Meet Seth Potter, a self-taught digital dental designer who's turned his love for tech and dentistry into a fully remote career. Seth evolved from his role as the go-to tech guy at a boutique lab to becoming an exocad Independent certified trainer and full-time remote designer. In this exoBlog, Seth shares how he built his business, highlights his favorite exocad features, and offers tips for anyone looking to get started in digital dentistry.
Q: First off, can you tell us a bit about how you got into dentistry and, eventually, digital dentistry?
A: For sure. I got introduced to dentistry pretty early. My dad's a dentist, and we did a lot of dental relief trips growing up. We'd travel to small villages in the Dominican Republic, and I’d get to stand behind him while he did fillings and extractions. That hands-on exposure stuck with me.
Fast-forward to high school graduation in 2013. I moved to Alberta and trained at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), graduating in 2015. I got hired at a small boutique lab with no digital capabilities. That’s when I stepped in and said, ‘Hey, I love tech. Let me build this with you.’ I set up exocad, built a custom PC, trained the team, and became the go-to digital guy.
Q: What sparked the move toward integrating digital workflows?
A: I’ve always been a tech nerd—building computers, gaming, the whole thing. Around the time I was in school, digital dentistry was starting to pop up, and I instantly knew this was my lane. I saw how digital workflows could revolutionize the industry. So, when I joined that first lab, I made it my mission to bring in the digital side from scratch.
Q: You were self-taught on exocad—how did you learn it so fast?
A: Honestly, just pure curiosity and lots of hours. There weren’t many resources back then, so I had to figure things out on my own. Luckily, exocad is super intuitive if you’re already comfortable with tech. Even now, a decade later, I’m still learning new features and refining techniques. But that early self-teaching laid a strong foundation.
Q: How did that evolve into becoming a remote designer?
A: That shift came in 2020. I’d always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I loved the dental industry and exocad, but I didn’t love being stuck in one spot 10 hours a day. At the start of 2020, I went down to part-time hours to have extra time to brainstorm on my next move. When the whole world shut down in March I had even more time to brainstorm. By September, I had a plan and executed it.
I wanted flexibility—to work hard but also hike mountains or sit on a beach after closing my laptop. So I built a remote design business from scratch. I was one of the early ones doing it full-time, and it gave me the freedom to travel and design from anywhere. It completely changed my lifestyle.
Q: For others interested in starting their own remote design business—how’d you build your client base?
A: My first few clients came from Indeed job postings—I’d apply to labs hiring CAD designers, but my cover letter was basically a pitch: ‘I’m not looking to work in-house, but I can help you remotely.’ That opened the door. From there, it was all word of mouth and networking.
Pro tip for lab techs looking to expand their client bases: Partner with resellers—the people selling mills, 3D printers, and exocad licenses. Many don’t offer in-house design services, so you become their go-to referral for clients who need design help.
Q: What are some of your favorite features in exocad?
A: My top three features—I call them the Holy Trinity—are export scene to mesh, add/remove mesh, and align meshes. Together, those give you tons of flexibility. You can rework cases without starting from scratch, save time, and streamline your process.
Another MVP feature is load from scene, especially when combined with saved tooth presets. It’s a game-changer for reusing elements and speeding up workflows.
Q: What’s your experience been like using exocad Credits? Were you able to find and use your monthly allotted credits?
A: My experience has been great. I find myself using more credits every month. I used up all of my credits in May. Having the credits reset every month is great!
Q: Any tips for people just getting started with accessing AI services like TruSmile Video and AI-designed crowns?
A: My best advice when it comes to exocad’s AI services is just start! You get free exocad Credits every month so feel free to experiment. Open two versions of the crown you are designing and let AI Design create one while you design the other. I also recommend using the AI services for the TruSmile™ Video and TruSmile™ Photo and Smile Creator Module. It makes a huge difference!
Q: Do you share tutorials or tips online? What’s that been like?
A: Yes! I post most of my content on Instagram. I just passed 3,000 followers, which is wild for such a niche space. The response has been super positive. People are so grateful, and that motivates me to keep going.
Some of my most popular videos include my proximal contact breakdown (13K+ views) and AI-assisted design. Engagement really spikes when I offer value, like free cheat sheets in exchange for a comment.
Seth explains how he uses exocad Credits to support his design work
Q: What motivates your educational outreach?
A: A quote I live by: ‘My work ethic is a representation of my gratitude.’ I’m so thankful for how digital dentistry transformed my life—now I want to help others do the same. Whether that’s launching their own business, improving workflow, or just getting confident with exocad, I’m here for it.
Q: Any advice for a brand-new exocad user who feels overwhelmed?
A: Totally normal to feel unsure! But don’t overthink it. Just start. The hardest part isn’t the design, it’s the hesitation. Open a case, mess around, try things, fail a little. It’s like learning an instrument—you just need the reps. Practice every day, stay curious, and trust that it’ll click. Or reach out to me. I would be happy to help!
Q: Looking ahead, what’s exciting you most in digital dentistry?
A: So much cool stuff is happening right now! One thing I’m really pumped about is 3D printed permanent restorations using nano-ceramic resins. Being able to go from intraoral scan to final restoration, quickly and cost-effectively, is huge. It’s going to change access, timelines, and the patient experience.
Q: What’s your hero tool in digital dentistry?
A: Definitely the load from scene tool. It’s the foundation of so many time-saving tricks in my workflow. When you pair it with smart presets, you can cut design time dramatically. That, and of course, the Holy Trinity—I’m all about workflow optimization!
Q: What's your favorite tooth?
A: I love molars on both the upper and the lower, but I would say the upper second bicuspid would be my top favorite.
Q: If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
A: Trust the process and enjoy the journey.
Q: One word for exocad?
A: Freedom.
Seth Potter is an Independent Certified exocad Trainer and remote designer originally based out of Alberta, Canada, but now is based out of the Americas. Seth runs his remote design and training business, Dental Design Services, while travelling between North and South America. Spending the summer and fall months in Canada and the cold winter months in sunny South America, Seth takes advantage of his fully online business to travel while still making an impact in the dental industry. Check out his Instagram for the latest tutorials.
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.
