Evolution of Dental Podcast

Rob Norton and  Chris Kabot , Vice President and Head of Dental at Stratasys, explore the technologies shaping the next generation of digital dentistry. Chris shares his journey from developing some of the earliest digital workflows for guided surgery to leading one of the world's most innovative 3D printing companies. Together, they discuss the evolution of PolyJet technology, the advantages of m...

Digital dentures have transformed what's possible in modern dentistry, but technology alone isn't enough. Success also depends on communication, expectations, and understanding the realities of removable prosthetics.  Dr. Russell Schafer shares his unconventional journey from mechanical engineering and the oil industry into dentistry before becoming a leader in digital denture workflows. He discus...

Digital dentistry continues to reshape implant treatment, but where are today's workflows succeeding and where is there still room for innovation? Dr. Adam Zatcoff joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast to share his experience with photogrammetry, intraoral scanning, implant restorations, and overdenture workflows. Drawing from years of clinical practice, he discusses how digital technology has imp...

Jessica J. Knott has spent her career exploring nearly every corner of the dental industry. From her early days in the United States Air Force dental laboratory program to evaluating emerging technologies, implementing digital workflows, training clinicians and assistants, and helping shape the adoption of 3D printing in dentistry, her perspective is unlike almost anyone else in the field. This co...

Aaron Gelfand 's path into dentistry is anything but conventional. Before becoming a leader in digital implant workflows, he spent years as a tugboat captain, fishing guide, and business owner before helping build one of the most refined full-arch workflows in implant dentistry today. Aaron shares the story behind the EZ Ref system from Evolve Dentistry, his experience helping scale digital full-a...

Dentistry doesn't have to fit a mold, and Dr. James Carter has built an entire brand around proving it. Better known as the Implant Outlaw, Jimmy joins Robert Norton to share the story behind his unique approach to dentistry, practice ownership, and personal branding. From placing implants early in his career to embracing guided surgery, digital workflows, full arch rehabilitation, and AI-powered...

Cosmetic dentistry has evolved from analog impressions and “prep and pray” workflows into a fully digital world powered by smile design, intraoral scanning, dental photography, CAD CAM systems, and modern esthetic materials. Rob Norton sits down with Dr. Marvin Berlin , Clinical Director of Esthetics for Heartland Dental, cosmetic dentist, educator, mentor, and creator of the “Say Yes” philosophy...

Dr. Mikenah Joy Vega joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast for a conversation centered on functional dentistry, aesthetic smile design, wellness, and the modern patient experience. Her approach blends digital workflows, Invisalign driven treatment planning, photography, and long term functional care into a philosophy focused on confidence and transformation. From building her personal brand and na...

From AI-powered crown design and cloud-based workflows to exocad ART, faster zirconia sintering, and the future of digital dentistry, Rob Norton and Josh Jakson unpack their biggest takeaways from exocad Insights 2026 in Mallorca, Spain. Josh shares firsthand insight into the latest developments inside the exocad ecosystem, including AI Crown workflows, exocad Hub, browser-based design tools, mini...

Dr. Jacob Berger shares how his journey evolved from practicing comprehensive general dentistry to focusing almost entirely on full arch implant cases and smile transformations. He breaks down the progression of bringing workflows in-house, from open-tray impressions and smart conversions to photogrammetry, 3D printing, milling finals, and building a fully integrated in-house lab. The conversation...

Dr. Tracey Nguyen didn’t set out to redefine dentistry, but somewhere between cosmetic cases that didn’t last and patients searching for real answers, everything shifted. What starts as a conversation about her journey into dentistry quickly unfolds into something much bigger, a reframing of how we diagnose, treat, and think about the mouth as part of the entire body. From airway focused dentistry...

Jeffry Tobon , a pioneer in digital dentistry workflows and an early adopter of CAD CAM technology. Jeffry shares his journey from working with early Nobel Procera systems to mastering exocad and helping build CAD CAM departments in some of the largest dental laboratories in New York. What started as hands-on experience quickly evolved into building labs, launching Digital Dental Craftsmen, and sh...

