Join Dr. John Flucke, a seasoned Technology Evangelist with over 30 years in digital dentistry, as he hosts Dr. Rick Ferguson on Episode 10 of The Technology Evangelist Podcast, proudly sponsored by Medidenta Digital Solutions. Dr. Ferguson, a globally recognized figure in 3D printing and implant dentistry, shares his inspiring journey from a pre-med student at the University of Florida to a dental innovator. His love for tinkering—sparked by taking things apart and building computers—led him to dentistry, where he honed his skills during a residency at the University of Miami, focusing on implants and trauma surgery. Over two decades, he served as part-time faculty, opened a private practice in 1997, and embraced digital dentistry by 2014 with the advent of affordable 3D printers like Formlabs.
Dr. Ferguson recounts his pioneering efforts with FDM printers for surgical guides, his creation of the Dental 3D Printing Group on Facebook (now boasting over 43,000 members), and the launch of Ferguson 3D Printing Accessories to make low-cost 3D printing accessible worldwide. His recent partnership with Medidenta Digital Solutions to continue this mission reflects a shared value of affordability and innovation. The episode delves into his implant training program at the University of Florida—now in its 18th year—where dentists from across the U.S. learn live surgery and digital techniques, and his transition to Vancouver after selling his practice to Dr. Lily Shu, a promising young dentist he mentored.
The conversation explores the evolution of 3D printing, from early challenges with consumer printers to the reliability of dental-specific models, and the game-changing role of design services and AI-driven software like segmentation tools. Dr. Ferguson praises advancements in resins, particularly the Rodin line for their esthetic focus, and the nitrogen-free glaze—a breakthrough he influenced—that simplifies finishing 3D-printed restorations. They discuss the future, predicting a surge in 3D-printed temporaries and restorations, enhanced by resins like RapidCeram, which extend the life of existing printers. With personal anecdotes—like his assistant Lena’s excitement over 3D-printed full arches—the episode highlights how these technologies improve patient care, efficiency, and team morale. Tune in to see how Medidenta Digital Solutions is driving this dental revolution forward.
