#5 - Dr. Ben Kellum: Preserving the Personal Touch in Digital Dentistry

Rob Norton sits down with Dr. Ben Kellum to explore the evolution of a dental practice from a minimally equipped community clinic to a predominantly digital, in-house, full-arch workflow. Dr. Kellum shares firsthand insights into building a clinic-based laboratory, developing CAD/CAM capabilities over time, and navigating the early challenges of adopting digital manufacturing technologies. The conversation covers key topics including zirconia economics, the foundational role of intraoral scanning, photogrammetry versus scan-body workflows, and how improved data capture and communication strengthen collaboration between clinicians and labs. They also discuss emerging trends in materials science and artificial intelligence, and how these advancements may shape the future of restorative dentistry. The central takeaway is clear: when implemented thoughtfully, digital technology can do more than improve efficiency—it can support higher-quality care, expand access to treatment, and help practices remain firmly centered on patient needs. Chapters (00:02:15) - Dental technician trains to make gold crowns(00:06:13) - Graduating with the SLAP(00:11:04) - Bradley Dentist on Digital Surgery(00:14:36) - Not all 3-D Dentistry Systems are created equal(00:19:47) - Dental Students Get Into the Digital World(00:24:21) - Getting your dentures made(00:24:54) - Dental surgeons on the transition to digital scanners(00:30:52) - Dr. Henry Audia on the Digital Surgery(00:33:16) - The importance of photography in dentistry(00:39:24) - Beyond the Facial Scanner, Do You Need Photogrammetry(00:44:18) - Interaural Scanner(00:47:11) - Clinical Dentists: Where Technology Is Going(00:54:24) - One More Word