Daniel Portal ’s path into digital dentistry didn’t follow the rules, and that’s exactly why it worked. From witnessing CAD/CAM transform labs overnight to building a career around exocad training and independent design, his perspective cuts through the hype and focuses on what actually works. This conversation explores the reality behind today’s workflows, including the limitations of intraoral s...

Hossein Bassir, CPO of SprintRay, breaks down how the industry is shifting from hardware-driven innovation to something much bigger: material science, software, and fully connected workflows. What used to take hours can now happen in minutes. But speed isn’t the full story. This conversation unpacks why viscosity changed everything in 3D printing, how new materials are pushing the limits of what’s...

Dr. Jonathan Abenaim shares his journey from an uncertain path in computer science to becoming a leading innovator in full-arch implant dentistry. He dives deep into the evolution of digital workflows, the disconnect between labs and clinicians, and how his hands-on approach led to groundbreaking inventions like advanced scan bodies and the Powerball Screw system. Dr. Abenaim breaks down the real...

Seth Potter , exocad educator, design expert, and a rising voice in the world of exocad, shares his journey from early exposure to dentistry to building a global presence through education and content creation. Together, Seth and Rob break down the rapid growth of digital dentistry, the increasing adoption of exocad, and how clinicians and technicians can create more efficient, repeatable workflow...

Rob Norton talks with Dr. Josh Austin about how digital dentistry tools like iTero, Invisalign, exocad, and 3D printing are transforming the way dentists diagnose, communicate, and treat patients. From boosting case acceptance through visual scanning to enabling more minimally invasive treatment planning, Dr. Austin breaks down how digital workflows are helping practices deliver better outcomes, s...

The Evolution of Dental Podcast welcomes Dr. Adamo “Elvis” Notarantonio , former President of the AACD, educator, and internationally recognized cosmetic dentist, for a conversation about photography, mentorship, and the fundamentals that shape great dentistry. Dr. Notarantonio explains why a simple digital camera may be the most important tool in a dentist’s practice, sharing how photography impr...

Full-arch restorations are one of the most complex workflows in modern dentistry, and one of the easiest to get wrong without proper planning. Rob Norton sits down with Dora Rodrigues , President of ID Dental and a certified exocad trainer specializing in full-arch design. With nearly two decades of experience in full-arch restorations, Dora shares how she transitioned from an analog workflow to a...

What actually makes one ceramic stronger than another? Are the numbers on the brochure telling the full story? Dr. Nate Lawson joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast to unpack the real science behind modern dental materials. From multilayer pucks, fast sintering, and the rise of 3D printed restorations. This conversation moves beyond surface-level comparisons and into how materials are truly tested...

AI is no longer a future concept in dentistry. It is actively reshaping how removable prosthetics are designed, manufactured, and delivered.  John Madden CDT dives deep into the evolution of digital dentures and partials, unpacking how AI-driven design, automation, and systems thinking are transforming modern dental technology. From monolithic manufacturing and acetal partials to workflow bottlene...

The most advanced intraoral scanners can capture data within microns, but if the bite is wrong, everything downstream suffers. Björn Zäuner, founder of BiteFinder, explains how AI driven occlusion simulation is transforming digital dentistry by calculating maximum intercuspation, analyzing anatomy, and simulating jaw movement before design or production begins. By correcting bite discrepancies at...

Dr. Martin Toporek joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast to share how he blends foundational dental principles with cutting-edge digital technology to create highly precise, patient-centered, and artistically driven dentistry. He breaks down his fully digital workflows, including MODJAW 4D jaw tracking, exocad Smile Creator, and in-house 3D printing to deliver same-day night guards, prep-less vene...

Vicki Thomas , founder of Savvy Lab Solutions , joins the Evolution of Dental Podcast to share practical strategies for helping small and independent dental labs stay competitive in an increasingly commodified industry. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, Vicki breaks down smart digital workflows, outsourcing strategies, buying power through community, and how lab owners can improve profita...

Rob Norton sits down with Jonny Jakson to explore what it takes to design with speed, precision, and creativity in an always-evolving landscape. From navigating complex workflows and emerging technology to building confidence through consistency. This conversation dives into how experience turns chaos into control, and why mastering the process matters just as much as the tools themselves. Digital...