Message Boards
Today's Active Topics Today's Active Cases Browse Forum Categories My Recent Activity My Messages Private Groups My Marked Threads My Subscriptions
Today's Active Images Today's Active Polls Most Active Topics Global Townie Map Advanced Message Board Search Message Board Terms of Use

A family tradition of Customer Service is the driving force of this nationwide dental lab By: David French, V.P. of Marketing

More by this author (2)
Overcoming the ‘impossible’ comes naturally to Anatoly (Tony) Sedler. He and the Sedler family have been doing the impossible all their lives. They left the Soviet Union in 1977, and made their way to America with a minimal command of the English language. Shortly after arriving in the land of opportunity, Mom (Irina) and Pop (Ilya), and their son Tony (14) built a life and a business in southern California.

In February 1977, the Sedler’s bought Burbank Dental Laboratory. The company was not much more than some old used equipment and a name on the front door. But to the Sedler family, it represented a way to overcome adversity and develop a business that everyone in the family could help to flourish.

The family pitched in and did whatever they could–working long and tedious hours often late into the evening. The Sedler family overcame the adversity of the language barrier and developed a substantial list of dentists who valued their services. With this success, Irina and Ilya turned the business over to their son, Tony, to continue to nurture and grow.

With his youthful exuberance and a fierce determination to succeed, Tony began to modernize the lab. He began marketing the company and focused on excellent quality control and the highest esthetic standards. The company continued to grow as a result of continued dedication to customer service. Tony was literally obsessed with making sure each and every client was thoroughly satisfied with Burbank’s workmanship.

Now, 25 years after the Sedler family purchased the small dental lab in Burbank, CA, customer service is still the number one focus and driving force. All business decisions are made with one purpose in mind–how Burbank Lab can best serve the needs of dentists.

Although Tony is at the helm of the family business, Irina and Ilya still get involved from time to time to help out in a pinch. It is not unusual to see ‘retired’ Ilya walk into a dentist’s office after a 3-hour drive from the lab to deliver a rush case that allowed no time for traditional shipping methods. As it was in the beginning, Burbank Lab is still focused on one thing…the exceptional quality of their work and dedication to their customers.
"I know that we can't be the right lab
for every office but it certainly
doesn't stop us from trying."
Tony Sedler, President
Burbank Dental Laboratory
Dentistry has changed a lot in the past 15-20 years. The explosion of adhesive dentistry, metal-free restorations, and tooth whitening have all been added to the dentists’ armamentarium. Highly visible media have made patients dentally savvy, in fact, many request specific restorations and dental procedures by name. But while so much is changing, much is still the same.

Dental professionals, like all consumers, still want a reliable product at a good value, in addition to personalization to their specific needs. Deliver these elements and you will attract and maintain a growing number of dental clients.

Burbank Dental Laboratory knows that the basics still are primary. There really is no magic or shortcuts to success in the dental laboratory business. Tony Sedler, President of Burbank Dental Laboratories, takes every account very personally. “I know that we can’t be the right lab for every office, but it doesn’t stop us from trying.”

Burbank’s committment to excellence, is reflected in their mission statement which states: “To provide predictable esthetic laboratory services to dental professionals nationwide. We strive to work as a dedicated team member with our clients, by providing customer service that goes far beyond what is expected. We are committed to developing our laboratory team with advanced training in materials, techniques, and communication skills in order to facilitate ever-increasing customer satisfaction.”

High quality...what is it?
Every lab wants to be known as the highest quality lab of them all! What does that mean? How do you measure the quality of your lab service experience? These are the questions Burbank is continually asked and concepts the management team focuses on when defining operating procedures at their laboratory. Senior Technical Advisor and V.P. of Marketing, David French says: “We are continually asked to define who and what we are as a dental laboratory. I am frequently reminded of an analogy Howard Farran, DDS, uses in his lecture by asking, ‘Can you give me a cup of quality? No we can’t give you a cup of quality but we can give you restorations with measurable quality control standards.’ This is Burbank’s golden rule—to always provide consistent and the best results possible for every job.”
Customer communication and service
Burbank will never have an automated phone answering system. There aren’t too many people who enjoy or respect the experience of talking to a machine. At Burbank Labs, you will talk to a ‘real’ person every time. Burbank conducts regular in-house training to develop increased knowledge to enhance communication in every area of their laboratory.

One strong aspect of Burbank’s customer service focus is in the area of clinical assistance. It is a never ending process to stay current with the changing procedures and materials in dentistry. Burbank employs staff that stay very current on operatory equipment, material and procedures so that they can help solve problems and answer your questions.

