We often hear how digital workflows accelerate and improve traditional lab workflows. What we’re also hearing more and more is how digital workflows are the sole reason some talented designers find their way to dental. Take Blake Roney, Director of Digital Technology at S.I.N. 360, an Arizona, USA–based dental technology company specializing in full-arch digital implant solutions. He says, “Basically, if there’s not a Ctrl+Z button, I don’t touch it.” Blake spoke with us about his path to lab work, why one DentalCAD tool in particular is “underrated” and his take on split bars.
Q: Tell us a little about your background. How did you get into the dental industry?
A: My degree is actually in engineering graphics. I didn’t start as a dental technician. I’ve been doing 3D design since I was about 12 years old. Honestly, I started by making modifications and hacks for Halo 2 on Xbox. That’s how I got into 3D design.
I went to college for it and worked designing toolbox inserts for aircraft mechanics, then I worked for the city of Denver designing pump stations and other infrastructure projects. One day, I saw a job posting about 3D printing and milling at a prosthodontist’s office. I had no idea what prosthodontics was, so I Googled it. I didn’t know anything about teeth at the time, but I knew I could design anything in 3D.
The office in Arkansas was willing to take a chance on me. The first thing they showed me was a surgical guide for placing implants that they had designed in exoplan. I immediately understood it because it was similar to engineering jigs we already used to place holes at specific depths and locations.
Q: So you started directly in digital dentistry?
A: Completely digital. I have zero experience with traditional lab work. If you asked me to pour a model or carve a tooth out of wax, I’d have no idea what I’m doing. Basically, if there’s not a Ctrl+Z button, I don’t touch it. I’m really thankful for things like exocad’s tooth libraries because I definitely wouldn’t be carving anatomy by hand with wax tools.
Q: What kinds of cases do you focus on?
A: My background is almost entirely in full-arch digital cases. I started in a prosthodontic office doing full-arch work. I actually have very little experience with single units, custom abutments, dentures, or night guards. My expertise is firmly in full-arch digital workflows.
Q: What is it about exocad software that you prefer?
A: Flexibility. With full-arch cases, things constantly change. Doctors may want to add a tooth, change the bite relationship, open the vertical dimension, or add another implant after a failure. In many other systems, you’d have to start a brand-new project from scratch. Reload scans. Realign everything. Redo all your work.
In exocad DentalCAD, you can make all those changes inside the same project. Features like expert mode give you the freedom to work however you want, instead of being locked into a rigid step-by-step workflow. That versatility is huge for power users.
Q: Do you have a favorite DentalCAD tool?
A: My favorite DentalCAD tool is definitely the “load from scene” feature. A lot of people don’t even know it exists yet, but it’s incredibly powerful. I describe it as “exocad inception.”
You can actually open one exocad project inside another exocad project and transfer data between them. It allows you to reuse or pull elements from other projects in ways most users never realize are possible. It’s one of the most underrated tools in the software, in my opinion.
Q: Let’s talk split bars. How has exocad software improved that workflow?
A: Split-bar workflows used to be incredibly complicated. Older workflows often required two or three separate projects to create a titanium bar with a zirconia overlay. But both DentalCAD 3.3 Chemnitz and PartialCAD 3.3 Chemnitz made the process dramatically easier. Now we can do these workflows in just a few clicks. It’s honestly incredible how much simpler they’ve made full-arch split-bar design.
Q: What’s your advice for people learning DentalCAD?
A: Use the demo cases. When exocad software is installed properly, it includes a huge library of demo projects. If someone wants to learn dentures, for example, they can simply search “denture” and load a fully prepared practice case. Most of the demo projects also include notes with links to YouTube videos or exocad Wiki tutorials that walk users through the workflow step by step. I don’t think enough people take advantage of those resources.
Q: How do you stay current with trends and updates in digital dentistry?
A: Instagram and YouTube are probably the biggest resources for me. The exocad Experts Facebook group is also a really strong community where users share workflows, troubleshooting tips, and techniques. On the reseller side, we also get access to update meetings and release notes that go through all the new software changes and features, which is incredibly helpful.
Q: Favorite tooth?
A: Maxillary first molars. They’re the most “tooth-looking” tooth. If you asked someone to draw a tooth, that’s probably what they’d draw.
Q: Favorite pet?
A: Cats, definitely. I have two cats—Gizmo and Henry.
Blake explains the origin behind his exocat action figure
Q: What’s currently at the top of your playlist?
A: “Never There” by Cake.
Q: If you weren’t in dentistry, what would you be doing?
A: I’d probably be a penetration tester. Companies hire them to legally break into buildings, test security systems, attempt phishing attacks, pick locks, and expose vulnerabilities. It’s basically being a legal spy. That would’ve been my dream job.
Q: Best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Make work as efficient as possible but make your hobbies inefficient. At work, I try to minimize clicks, steps and wasted time. But hobbies should take time. I love carbureted engines and film photography because they force you to slow down and enjoy the process.
Q: One word to describe exocad?
A: Flexibility. Doctors change their minds constantly. exocad gives us the ability to adapt workflows without starting over from scratch.
Blake Roney is the Digital Solutions Manager at S.I.N. 360, specializing in innovative dental technologies. With a degree in engineering graphics, Blake is a recognized expert in photogrammetry, driving advancements in digital solutions for dental restorations. Follow Blake‘s work and get tips from him on YouTube.
by Caitlan Reeg
Writer at exocad
Caitlan Reeg spends her days telling the world about the innovations her colleagues create. She’s passionate about healthcare, technology, and the ways the two interact to improve our lives. A former journalist, Caitlan has worked on staff at Dow Jones Newswires in Frankfurt and at the national public radio program Marketplace in Los Angeles.
