<![CDATA[The Dental LABCast]]>The Dental LABCast is a UK-based dental laboratory podcast for dental technicians, CDTs, and anyone looking to learn more about the dental technology industry. The show focuses on sharing knowledge, personal views, and real experiences from inside the lab, covering education, technology, industry standards, regulation, and the politics that shape our profession. Through open discussion and interviews, The LABCast aims to support, inform, and help new and developing dental professionals grow with confidence.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:56:02 GMTFri, 27 Feb 2026 19:50:01 GMT60JennaEllisDentalTech<p>The Dental LABCast is a UK-based dental laboratory podcast for dental technicians, CDTs, and anyone looking to learn more about the dental technology industry. The show focuses on sharing knowledge, personal views, and real experiences from inside the lab, covering education, technology, industry standards, regulation, and the politics that shape our profession. Through open discussion and interviews, The LABCast aims to support, inform, and help new and developing dental professionals grow with confidence.</p>episodicJennaEllisDentalTechjennaellis1986@gmail.comno<![CDATA[03 - Studying Later in Life: The road to becoming a CDT]]>Sean Ward is a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) who qualified in dental technology at the age of 31 with a BTEC in Science, following an earlier career in engineering.

He began his dental career in a commercial laboratory in Hexham before moving into a research technician role at Dundee Dental School, where he spent three years developing his technical and scientific expertise. He then returned to the commercial sector, specialising in denture work for over a decade and building extensive hands-on experience.

Sean later went on to open his own dental laboratory, working closely within a dental practice environment. This allowed him to bridge the gap between laboratory work and clinical care, deepening his understanding of patient-focused dentistry and the full treatment journey.

Alongside his clinical and technical work, Sean is also an Associate Tutor at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he supports the next generation of dental professionals

In this Episode:

Sean Ward shares his journey into dental technology, the challenges of clinical dental technology, and the impact of patient interaction on appliance design. He also discusses the need for business education in dental courses and the importance of patient-centered care. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to dental technology, including clinical techniques, teaching methods, digital technologies, and industry challenges. Sean shares insights on patient experiences, clinical procedures, and the impact of digital advancements on the industry.

Takeaways

  • Dental technology requires a combination of skill, experience, and continuous learning.
  • Patient interaction and feedback play a crucial role in the design and development of dental appliances. Clinical Techniques
  • Teaching Methods
  • Digital Technologies
  • Industry Challenges
  • Patient Experiences

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Dental Technology
  • 05:06 Challenges of Clinical Dental Technology
  • 11:03 Patient-Centered Care and Appliance Design
  • 33:26 Clinical Techniques and Tools in Dental Technology
  • 39:00 Remote Learning and Mentorship in Dental Technology
  • 44:25 Extended Scope of Practice in Dental Technology
  • 50:17 Impact of Digital Technologies on Dental Technology
  • 58:00 Rewarding Moments and Patient Experiences in Dental Technology
]]>879a4d65-9023-4aa7-ae61-11701228f7ebMon, 13 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>Sean Ward is a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) who qualified in dental technology at the age of 31 with a BTEC in Science, following an earlier career in engineering.</p><p>He began his dental career in a commercial laboratory in Hexham before moving into a research technician role at Dundee Dental School, where he spent three years developing his technical and scientific expertise. He then returned to the commercial sector, specialising in denture work for over a decade and building extensive hands-on experience.</p><p>Sean later went on to open his own dental laboratory, working closely within a dental practice environment. This allowed him to bridge the gap between laboratory work and clinical care, deepening his understanding of patient-focused dentistry and the full treatment journey.</p><p>Alongside his clinical and technical work, Sean is also an Associate Tutor at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he supports the next generation of dental professionals</p><p></p><p>In this Episode:</p><p>Sean Ward shares his journey into dental technology, the challenges of clinical dental technology, and the impact of patient interaction on appliance design. He also discusses the need for business education in dental courses and the importance of patient-centered care. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to dental technology, including clinical techniques, teaching methods, digital technologies, and industry challenges. Sean shares insights on patient experiences, clinical procedures, and the impact of digital advancements on the industry.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Dental technology requires a combination of skill, experience, and continuous learning.</li><li>Patient interaction and feedback play a crucial role in the design and development of dental appliances. Clinical Techniques</li><li>Teaching Methods</li><li>Digital Technologies</li><li>Industry Challenges</li><li>Patient Experiences</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction to Dental Technology</li><li>05:06 Challenges of Clinical Dental Technology</li><li>11:03 Patient-Centered Care and Appliance Design</li><li>33:26 Clinical Techniques and Tools in Dental Technology</li><li>39:00 Remote Learning and Mentorship in Dental Technology</li><li>44:25 Extended Scope of Practice in Dental Technology</li><li>50:17 Impact of Digital Technologies on Dental Technology</li><li>58:00 Rewarding Moments and Patient Experiences in Dental Technology</li></ul>no00:50:53303 - Studying Later in Life: The road to becoming a CDTfull<![CDATA[02 - Custom Mouthgaurds with Chris Golze]]>The conversation with Chris Goltz, a custom mouth guard maker, covers his journey in the dental field, from early career experiences to the incorporation of artwork into mouth guards. Chris shares insights on working with high-profile athletes, continuous learning, and the importance of equal treatment in the industry. He also discusses the learning curve in mouth guard making and the value of trial and error in dental technology. Additionally, Chris reflects on his role in assisting and advising other technicians and considers the possibility of teaching a course in the future. The conversation covers a range of topics related to dental tech, including the challenges of transitioning to work, the potential for creating dental tech courses, the importance of proper mouth guard creation, the use of digital technologies, equipment and materials, preferred materials for mouth guards, adoption of digital technologies, challenges in artwork creation, artwork application techniques, and problem-solving in dental tech. The discussion also includes closing remarks and expressions of gratitude for the opportunity to share expertise and knowledge.

