Join Dr. John Flucke, a dedicated Technology Evangelist, as he hosts Dr. Chris Griffin on Episode 11 of The Technology Evangelist Podcast, proudly sponsored by Medidenta Digital Solutions. This episode features Dr. Griffin, a dentist from Ripley, Mississippi, who has transformed dental care through his innovative use of 3D printing and milling. Dr. Griffin shares his unique path from engineering at Mississippi State University to dentistry at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1998. Returning to his hometown, he began as an associate before establishing a fee-for-service cosmetic practice, overcoming challenges like a high-volume PPO practice and a 2009 flood by adopting lean management. After a 2013 fire, he rebuilt with in-house memberships, and during COVID-19, he embraced 3D printing for dentures, orthodontics, and laser dentistry, reducing external lab dependencies.
Dr. Griffin recounts his technological journey, starting with in-house milling post-2013 and adding a disc mill for Zirconia crowns, then upgrading from an Anycubic printer to SprintRay, Rapid Shape, and Asiga systems for diverse resin applications. He leverages design software like Blue Sky Plan, ThreeShape, and Exocad, and recently integrated a Seiler 3D microscope with a flat-screen display for precision in root canals. His innovations include color-coded room setups for efficiency and staff training, plus 3D printing bootcamps where he provides Formlabs printers and promotes his book, “3D Printing in Dentistry,” available on Amazon. Mentoring new dentists, he sold his practice to a friend’s daughter, retaining his passion while working a three-day work week. He balances profitability with community service through Mission of Mercy denture projects and looks to expand training and explore AI diagnostics.
The episode highlights his philosophy of autonomy through technology, the evolution of dental printing from early challenges to reliable models, and the impact of advanced resins and tools on patient care. Dr. Griffin shares how these innovations boost efficiency and team morale, with anecdotes like staff excitement over streamlined workflows. Tune in to see how Medidenta Digital Solutions supports this dental revolution.
