As we publish the second issue of our revamped Chairside^® magazine, I wanted to say thank you to all of the dental professionals who have supported us through this and other changes over the years. While we’re certainly passionate about creating and refining the most effective tools and techniques dentistry has to offer, it wouldn’t be possible without you. You are the true drivers of change. We’re merely observing, adapting and responding to the pace you’ve set.

It’s no secret that technology has made our lives easier, more efficient, and ultimately more convenient. Our 21st-century culture is one in which people are accustomed to having their individual needs met faster and more accurately than ever before. Dentistry is no exception. To meet patient demands, the successful practice of tomorrow will be predicated on technology.

Most of us are experiencing this transition already. While long known as Glidewell Laboratories, a nationally recognized provider of affordable restorative solutions, our thirst for innovation and adoption of technology has made us so much more. A traditional dental lab doesn’t produce transformative materials like BruxZir^® Solid Zirconia or Obsidian^® lithium silicate in order to address longstanding weaknesses of the old-fashioned PFM. A dental lab doesn’t partner with renowned implantologists like Dr. Jack Hahn to develop the cutting-edge Hahn™ Tapered Implant System, or secure FDA clearance to manufacture prosthetic components compatible with more than a dozen major implant systems. A conventional lab doesn’t host world-class continuing education courses and events, with the latest including the Glidewell Dental Symposium slated for November in Dallas. A regular lab also doesn’t engineer software and hardware for in-office milling and cloud-based communications solutions.

It’s advancements like these, driven by forward-thinking clinicians like you, that have led us to change our name to something more all-encompassing: Glidewell Dental. While our custom restorative services continue to represent the heart and soul of what we do, they are now part of an expanded focus due to the evolving needs of the people we serve. Together, we are ushering in a new era in dentistry and adapting at the speed of change, clinging only to our original vision to reduce the costs of oral rehabilitation while improving the quality of care. We’re happy to share this journey with you, and thank you for entrusting us as your partner along the way.