dental assistant

When someone in the industry seems to spend more time teaching others than working on their own work, we want to learn more. Elvis had the opportunity to take a 2 day hands-on course about pink layering on full arch zirconia and PMMA. The teacher was the wonderful Marina Caponigro (https://www.facebook.com/marina.ya.7). Of course, we had to have her on the podcast to learn about the technician behind the "fire in the belly". Marina talks about coming to America from the Ukraine to marry and work with a Prosthodontist, learning to do full arch restorations and perfecting the pink layering of composites and stains. It wasn't long before she was encouraged to teach others and travels the country teaching both technicians and clinical staff. Wanting to do more for others, Marina and her daughter opened the Smileology Group Dental Lab specializing in helping other labs create beautiful full arch restorations. Are you in the market for top-notch digital equipment, such as mills, scanners, or furnaces? Well, the time to act is NOW! Ivoclar (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li), has introduced unbeatable rates exclusively for customers in North America. Ivoclar has made it easier for you to invest in cutting-edge digital equipment with lower-than-prime interest rates. Whether you're looking to upgrade your milling capabilities (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/digital-equipment/programill-dry), enhance your scanning technology (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/digital-equipment/prograscan-ps7-lab-scanner), or optimize your furnace performance (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/equipment/programat-ceramic-furnaces), Ivoclar Digital has you covered. To take advantage of this offer, the dedicated Digital Specialists at Ivoclar are ready to assist you. For details on how to get in touch, visit Voicesfromthebench.com and the Ivoclar tab to find all the information you need to get started. Whether you are looking to elevate your craftsmanship or looking to cut back costs, look no further – VITA MFT Teeth (https://vitanorthamerica.com/en-US/VITA-MFT-Anterior-369,273,126133.html) are the ultimate solution for creating lifelike and stunning smiles. Crafted with precision and backed by cutting-edge technology, VITA MFT Teeth offers unparalleled esthetics and durability. And since VITA (https://vitanorthamerica.com/) believes in the power of experiencing excellence firsthand, for a limited time only, they’re offering you the chance to get a complimentary case sample. That’s right, a full case, absolutely free. Just visit vitanorthamerica.com/freemft (https://www2.vitanorthamerica.com/mft/) Don’t wait any longer to start providing your customers with a premium tooth at an economy price. Redeem your free case sample and if you’re ready to buy, VITA will even give you an extra 10% discount by shopping online on their newly launched online store. Join the VITA family today. GC Initial® LiSi Press (https://www.gc.dental/america/products/laboratory/porcelain-systems/gc-initial-lisi-press) is the first lithium disilicate ceramic ingot with High Density Micronization (HDM), a technology unique to GC that provides exceptional physical properties and the most natural, life-like aesthetics. HDM uses equally dispersed lithium disilicate micro-crystals to fill the entire glass matrix rather than using traditional larger size crystals that do not take full advantage of the matrix structure. The result is the ultimate combination of strength and aesthetics, making GC Initial® LiSi Press perfectly suitable for all types of restorations through all levels of transparency. Most importantly, HDM technology helps ensure the product remains extremely stable, without distortion or drop in value, even after multiple firings. For more information call GC America (https://www.gc.dental/america/) at 800-323-0763 or visit gcamerica.com Have you ever wanted to learn exocad? Do you find learning new design software overwhelming or just too costly because you have to go to a weekend course. Even if you have never used design any software before, we have the perfect solution for you to begin your exocad journey. Head over to the Institute of Digital Dentistry (https://instituteofdigitaldentistry.com/) and select the “Mastering Exocad Course (https://instituteofdigitaldentistry.com/live-courses/mastering-exocad-online-course-training/)”. Broken down to three segments, the amazing Marjorie will take you through Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced courses leaving you with the confidence to tackle most cases coming into your lab. I personally am going through all 70 lessons and find it one of the most thorough courses you can take at your own pace. And for being a listener of the podcast, if you enter code VOICES when checking out they will take an additional 10% off any course they offer…. And they offer a ton of content for labs and clinics. Special Guest: Marina Caponigro.

