#11 - John Madden CDT: Defining the Next Generation with AI and Digital Dentures

AI is no longer a future concept in dentistry. It is actively reshaping how removable prosthetics are designed, manufactured, and delivered. John Madden CDT dives deep into the evolution of digital dentures and partials, unpacking how AI-driven design, automation, and systems thinking are transforming modern dental technology. From monolithic manufacturing and acetal partials to workflow bottlenecks and robotic assembly, this episode explores what it truly means to modernize removable dentistry at scale. John shares powerful insights on technician shortages, insurance-driven economics, digital production efficiency, and why simply mimicking analog workflows in software isn’t enough anymore. The future of dental technology demands smarter systems, better integration, and a willingness to rethink the entire process. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:47) - Committing to Digital Dentures(00:08:00) - Eliminating Clinical Bottlenecks(00:12:22) - The Cost of an Extra Appointment(00:17:40) - The Reality of Digital Partials(00:31:31) - Production Cost Analysis(00:42:52) - The Future of Removables(00:52:36) - Outro