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 dentistry doesn’t slow down, and neither do the decisions behind it.

• (00:00:00) - Meet Johnny Exocad
• (00:01:59) - Dental Students: Working in 3-D Printing
• (00:07:58) - Are IVotion Dentures Better Than Mill Dentures?
• (00:08:55) - What are some of the bigger advancements in facial and jaw scanning?
• (00:12:42) - How to 3-D print a die with a metal crown
• (00:13:40) - Spring Ray Dentures demo at IDS 2017
• (00:15:24) - Jet Engine Printed Dentures
• (00:16:59) - Dental CAD Bar 3.3 Workflow
• (00:21:31) - Smile Creator: The Smile Trial
• (00:26:19) - Plastic prosthetics: Same Day Designs
• (00:28:43) - PRIEST: Should a physician invest in a printer?
• (00:30:34) - What's Next for Oral Surgery?
• (00:35:53) - Johnny on Social Media Influencers
• (00:38:17) - Ben Bomer and A Tin Liquor
• (00:39:55) - Evolving Dentist: Consistency is the Key

Rob Norton sits down this episode with Seth Smith, the mind behind GreatLab.io, to talk about the not-so-glamorous problem that decides whether a modern lab runs smoothly or spirals into chaos: managing digital case data.

Rob and Seth dig into what happens after the scan, when labs are stuck juggling portals from iTero, 3Shape, Medit, DS Core, Shining, and more.

Tune in for the latest insight on why customization is non-negotiable for lab software, how rule-based workflows (and the wild things labs do to survive) shaped GreatLab’s evolution, and why cloud-based systems are a literal business lifesaver. Seth shares his philosophy on focus, simplification, and avoiding “complication tax,” plus what’s next for GreatLab in 2026.

• (00:00:00) - Intro
• (00:02:00) - Solving the Lab Workflow Problem
• (00:10:00) - Customization & Lab Specifics
• (00:17:01) - Simplicity is Key
• (00:21:00) - Migration and Real-World Stories
• (00:43:00) - Final Thoughts & Outro

Rob Norton sits down with Dr. Ben Kellum to explore the evolution of a dental practice from a minimally equipped community clinic to a predominantly digital, in-house, full-arch workflow. Dr. Kellum shares firsthand insights into building a clinic-based laboratory, developing CAD/CAM capabilities over time, and navigating the early challenges of adopting digital manufacturing technologies.

The conversation covers key topics including zirconia economics, the foundational role of intraoral scanning, photogrammetry versus scan-body workflows, and how improved data capture and communication strengthen collaboration between clinicians and labs. They also discuss emerging trends in materials science and artificial intelligence, and how these advancements may shape the future of restorative dentistry.

The central takeaway is clear: when implemented thoughtfully, digital technology can do more than improve efficiency—it can support higher-quality care, expand access to treatment, and help practices remain firmly centered on patient needs.

• (00:02:15) - Dental technician trains to make gold crowns
• (00:06:13) - Graduating with the SLAP
• (00:11:04) - Bradley Dentist on Digital Surgery
• (00:14:36) - Not all 3-D Dentistry Systems are created equal
• (00:19:47) - Dental Students Get Into the Digital World
• (00:24:21) - Getting your dentures made
• (00:24:54) - Dental surgeons on the transition to digital scanners
• (00:30:52) - Dr. Henry Audia on the Digital Surgery
• (00:33:16) - The importance of photography in dentistry
• (00:39:24) - Beyond the Facial Scanner, Do You Need Photogrammetry
• (00:44:18) - Interaural Scanner
• (00:47:11) - Clinical Dentists: Where Technology Is Going
• (00:54:24) - One More Word