The D&S Story

D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc. has been crafting restorations for five decades. Dick and Sally Pilsner started the laboratory on the east side of Madison in 1972, and moved the lab to the Madison suburb of Waunakee in 1992. D&S is a full-service laboratory, and has been a Certified Dental Laboratory in all five specialties since 1983. The lab proudly claims 9 Certified Dental Technicians on staff. In recent years, D&S has been an industry leader in the incorporation of technology in the production process. Today, the laboratory houses a full milling and 3D printing center, a design center for fixed and removable design, and more.

From its modest beginnings as a two-person lab, D&S has grown to 125 employees in five locations. In 2022, we celebrated our 50th anniversary. Discover how D&S has innovated throughout the years with our visual timeline.

Follow D&S Throughout the Years

See our Detailed History Timeline

D&S Dental Laboratory opens on Madison’s east side on Atwood Avenue. Dick’s grandmother showed up on the first day to help out, and later that month, Dick’s wife, Sally, came to work at the lab. The lab was located in four different locations in Madison. The last one was on Northport Drive in the dental building owned by Dr. Clayton McKinney and Dr. Foster Colby.
Larry Nummerdor (Sally’s brother) came to work at the laboratory. He became a Certified Dental Technician while working at D&S, and later became a partner.
Dennis McPherson joined D&S, which raised the number of employees to nine. Dennis had been a Certified Dental Technician since 1977.
Randy Stifter came to D&S as a ceramist, and in 1993 he became a Certified Dental Technician.
Steve Daggett and Bob Marks joined D&S Dental Laboratory, bringing the total number of employees to 19. Steve became a Certified Dental Technician in 1993, and today he is the president of the company while overseeing the crown, bridge and implant departments. Bob started in the Madison laboratory before transferring to Baraboo. He became Lab Manager in Watertown in 1995, and then Lab Manager in Baraboo in 2000, where he continues today.
D&S Dental Laboratory opens on Madison’s east side on Atwood Avenue. Dick’s grandmother showed up on the first day to help out, and later that month, Dick’s wife, Sally, came to work at the lab. The lab was located in four different locations in Madison. The last one was on Northport Drive in the dental building owned by Dr. Clayton McKinney and Dr. Foster Colby.
D&S was incorporated as D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc.
Our Baraboo laboratory was moved to a larger facility on 9th Street on the city’s east end of town.
Dennis McPherson joined Dick, Sally, and Larry as Shareholders in D&S.
Don Statz became Business Manager for D&S Dental Lab. Don upgraded computer systems for the lab and established our Accounting Department.
D&S built a new laboratory in the Waunakee Industrial Park and relocated the main lab from the Northport Drive building.
D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc. celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a live band, food, and drinks.
Steve Daggett, Randy Stifter and Don Statz became shareholders in D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc.
D&S opened a day care facility for employees’ children. The day care was heavily utilized, with 22 children the first year, and it later opened its doors to the public. Over the years the facility grew to over 125 children.
Began computer-aided design (CAD) of fixed restorations
Began milling fixed restorations – computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
The current headquarters was constructed in the Waunakee Business Park at 1020 Quinn Drive. The day care expanded into the space vacated by the lab.
D&S purchased our Mondovi laboratory, bringing in 12 dedicated employees.
D&S became one of the first Lava Milling Centers in the United States, and are still one of only two Lava Milling Centers in Wisconsin.
D&S purchased a 3D printer and began printing our partial denture frameworks, speeding up turnaround time and lowering costs.
Received first digital impression from intraoral scanner
D&S became a member of the Dental Resource Alliance. This is a group of 12 member labs from across the United States that are identified as progressive leaders in the lab industry.
Dick Pilsner celebrated 35 years as a Certified Dental Technician and received an award from the American Dental Association.
D&S Dental Laboratory celebrates our 40th Anniversary with a celebration at Lucky’s Waunakee.
Our Baraboo lab moved to yet another larger facility on the west end of town on South Boulevard. The building also housed a Veteran’s Affairs outpatient clinic.
D&S purchased Hootman Dental Lab in Rockford, Illinois, securing its foothold in northern Illinois. The lab, which was established in 1927, became known as D&S Dental Lab of Rockford until 2016 when it assumes its parent name, D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc.
D&S purchased Hansen Dental Lab in Greenfield, Wis., continuing the tradition of quality and service started in the Milwaukee area in 1971. In 2016, Hansen changed its name to D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc.
D&S received the 2014 Friends of Dentistry Award from the Wisconsin Dental Association for its contributions to the dental industry.
The Waunakee headquarters of D&S receives its DAMAS accreditation, which means we follow the best quality assurance process in the business. Less than 1 percent of dental labs in North America are DAMAS accredited.
Became first authorized lab in Wisconsin to fabricate SIMPLANT surgical guides
Certified Dental Technician Peter Derauf joined D&S Dental Laboratory as a partner.
The June/July issue of The Journal of Dental Technology recognizes Dennis McPherson for 40 years as Certified Dental Technician (CDT).
The D&S Dental lab in Mondovi moves to Eau Claire to better serve that area.
Began milling non-metal removable partial dentures. Later also began milling splints.
Acquired Carbon 3D printers and began milling our own models from digital impressions
First lab in Wisconsin to have Ivoclar Digital Denture Mill. Also testing the printing of dentures using Carbon 3D printers.
Due to continued growth, our Baraboo lab moves across town to a larger office space on 15th Street.
D&S Dental Laboratory becomes a Certified Lucitone Digital Print Laboratory through Dentsply Sirona and Carbon. This means we can print Lucitone dentures.
D&S Dental Laboratory begins offering ShadeWave Mobile app, a digital shade-taking solution.
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