In Episode 14 of The Technology Evangelist Podcast, sponsored by Medidenta Digital Solutions, Dr. John Flucke sits down with Dr. Charlie Wahl, a digital dentistry innovator and faculty member at the Dawson Academy. Dr. Wahl shares his unique journey, from growing up on Guam to embracing digital dentistry after a career detour from aspiring PE teacher to dentist.
Dr. Wahl discusses:
- Early Influences: Inspired by a dentist who crafted Halloween dentures and tinkered with motocross parts in a dental lab, sparking his interest in dental technology.
- Digital Transition: Starting with an E4D scanner in 2008, he built a full-service digital lab by 2016, using 3Shape and Exocad for advanced design and 3D printing for provisionals and dentures.
- Digital Dentures: Streamlining workflows by combining impressions, jaw relationships, and vertical dimensions into one scan, reducing visits to as few as three. He emphasizes using printed try-ins for better fit and patient feedback.
- Material Insights: Recommending resins like Dentsply’s Lucitone, Rodin, and Hope Claire for strength and reline compatibility, with costs as low as $40 per denture.
- Teaching Philosophy: At the Dawson Academy, Dr. Wahl teaches virtual articulation and occlusion, stressing the importance of good data and troubleshooting for successful outcomes.
Dr. Wahl’s upcoming course at the Dawson Academy is October 23-25, 2025. Visit dawsonacademy.com for details. Tune in for more insights on The Technology Evangelist Podcast!