Back in September, a group called the DTG (https://www.dentaltechniciansguild.com/) gathered for the first time in a while at the GC America (https://www.gc.dental/america/) facility in Alsip, Illinois. Luckily, we were honored to be a part of this amazing show. There was so many talented technicians in one room, our biggest regret is not getting to talk to all of them. BUT we did get two reluctant people to sit down and share their stories. First up is Shelia Raquel, president of White Peaks Dental Solutions USA (https://whitepeaks-usa.com/). Shelia talks about being a dental assistant in the military, working on the bench, and her new female empowered group called "Queens - Women in the Industry" (https://www.queenswomenintheindustry.com/). Next we sat down with Quint Whipple from Phoenician Dental Studio (https://www.phoeniciandental.com/). Quint talks about wanting to be a dentist, getting wise, working in Las Vegas, how occlusion affects overall health, and the history behind the famous DTG coins. Are you in the market for top-notch digital equipment, such as mills, scanners, or furnaces? Well, the time to act is NOW! Ivoclar (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li), has introduced unbeatable rates exclusively for customers in North America. Ivoclar has made it easier for you to invest in cutting-edge digital equipment with lower-than-prime interest rates. Whether you're looking to upgrade your milling capabilities (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/digital-equipment/programill-dry), enhance your scanning technology (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/digital-equipment/prograscan-ps7-lab-scanner), or optimize your furnace performance (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/equipment/programat-ceramic-furnaces), Ivoclar Digital has you covered. To take advantage of this offer, the dedicated Digital Specialists at Ivoclar are ready to assist you. For details on how to get in touch, visit Voicesfromthebench.com and the Ivoclar tab to find all the information you need to get started. Whether you are looking to elevate your craftsmanship or looking to cut back costs, look no further – VITA MFT Teeth (https://vitanorthamerica.com/en-US/VITA-MFT-Anterior-369,273,126133.html) are the ultimate solution for creating lifelike and stunning smiles. Crafted with precision and backed by cutting-edge technology, VITA MFT Teeth offers unparalleled esthetics and durability. And since VITA (https://vitanorthamerica.com/) believes in the power of experiencing excellence firsthand, for a limited time only, they’re offering you the chance to get a complimentary case sample. That’s right, a full case, absolutely free. Just visit vitanorthamerica.com/freemft (https://www2.vitanorthamerica.com/mft/) Don’t wait any longer to start providing your customers with a premium tooth at an economy price. Redeem your free case sample and if you’re ready to buy, VITA will even give you an extra 10% discount by shopping online on their newly launched online store. Join the VITA family today. GC Initial® LiSi Press (https://www.gc.dental/america/products/laboratory/porcelain-systems/gc-initial-lisi-press) is the first lithium disilicate ceramic ingot with High Density Micronization (HDM), a technology unique to GC that provides exceptional physical properties and the most natural, life-like aesthetics. HDM uses equally dispersed lithium disilicate micro-crystals to fill the entire glass matrix rather than using traditional larger size crystals that do not take full advantage of the matrix structure. The result is the ultimate combination of strength and aesthetics, making GC Initial® LiSi Press perfectly suitable for all types of restorations through all levels of transparency. Most importantly, HDM technology helps ensure the product remains extremely stable, without distortion or drop in value, even after multiple firings. For more information call GC America (https://www.gc.dental/america/) at 800-323-0763 or visit gcamerica.com Special Guests: Quint Whipple and Sheila Raquel.

Get a "4 out of 5 dentists recommend a dental technician" shirt highlighting the LMT Lab Day Chicago meeting! ORDER BEFORE JANURARY 22, 2023!!!!!!!! (https://www.bonfire.com/4-out-of-5/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=campaign_details_share&utm_campaign=4-out-of-5&utm_content=default) As we get into 2023, we get to celebrate our 250th episode of the podcast! What an honor it is to bring you so many great conversations with all the wonderful people in our industry. This week we get to talk to Tra' Chambers from Express Dental Laboratory (https://www.xdentallab.com/) out of Oklahoma. Tra's story is a bit different than what we usually hear. Starting as an assistant, then a practice manager, and then a lab owner, Tra' was able to understand what the dental offices needed from a lab when he started his own. Great stories from the early days of same day crowns with the Cerec system to positioning himself a leader in the digital dental lab workflow. Your digital inspiration is important to Ivoclar (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us) and they have the technology to support your digital future. Whether you are just about to introduce digital production into your laboratory, or if your laboratory is already set for the digital revolution – Ivoclar has the technology, support, and service package for YOUR specific needs. From the NEW and impressive PrograScan (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-equipment/prograscan-ps5-and-ps3-laborscanner) scanners to the PrograMill (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-equipment/programill-pm7) line up of milling systems and Programat (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/equipment/programat-ceramic-furnaces) furnaces, Ivoclar has you covered with technology AND trusted materials like Ivotion (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-processes/ivotion), e.max (https://www.ivoclar.com/makeitemax) and ZirCAD Prime (https://www.ivoclar.com/en_li/products/digital-processes/ips-e.max-zircad-prime-family). All of this under one roof! Customize YOUR Digital journey today by contacting your friendly Ivoclar sales representative (https://www.ivoclarusa.com/repfinder/technical.php)! Does your lab use Magic Touch? If not, you should think about switching just so you can use icortica (https://icortica.com/). Icortica is a program that uses all the data you already collect in Magic Touch and puts it in one easy to see, use, and understand dashboard. Look at every account and see trends, sales, notes, payments, and even remake percentages. Use the data you already have to take your lab and your customer service to the next level. Elvis uses it daily and swears it is a huge part to his success working at the lab. Head over to icortica.com/voices (https://icortica.com/voices-from-the-bench/) to learn more or send an email to Rob Nazzal at rob@icortica.com and tell him you heard about it on Voices From the Bench! Special Guest: Tra’ Chambers.

