All-on-Four conversions since 2012,” says Dan Ulaszek, CDT, Vice President, Artistic Dental Laboratories, Bolingbrook, IL. “The reputation we’ve built on these cases has led to doctors and implant reps requesting us to travel over 100 miles to...

“With the advent of digital technology, more and more labs are competing on price, but we choose not to run that race. Instead, we are a true partner to our clients, and we’ve been able to achieve that ‘extra degree’ by establishing ourselves as a respected resource,” says...

“My attitude,” says Jim Seifert, Owner, Zahnmacher Advanced Ceramics Inc., a solo operation in Holiday, FL. “I make replacement parts for the human body. I’m a member of a team, entrusted with providing knowledge, experience and ceramic artistry and I’m committed to fulfilling...

“We provide custom chairside services; this personal touch goes a long way compared to the corporate labs in our area that rarely offer such services,” says Seth Reichenbach, CDT, who co-owns RDL Dental Laboratory, a five-person lab in Sarasota, FL, with his brother, Bryan Reichenbach, shown...

“What sets us apart is the extra degree of support and clinical understanding we share with our doctors,” says Ira Dickerman, CDT, TE, President, (standing, white coat) Dickerman Dental Prosthetics, a 26-person lab in Sharon, MA. “Through our regular attendance at three Spear and two...

“I have a tenacious regard and respect for the Curves of Spee and Wilson,” says Tim Lane, CDT, Owner, Cynosure Dental Laboratory, Bartlett, TN.  

“Since I’m a one-man operation and don’t have sales reps or spend thousands on catchy marketing campaigns, I’d say the thing that separates my lab from the competition is this business fundamental: treat customers the way you want to be treated,” says Nick Hayden, RDT, Partial...

“I offer free case planning on every restoration, whether it’s a single unit or full roundhouse. The size doesn’t matter; what matters is the patient smiling after treatment. The best way to achieve that is for the dentist and technician to get together before the case starts to communicate...

“There are five other orthodontic labs in my geographic area and I know from talking with orthodontists that my retainer designs give me an edge because they’re contemporary by comparison. I’ve created a laminated, two-sided design sheet and all my clients get one for each chair in...

“The late Bob Farrell, who founded Farrell Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurants on the west coast, would often say to his team, ‘Give ‘em the pickle’,” explains Warren Rogers, CEO, Knight Dental Group, Inc., Oldsmar, FL. “He was known as one of the first restauranteurs...

“Our Rx Wizard is a portal for orthodontist-clients to communicate with us,” says Jennifer Oliver, Marketing & New Accounts Coordinator, NEOLab, an 84-person lab in Wilmington, MA. “When I walk a new client through our Rx Wizard account setup, the response is almost always, ‘That’s...

“My margins sell my work; they’re what my doctors comment on most often,” says Dusty Owens, Owner, Oakledge Dental Studio, a solo operation in Loma, CO. “I believe temperature fluctuation of materials affects the fit of the margins so I keep a diary of each casting or pressing....

“Ever since we were introduced to the Ritz-Carlton Concierge level of service, we’ve changed our philosophy about customer service and challenged ourselves to offer Dental Lab Concierge Service,” says Carol Pilmer, RDA, Co-Owner, R Dental Ceramics, Solana Beach, CA. 

“A customer...

“My lab has more than one extra degree; the temperature here is about 230oF!” says Joseph Nelson, Owner, The Other Lab, Waynesboro, VA. “I’m the chief tooth geek, driver, plaster monkey, janitor and admin assistant and I never forget that the dentist is entrusting me...

“Without a doubt, our extra degree is our customer service with a strong emphasis on product knowledge,” says Donal Inman, CDT, Owner, Inman Orthodontic Laboratories, a 25-person operation in Coral Springs, FL. “We understand our products thoroughly and can help our customers with almost...

“The thing we most often hear from new clients is, ‘Wow! That was quick. Our old lab usually took a couple of weeks minimum’,” says Bill Atkission, Owner, Bella Vita Dental Designs, a three-person lab in Arden, NC. “Our turnaround time is three days max for a local client...

Two states and one New York County are actively pursuing dental laboratory legislation while running into the occasional political hiccup.

With airborne silica and zirconia particles, aluminous oxide dust, and burnout and monomer fumes, it’s no surprise that air quality is the number-one health concern in a lab. Lab owners share their strategies for keeping the area clean and safe.