The Need for Dental Technology

by Vincent V. Alleluia, MDT, CDT, TF

In the early history of Dentistry, dental technicians were nonexistent. The dental practitioner would fabricate replacement parts for the missing areas of the mouth. As dentistry progressed in time, a “mechanic” was utilized to make the parts for the practitioner. Then, as replacement parts became more sophisticated, skilled “technicians” evolved to satisfy the needs of the practitioner.
This progression from dental mechanic to dental technician defines dental technology. Since 1962, the National Board for Certification has provided the service of qualifying technicians for certification. Qualified dental technicians need to be an integral part of the dental team and participate in the treatment plan of the patient. The advanced knowledge gained by an M.D.T. qualifies the technologist as a valuable partner to the dental team.
Dental societies are behind the times with their attitude that dental technicians should be subservient to dentists and this attitude is reinforced in dental schools. Few societies recognize the technician’s talent and the needs of the dental team, welcoming the joint relations with excellent success.

The Hand-Me-Down Generation 
Going back in time, as in all other fields, dental students were influenced by their close relationship with their mentor. So it has been with dental technology. In the beginning there were no schools to properly train the technician and they learned on the job. Some were taught well and some were not. It takes many years of apprenticeship to achieve the talent of producing acceptable replacement parts for the oral environment. Dental technology came into existence to advance the dental mechanic to dental technician. To identify this progression and talent, the N.B.C. tests and registers technicians for recognition.
The American Society of Master Dental Technologists began a program in 1973, teaching lab technicians and elevating them to a level where they are recognized as a “partner” with the dental practitioner in all phases of dental prosthetic needs.
New titles need to evolve, recognizing and motivating future technologists. Technicians need to move from C.D.T. to M.D.T. and finally to Dental Prosthologist to keep abreast of the expanding needs of the dental profession. The dental profession can not expand without qualified technologists. The American Society of Master Dental Technologists provides the necessary training to keep the technician motivated and the dental industry desirable.

Benefits of Dental Technology Schools
It takes many years of on-the-job training to understand material science and terminology. Some technicians are suppressed in their progress to advance in order to remain simply a laborer. Most schools with a two-year dental technology program compress many years of comprehending materials, terminology and fabrication of replacement parts for the oral environment within a short time period.
To maintain the ever-expanding dental industry, dental technology schools must also be an integral part of the practitioner’s team to keep up-to-date with new technology, materials and the needs of the industry. On-the-job training definitely limits the technician to simply a “bench worker” with no intention of elevating the technician to a higher level. The most important question in the dental industry is how to motivate the talent needed to serve and to survive in the future.

Transition from Dental Technician to Entrepreneur
As technicians progress, they eventually seek independence by opening their own laboratory. Many successful lab owners, who started from their garage, basement or spare room, realize an unforeseen challenge. Operating a business requires more than talent to produce a tooth. It is understanding the necessities of overhead, maintaining their accounts and adding new accounts. The wearing of two hats, one as a technologist and the other as a businessperson, requires talent to stay profitable as an independent lab.
This transition for the average technician is difficult. Taking ones craft to a business venture does not appeal to most technicians. The majority of technicians prefer working at the bench rather than working a business. Many technicians have been successful because continuing education is an integral part of their success.

What is Needed to Move Out-of-the-Box
A dental lab owner is confronted with many challenges to stay in business with no limit as to expansion.
With offshore labs infiltrating the market, it is possible for quality labs to provide low end products in their
business and, if approached properly, provide high end as well as low end prosthetics. The in-box concept provides conventional crown and bridgework and average prosthetics, while the out-of-the-box concept is the labs high-end dentistry.
Function and aesthetics are most important in the services to the practitioner. On all mouth reconstruction
cases, the dentist must partner with a qualified lab that separates itself from work being fabricated offshore.
So our recommendation is, if you are planning to go out-of-the-box, get the most education possible so
you are skilled to provide the high-end services. As an M.D.T. you are competent in providing the full range of services and partner with the practitioner at the same time.

