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Since the Beginning: Glidewell Laboratories

Since the Beginning: Glidewell Laboratories



For the last 10 years, support from companies like Glidewell Laboratories, has been crucial to Dentaltown's success. In celebrating our 10th anniversary, we also celebrate these companies that have consistently supported us since the beginning. We talked to Glidewell Laboratories President and CEO Jim Glidewell, CDT, to find out what's new at Glidewell and how Dentaltown has impacted the company over the last decade.

Everybody is at least a bit curious about lasers in dentistry. This is a category that has matured to a point where "there is something for everyone." If you are interested in performing hard-tissue or soft-tissue procedures, you can find a laser that will suit your needs. We recently contacted four prominent personalities in the field of laser education and asked them a few questions to help you sort out why many dentists are very excited to practice laser dentistry. Once your laser curiosity is sparked, take the time to visit Dentaltown.com and interact with our active group of laser owners.

How have things changed at Glidewell since 2001 when Dentaltown profiled your lab?
The introduction of CAD/CAM technology has probably been the most significant change in the laboratory since that time. We purchased our first Cercon system in 2001, which was our introduction to both zirconia and CAD/CAM. We have been impressed since day one with the strength of the zirconia sub-structures, we have done some large span bridges with two molar pontics in bruxers that have stood the test of time. As time went on we began to fabricate Lava crowns and bridges and we started to see aesthetic performance that matched zirconia's strength performance. In response to our customers who wanted a more affordable zirconia option for their patients, we developed our own Prismatik Clinical Zirconia (CZ) material providing dentists with a high-strength, cementable all-ceramic restorative material. We have continued to get more deeply involved with CAD/CAM and today you can see its implementation in every department here at the lab. Today the lowest remake permanent restoration in the lab is IPS e.max CAD, a 100 percent CAD/CAM crown that our dentists have made the fastest growing product in the history of our lab.

No-Prep veneers came on our radar about this time, so we began to develop porcelain, which we call Prismatek ThinPress, that could be reliably pressed at 0.3mm, for our Vivaneers service. As we began to do more no-prep cases in our in-house operatory, we learned how to shape these ultra-thin veneers to improve smiles without making it look excessively bulky.

From your perspective, how has Dentaltown impacted dentistry?
As a multiple Townie Choice Award winner, we know that a lot of our best customers spend a fair amount of time on Dentaltown.com. We put a lot of effort ourselves into educating dentists about new products and techniques. In fact, since 2001 we have mailed out more than three million clinical DVDs free of charge to dentists throughout the U.S. Dentaltown allows dentists to educate themselves or get an answer to a question in real time. Dentaltown was the first place in the dental profession where dentists could freely exchange ideas, tips and techniques.
Company Contact

For more information, visit www.glidewelldental.com,
or call 800-854-7256.
What immediate changes are coming down the pipeline from Glidewell that dental professionals can look forward to soon?
Our Digital Treatment Planning service is being launched now, and it is our hope that general dentist will finally feel comfortable enough to place their own implants. Our own Dr. Mike DiTolla placed the first implant of his 21-year career because he felt so comfortable with the high degree of safety provided by the digital treatment planning. When dentists see how safe and easy it is to place an implant using a surgical guide that ensures the implant goes in at the correct angle, we will see more GPs surgically placing the straightforward implants, while continuing to refer the difficult ones to the specialist.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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