Dr. Tracey Nguyen didn’t set out to redefine dentistry, but somewhere between cosmetic cases that didn’t last and patients searching for real answers, everything shifted. What starts as a conversation about her journey into dentistry quickly unfolds into something much bigger, a reframing of how we diagnose, treat, and think about the mouth as part of the entire body. From airway focused dentistry to the misunderstood relationship between sleep, TMD, and restorative failure, Dr. Nguyen challenges one of the most common assumptions in modern dentistry, that fixing teeth is enough. Instead, she explores how breathing, anatomy, and skeletal structure quietly shape everything from long term case success to a patient’s overall health. She breaks down why airway dentistry is often confused with sleep appliance therapy and why that distinction matters, how undiagnosed airway issues show up as worn dentition, failed restorations, and chronic discomfort, the connection between sleep disruption, pain perception, and TMJ disorders, why orthodontics and skeletal changes may be the foundation rather than the afterthought of restorative care, and how pediatric airway dysfunction can influence development, behavior, and long term health outcomes. This conversation also dives into the evolution of dentistry itself, where wellness, diagnostics, and full body thinking are starting to replace a purely mechanical approach. Because at the end of the day, teeth don’t fail in isolation, and the future of dentistry may depend on finally treating the whole patient, not just the smile.

Jeffry Tobon, a pioneer in digital dentistry workflows and an early adopter of CAD CAM technology. Jeffry shares his journey from working with early Nobel Procera systems to mastering exocad and helping build CAD CAM departments in some of the largest dental laboratories in New York. What started as hands-on experience quickly evolved into building labs, launching Digital Dental Craftsmen, and shaping how technicians approach digital workflows today. The conversation explores the shift from traditional lab models to modern digital dentistry, including the rise of in house labs, full arch workflows, and the growing role of technology in clinical decision making. Jeffry also breaks down his transition from lab owner to entrepreneur, building Chairside Solutions and launching Regional Implant Centers. We also dive into innovation at the clinical level, including the development of the SegMark workflow and SegScrew, designed to improve accuracy, efficiency, and predictability in full arch implant cases.

• (00:00:00) - Jeff Tobin
• (00:00:30) - Teaching Digital Dentistry with Exocad
• (00:05:57) - 3Shape vs. Exocad: What Made The Jump
• (00:13:00) - Chairside Solutions: Restorative Dental Technology Institute
• (00:20:03) - One implant doctor's segue into business
• (00:23:34) - Pediatric implants: The Rosen Screw
• (00:29:33) - How to align implants after the surgery with the X-Cat
• (00:38:25) - The 2 millimeter screw
• (00:43:39) - Jeff Greene on His Final Podcast
• (00:45:42) - Jeffrey Tobin on Facebook and Instagram

Daniel Portal’s path into digital dentistry didn’t follow the rules, and that’s exactly why it worked. From witnessing CAD/CAM transform labs overnight to building a career around exocad training and independent design, his perspective cuts through the hype and focuses on what actually works. This conversation explores the reality behind today’s workflows, including the limitations of intraoral scans, why photogrammetry has become essential for full arch accuracy, and where tools like face scanning and AI still fall short. It also looks ahead at the shift toward additive manufacturing and how evolving technology continues to reshape both clinical outcomes and the role of the technician.

Sources
Revilla León M, Aragoneses R, Arroyo Valverde EM, Gómez Polo M, Kois JC. Classification of scanning errors of digital scans recorded by using intraoral scanners. Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. 2025;37:1363 to 1371. https://doi.org/10.1111/jerd.13419

Mitrani R. The use of a plaster verification jig to ensure accuracy of the master cast. Spear Education. Published August 12 2019. https://www.speareducation.com/resources/spear-digest/the-use-of-a-plaster-verification-jig-to-ensure-accuracy-of-the-master-cast-jig/