From First-Class Football to First Choice Dental Lab
By Matt Cushing, First Choice Dental Lab, Illinois
After a 6 year career in the NFL as a Tight End and Fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Matt Cushing entered the dental lab industry as a sales rep. After building relationships in the dental community for a few years, he had the opportunity to start First Choice Dental Lab in 2008. First Choice has grown into a full service dental lab offering crown and bridge, removables, implant, and full arch work. Matt learned the operations of the lab from the ground up and has used his athletic background to create the team centric culture at First Choice focusing on being a technical resource for their customers and providing consistent quality, on-time delivery, and exceptional customer service.
First Choice Dental Lab is a full service dental lab that was started in 2008. We were originally a crown and bridge lab but have added implants, removables, and full arch work as we have grown. Our main location is in Downers Grove, IL, a western suburb of Chicago and we also have a satellite lab in the Milwaukee area. We service customers throughout the Midwest by delivering consistent quality products, delivered on time, and supported by outstanding customer service. At First Choice, we understand how important the dental lab is in helping a dental practice run efficiently. This is always on our mind as we work daily to create smiles.
Digital technology has been at the center of our growth. The productivity and efficiency benefits that digital technology has brought to our lab has allowed us to do more with less. This is one reason we wanted to bring 3D printing in house. Since we then control the timing and material selection, it enables us to have a predictable and smooth workflow for our digital cases.  Â
"We did not want to invest in a closed system. We wanted the ability to use the best resins out there..."
When we add new equipment and materials, we seek the vendors with high quality products but most importantly, the vendors that provide a high level of support for those products. The digital world sometimes seems to change on a weekly basis so having a vendor that understands this, stays on the leading edge. Asiga has been a great partner in our digital growth. Not only do they make great printers but they have excellent technical support, which is critical to keeping the equipment running and the lab producing. In addition and just as critical, their printers are validated for use with many types of resins. We did not want to invest in a closed system. We wanted the ability to use the best resins out there and because they are an open system, we are able to do that.
At First Choice Dental Lab, we have chosen to use the Dentsply Printed Lucitone family of resins for our digital dentures and we have not been disappointed. Our team is able to produce a high quality denture in less time than traditional methods. Since Asiga has been validated to print these resins, we are able to use both our Max and Pro4k printers in a key role in this production as we print dentures on a daily basis.
"Digital production is only going to continue to grow in the dental lab industry."
3D printing will lead that as new resins get developed, in both the removable and crown and bridge areas. All labs should be utilizing 3D printing today and planning for its growth in the future.
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