She loved to draw. With a passion for art and no guidance, Tamara Laraque went to fashion school. While she enjoyed the drawing part, she didn’t like the sewing part. For the next few years she bounced around in different careers. From dental assistant, to pastry chef, to driving for Uber. Tamara tried it all as she hustled to find her path, pay her bills, take care of her family while also going through a divorce.

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Remember, no degree? No problem! Whether you're contemplating college or you're a college dropout, get started with your no-degree job search at nodegree.com.

If you take a normal procedure in the lab, film it, and put it online, how many people do you think would watch it? Well when Tiffany Carroll and Amanda Shelly do that when working at Aspen Dental (https://www.aspendental.com/), they get MILLIONS of views. Tiffany and Amanda come on to talk about how they found their way to Aspen, a day in the life at Aspen, the opportunities provided to them, the move to digital, and creating content on social media that goes viral. Have you seen the high prices of precious metal these days? Kulzer Refining (https://www.kulzerus.com/en_us/en_us/heraeuspreciousmetalsrefining/scraprefining.aspx) knows that you are using less Precious metal in your lab these days, but if you send in half of what you sent in 5 years ago ,your scrap return will be higher than it was 5 years ago! You won’t believe how much money your scrap is worth right now! Kulzer Refining reimbursement to you is after their 10% refining fee . They have zero additional fees! If you need any free shipping containers, which contain a UPS prepaid, full insured label, please visit mydental360.com/refining or call the Director of Precious Metal Refining, Tony Circelli, directly at (914) 906-1843. Mention the Voices From the Bench podcast and Kulzer Refining will add an extra 5% to your scrap! Kulzer Refining. Tested, Trusted, and Honest. Two dynamic teams have joined forces to rock the intraoral scanning world! Whip Mix (https://www.whipmix.com/) has added the 3Shape TRIOS® (https://info.whipmix.com/en/3shape-trios-contact-us) line of scanners to its line of digital solutions for the dental office. Together, this dynamic duo can get your dentists scanning, providing you the reliable scans you need for your lab work. If you are interested in learning more about helping your dentists, go to: http://tinyurl.com/Whipmixtrios Special Guests: Amanda Shelley and Tiffany Carroll.

We are so happy to bring you more of the great guest we talked with at the 2019 DLAT Conference in Texas. We are also sad because this is the last group. But what a great group it is! Joining us today are: We start with Registered Assistant Sarah Mathis from Duece Dental Laboratory in Waco, Texas. She talks about going from Clinical to Laboratory and how the chair side has made her a better technician. Then we are joined by Donna Smith CDT from Digital Ceramics by Design in Denton, TX. Donna talks about her lab, how she got there, and why she likes working with zirconia. We then wrap up the whole conference talking with Scott Ruehle from the Sebrite Agency (https://www.sebriteagency.com/). Scott talks about a much needed but little discussed topic, insurance. From Professional Liability to Loss, Scott gives us the low down and scares Barb a little. Be sure to check out DLAT.org to see all the AMAZING things the Dental Laboratory Association of Texas is doing. Come next year to their AWESOME conference where these interviews were recorded at! (https://members.dlat.org/membership/) Special Guests: Donna Smith CDT, Sarah Mathis, and Scott Ruehle.