Even though Burbank is highly visible in dental trade journals creating awareness for their lab capabilities nationwide, Jerry Morton, Lab Manager says, “We want to be YOUR neighborhood lab and can consistently deliver results that will meet your expectations.” Even though Burbank heralds itself as a nationwide dental laboratory, the truth is they are less than half the size of even the smallest nationally advertised labs. With only 52 technicians throughout the company, they truly can be classified as the “Mom and Pop” corner store of nationally known dental labs.

Burbank’s growth has allowed them to keep up with and invest in the latest technological advances making their facility extremely efficient. This allows Burbank to keep their fees extremely competitive without compromising quality or esthetics.
Measured Quality Control
How Does Burbank Insure Objective Quality?
1. Contacts
a. Solid Materials
b. Standard means by which
    we check fit
2. Margin accuracy and fit
a. Measured die stone and liquids
b. Die trim with microscope
c. Duplicate Die made of trimmed die
    in case of damaged or abraded die
3. Occulsion
a. Standard 40 micron mylar
    artriculation tape is used
4. Color
With good shade communication from the dental office, such as photographic or color analysis systems Burbank can objectively determine the proper dental shade. Our lab recommends taking a photo with a shade tab in the picture, and then a basic shade design. Recently, we have also implemented the ShadeVision by X-Rite to insure color and blends that are consistently measurable. “The ShadeVision is “THE” state-of-the-art computer color matching system. In my opinion, no other company has the level of expertise that X-Rite has in the industry of color measurement. If NASA, JPL, put their multi-billion dollar projects in X-Rite’s hand’s, that is where Burbank Dental Laboratory wants to be” says Burbank’s Senior Technical Advisor, David French. The ShadeVision, allows Burbank to accurately replicate shades and blends in a duplicateable manner.
5. Esthetics
Burbank uses several of the smile guides and photographic ceramic books to communicate with their doctors as to their desired esthetic design. CDT’s are continually involved with learning the most current techniques to duplicate even the most demanding esthetic design.


Burbank's Leadership Team
Burbank’s vision for the future focuses on continuing to develop a management model and team that focuses on customer service and effective communication. The company continues to increase the number of CDTs in key positions as well as at the bench. The lab is also becoming more involved in advanced training like LVI and PAC~live so that it can continue to develop higher levels of quality and increasing esthetic levels.

President, Tony Sedler’s parents instilled the virtues of hard work and a geniune concern about your fellow man will result in success and happiness. Tony has always lived this attitude and surrounds himself with friends and employees that have the same key values. He refers to his employees as his extended family. Perhaps some things never do change even within a rapidly progressive industry.

The results are in the Communication
How can you improve you lab communication and likewise increase the quality of your results? Use the technical experience your lab has obtained through extensive experience to keep you out of trouble. Ask them about your concerns and be open to what they have to say in return. Labs REALLY hate remakes and failed cases as much as you do. If you want to improve your lab work 10 fold here are a few suggestions. The next time you communicate with your lab on a case, tell them they are part of your team. Explain you are eager to hear from them and value them as a resource. If that doesn't work, find a lab that wants to contribute to your success and is capable to support you with the highest level of communication.


A personal message to dentists throughout the US:
 Why should you try Burbank Lab when there are local labs available?
As President of Burbank, I am often asked this question. My answer is very simple. I literally grew up in the dental industry–my parents were technicians and no less than 18 of my close relatives are in dentistry-related occupations. Our family’s vast experience is there to assist you in obtaining the finest restoration possible. Unless you have a highly-trained technician in your practice full-time, there is very little that Burbank Dental Laboratory doesn’t have the experience to perform better. Our team turns cases around faster (even with shipping time) than most local and regional labs. We have the resources to invest in the best and the brightest materials and staff. Even though we are a growing lab our customer-based philosophy makes it imperative that quality control continues to meet our growth. My family built a business on their reputation for quality and I am very proud of that fact. I promise you Burbank is committed to delivering a superior restoration that the average dentist can afford to buy, and will be confident and proud when she/he places it.
Tony Sedler
President, Burbank Labs
Additional information on Burbank Labs
and their resources is available by contacting:
2101 Floyd St.
Burbank, CA 91504-3411
(800) 336-3053 or FAX: (818) 841-8643
Dentaltown Magazine
October 2025
Dentaltown Magazine October 2025 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
Do you place implants in your practice?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Blogs Classifieds Dental News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
The Dentaltown Team, Farran Media Support
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: support@farranmedia.com
©2025 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450