The History of Glidewell Direct

Jim Glidewell was born in 1945 in Las Vegas, Nevada. After military service in Southeast Asia in 1964-65, he graduated from Orange Coast College with a degree in dental technology.

Jim opened his first laboratory in January 1970, and by 1981 he was owner and CEO of nine dental laboratories in Southern California. He later combined these laboratories into three. At present, he is owner and CEO of seven laboratories in the U.S., including the largest and most well-equipped commercial dental laboratory research facility in the United States, in addition to laboratories in Costa Rica and Mexico.

This success is clearly due to Jim's lifelong interest in researching and developing new products and dental restorations that would prove affordable to laboratories, dentists and patients alike.

Now your laboratory can benefit from the technological advancements Jim has made. Since 2001, Glidewell Direct has brought the innovative and affordable products developed by Glidewell Laboratories to dental professionals everywhere.

If you have the chance to meet Jim at a dental show or at one of the keynote speeches he will deliver this year, he'll be happy to tell you about his latest research efforts.