Robert Elsenpeter is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Dental Products Report and Digital Esthetics. He is also the author of 18 technology books, including the award-winning Green IT: Reduce Your Information System's Environmental Impact While Adding to the Bottom Line. As such, he’s particularly interested in the technological side of dentistry.

Articles

Using publically reported data from a range of sources, we've identified the best locations for dental lab technicians to live and work, as well as some of the most challenging locales.

The 10 Best (and Five Worst) Cities for Dental Lab Techs in 2020

Slideshows

A round-up of dental laboratory furnaces.

Precision and Reliability are the Keys to a Dental Furnace 

Kristin Hohman serves as Associate Editor for DPR. 

This lab technician finds the TriLor® Arch from Harvest Dental to offer flexibility without compromising on strength.

A high-tech prosthesis material that offers strength

With SHINING 3D’s AccuFab-D1 Dental 3D Printer available via Aurident, dental labs can quickly and easily add a range of additive workflows.


Solve My Problem: A Benchtop Printer Ready for a Range of Tasks

Conrad J. Rensburg is CEO and head of the dental implant division at Absolute Dental Services in North Carolina. He graduated with a 4-year Baccalaureate degree from Pretoria Tech in 1992. He is certified with an ND in technology and specialized with an NHD in fixed prosthetics.

He is a member of the prestigious PEERS association, the Academy of Osseointegration, the American College of Prosthodontists, and registered with the NADL, NCDLA, and certified by the SADTC. He has specialized in fixed and removable dental prosthetics with an emphasis on dental implants since the early 1990s. As a CE-accredited speaker since 2002, he has presented at hundreds of events across the U.S., including the Academy of Osseointegration, Global and U.S. symposiums, World Summit Tours, and a multitude of study club events. Conrad’s emphasis as a speaker, is keeping today’s clinicians abreast with the latest advancements in restorative protocols and digital workflows related to removable as well as fixed prosthetics. Conrad can be contacted at absolutedentallab.com or conrad@absolutedentalservices.com

As digital design has advanced, it’s become clear that the future of the industry lies somewhere between digital design and human artistry.

How to balance digital and analog design

With a highly homogenous formulation, Renfert’s EASY Blank Wax is designed to produce accurate CAD/Cast and CAD/Press restorations.

Solve My Problem: Smoothing Out Hybrid CAD Workflows

Dental labs can still succeed with traditional techniques and approaches.

Where CAD/CAM cannot compete

Eric D. Kukucka DD is a denturist from Windsor, Ontario Canada. He is recognized as an important consultant and key opinion leader by Ivoclar Vivadent, 3shape and Nobel Biocare, and has quickly become a respected authority and international lecturer in digital denture technology. In 2014, collaborating with Ivoclar Vivadent, he became the first denturist in North America to beta test digital dentures while the concept was still in its infancy. He continues to work directly with the 3shape and Ivoclar Vivadent R&D teams.

Ivoclar Vivadent’s Ivotion Digital Denture Innovation works with 3Shape to allow patient-specific customization and great results. 

How to perfect a complete digital manufacturing process to create top-quality removable dentures

A look at some of the recently announced products for dental laboratories.

Dental Lab Products New Products - August 2020

Tom Zaleske is the owner of Matrix Dental Laboratory in Crown Point, Ind., and has more than 25 years of experience in removable prosthodontics. He regularly lectures on providing high-quality service to dentists and, most importantly, to their patients. He can be reached at

How one laboratory technician uses consistent communication steps to equate to consistent results in the fabrication of removable prosthetics.