Takeaways

  • Custom mouth guard making
  • Learning and innovation in dental technology Custom mouth guards require skill and technique
  • Use of digital technologies in dental tech

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Early Career
  • 05:47 Transition to Thermoforming
  • 11:54 Celebrity Clients and Compliance
  • 17:51 Equal Treatment and Visibility
  • 24:04 Learning Curve in Mouth Guard Making
  • 29:55 Assisting and Advising Other Technicians
  • 35:11 Practicing the Basics
  • 40:29 Preferred Materials for Mouth Guards
  • 52:30 Challenges in Artwork Creation
  • 57:50 Problem-Solving in Dental Tech
]]>c40e8ceb-6954-4442-96f7-db005fa1ce41Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:44:41 GMT<p>The conversation with Chris Goltz, a custom mouth guard maker, covers his journey in the dental field, from early career experiences to the incorporation of artwork into mouth guards. Chris shares insights on working with high-profile athletes, continuous learning, and the importance of equal treatment in the industry. He also discusses the learning curve in mouth guard making and the value of trial and error in dental technology. Additionally, Chris reflects on his role in assisting and advising other technicians and considers the possibility of teaching a course in the future. The conversation covers a range of topics related to dental tech, including the challenges of transitioning to work, the potential for creating dental tech courses, the importance of proper mouth guard creation, the use of digital technologies, equipment and materials, preferred materials for mouth guards, adoption of digital technologies, challenges in artwork creation, artwork application techniques, and problem-solving in dental tech. The discussion also includes closing remarks and expressions of gratitude for the opportunity to share expertise and knowledge.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Custom mouth guard making</li><li>Learning and innovation in dental technology Custom mouth guards require skill and technique</li><li>Use of digital technologies in dental tech</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Early Career</li><li>05:47 Transition to Thermoforming</li><li>11:54 Celebrity Clients and Compliance</li><li>17:51 Equal Treatment and Visibility</li><li>24:04 Learning Curve in Mouth Guard Making</li><li>29:55 Assisting and Advising Other Technicians</li><li>35:11 Practicing the Basics</li><li>40:29 Preferred Materials for Mouth Guards</li><li>52:30 Challenges in Artwork Creation</li><li>57:50 Problem-Solving in Dental Tech</li></ul>no00:50:45202 - Custom Mouthgaurds with Chris Golzefull<![CDATA[01 - Getting into Dental Technology with Edward Mapley]]>The conversation covers the introduction to dental technology, the journey into the field, the artistry involved, the transition to digital dentistry, required skills and qualifications, training and career progression, and the future of dental technology. The conversation covers the broad skill set of dental technology, its transformative impact on people's lives, the evolving role of dental technicians, the importance of collaboration, the challenges and rewards of the profession, the future of dental technology, the versatility of dental technicians, and the value of dental technology in people's lives.

Takeaways

  • Dental technology career path
  • Impact of digital dentistry Dental technology is a future-proof career with a broad skill set
  • The impact of dental technology on people's lives is transformative

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Dental Technology
  • 08:02 Skills and Qualifications
  • 30:37 The Future of Dental Technology
  • 36:04 The Evolving Role of Dental Technicians
  • 45:47 The Challenges and Rewards of Dental Technology
  • 53:16 The Versatility of Dental Technicians
]]>e4ef82bb-49c3-43bf-957e-020a10ced4a6Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:23:13 GMT<p>The conversation covers the introduction to dental technology, the journey into the field, the artistry involved, the transition to digital dentistry, required skills and qualifications, training and career progression, and the future of dental technology. The conversation covers the broad skill set of dental technology, its transformative impact on people's lives, the evolving role of dental technicians, the importance of collaboration, the challenges and rewards of the profession, the future of dental technology, the versatility of dental technicians, and the value of dental technology in people's lives.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Dental technology career path</li><li>Impact of digital dentistry Dental technology is a future-proof career with a broad skill set</li><li>The impact of dental technology on people's lives is transformative</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction to Dental Technology</li><li>08:02 Skills and Qualifications</li><li>30:37 The Future of Dental Technology</li><li>36:04 The Evolving Role of Dental Technicians</li><li>45:47 The Challenges and Rewards of Dental Technology</li><li>53:16 The Versatility of Dental Technicians</li></ul>no00:58:22101 - Getting into Dental Technology with Edward Mapleyfull