Learning by doing is one of the most powerful ways to grow—especially in digital dentistry. That’s the philosophy behind exocad’s new excellence center, a cutting-edge facility located at our North American headquarters in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Focused on immersive, hands-on training, the center serves as a resource for dental professionals seeking to sharpen their skills and stay ahead of industry trends.
We sat down with Beth Collington, president of exocad America, to talk about what inspired the center, what it offers, and why education is a cornerstone of success in the ever-evolving world of digital workflows.
Q: Tell us about exocad’s new excellence center. What does it offer?
A: Our excellence center provides a wide range of educational opportunities for customers, as well as exocad resellers and our industry partners, with a strong emphasis on digital workflow solutions. We want to highlight exocad’s software features and demonstrate to both clinicians and lab technicians how to streamline treatment planning, restorative design, and improve manufacturing outcomes.
Q: What inspired the creation of the excellence center?
A: We often get requests for exocad trainings. Customers want tips and tricks directly from our exocad experts. The hand-on courses at
our German HQ are receiving great interest. We wanted to bring the availability of in-depth training to our North American customers and support our resellers in their training offerings. Our new Wakefield offices are spectacular and perfect for offering on-site experiences that showcase the latest industry trends and exocad solutions that support them.
Q: What needs of the dental industry does the excellence center aim to address?
A: We really want customers to see and experience how easy it is to integrate exocad software into their daily workflows—whether it’s treatment planning, design, manufacturing, or outsourcing. Our integrated AI services are seamless. Our courses demonstrate our innovative software features that every laboratory and clinician can use to enhance their daily operations, no matter where they are in their digital journey.
Q: What do you hope to communicate to dental professionals who are new to exocad?
A: exocad’s software solutions are suited to all levels of CAD design proficiency—we have wizard-guided workflows and hot keys, as well as an expert mode to suit every designer’s preferences. exocad’s software solutions can make your workflows faster because our software is more efficient and easier to use than ever.
Q: With your background in the dental industry, how has your experience shaped your views on education?
A: Having spent more than 28 years in the industry—from sales to leadership positions—I've always seen education as a driver for adoption and success. Digital workflows have revolutionized dentistry, but it’s not just about knowing they exist—it’s about understanding how to implement them. That’s where we come in: to make these tools approachable and effective for everyone.
Q: Can you share a bit about your own background and connection to education?
A: I’ve been fortunate to play a role in many startup and educational initiatives across the industry, including for one of the largest dental distribution companies. I’ve had the autonomy to design and implement programs that help customers overcome misconceptions about products through clear, focused education. Education isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about unlocking real potential.
Q: What excites you most about exocad’s software solutions?
A: Our AI-powered updates in the DentalCAD 3.2 Elefsina Feature Release are game changers. DentalCAD offers automated tooth segmentation, the Inspira Denture Tooth Library—an open library for printing and milling—and our QuickSnap workflow in PartialCAD that enables you to design the first completely digital partial dentures and easily assemble the produced parts.
These innovations are transforming how users approach design. Education is key to helping them get the most out of it.
Q: Which courses are available through the excellence center?
A: We’ll be offering six unique digital workflow courses this year that dive deep into practical, real-world applications of exocad’s solutions. Select courses will be available in partnership with our reseller network.
Ready to get a closer look? Whether you’re a clinician looking to streamline your workflow or a lab tech curious about what’s new in digital design, the excellence center is built for you. Browse the course selection here.
Q: Ready for some lighter questions? What’s your favorite song right now?
A: “Take It to the Limit” by The Eagles—an all-time favorite that really reflects how I live my life.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
A: Never doubt yourself. Confidence is everything. Just try—you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
Q: Weekend getaway—where would you go?
A: Vermont. I love the mountains, the snow, and the skiing. It’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Q: One word to describe exocad?
A: Excellent.
Beth Collington has been a passionate advocate and participant in the digital dentistry industry since its inception. She joined exocad in 2024 as Managing Director of exocad America and started her role as president on April 1, 2024. Beth is thrilled to lead the dynamic team in North America and to support exocad on its mission to expand the possibilities of digital dentistry with open and hardware-neutral software solutions. Prior to joining exocad, Beth held leading positions at Zahn Dental, the laboratory division of Henry Schein, as Director of Digital Materials, and she supported the initiatives of the global prosthetics solutions team. Additionally, she managed the education, sales training, and technical support teams. Beth began her career at Dentsply International, where she held various roles in sales and business development. Her expertise includes CAD/CAM applications, subtractive and additive manufacturing. She enjoys researching new technologies and materials applicable to the dental space for development and management.
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.