Free Dentistry Videos

In our everyday life everyone comes across the products of IT and high-tech developments. This is very true for dentistry. In this short post I would share with you some hints on Dentistry Videos on the Internet. Of course, there are lot of program solutions that allow downloading videos on any device: laptop, iPod, cell phones, etc. So, enjoy professional videos while traveling or relaxing????

Dental Health Directory – go to Multimedia - Procedure Video Gallery and you will find: the live surgery and treatment videos, along with animation clips provided through manufacturers, are grouped by Procedure, Popular Name or Treatment Outcome. This an example of one video screen:

Dentistry Videos – Metacafe - One of the world's largest video sites host dozens of dental videos.
Flash animations are available from DentalWisdom that cover many Dental issues.

Dentistry Videos page in  Medical News Today also has some useful clips.

Medical Videos has a good Dentistry selection too

USC School of Dentistry : tooth restorations
Sedation dentistry videos. Watch Dr. Weiss the sedation dentist
Dentistry Knowledge Videos – is not updated on a regular basis, but still…. Is good
Conservative Dentistry Dental Videos

Of course, it is impossible to mention ALL of valuable sources here, but maybe our readers may do this?
If you have any questions, please, comment, or write to
Vladimir@asmdt.com

The Internet Improves Laboratory-Dentist Communication in a Custom Dental Lab

Jonathan Brooks, BS, MDT, Smile-Vision, Laboratory Director


Smile-Vision is a custom dental laboratory making every effort to keep its products at a consistently high level of quality with predictable turnaround times.
In the past we found those large cases, arriving unexpectedly, requesting fast turnaround made it difficult for us to meet these goals. Because we could not anticipate the incoming case load, our clients did not know how long it would take us to complete their cases, thus making it difficult for them to plan their work efficiently. It also adversely affected our earnings and quality. Administrative time and expense were being squandered by rescheduling cases. Occasionally technicians would get overloaded with work or we would be rushing to meet a deadline – both of which negatively affected our quality.
We had experienced similar challenges and then resolved them with our digital cosmetic simulation service available at: www.smilevision.net. Beginning in 1986 (when we first offered the service) and continuing until 2000 (when we first offered that service on-line), we struggled to keep our production on track. In 2000 we developed and installed proprietary web-based software and could suddenly handle a much larger volume of images with far less administrative staff. Images began flowing back and forth with barely a glitch. We were able to cut our fees substantially, offer better service and maintain our profit margin.
We wanted to put our lab business on-line at that time also, but could not bear the expense of development. The introduction of Labnet’s on-line lab/dentist communication program: www.labnet.net, has finally allowed us to put our lab in our clients’ offices, and we are beginning to reap benefits similar to those we experienced from updating our simulation program.
Lab clients who have a high-speed Internet connection can now order their lab cases in advance using Labnet’s secure online connection to our lab server. The advanced order reserves time in our production schedule according to predetermined criteria we have setup, allowing the case to move through the production process far more quickly than if it had arrived unannounced. Our clients receive return dates at the time of ordering, making it easier for them to plan their treatment. Both the lab and the dentist save administrative time and expense by utilizing this process, just as we did with the update in our cosmetic imaging process.
The Labnet program provides dentists with the date our lab can return a case to their office. If the date provided on-line does not meet appointment requirements, clients are instructed to phone the lab and make special arrangements.
Some clients still prefer to order their cases in advance by phone instead of on-line. In these instances, we simply go to the on-line site we have created for the client and place the on-line order for him/her. Cases not ordered in advance get scheduled at the time of arrival in the lab and thus have to wait longer to be completed.
Dental team members love the system! On-line advanced ordering is done by an office team member when booking a patient’s appointment. It takes less than a minute per case. Prescriptions are printed out, filed and sent to the lab with impressions. Dentists often make last minute handwritten notes on the prescription prior to shipping the case. Smile-Vision enters them into the computer when the case arrives at the lab.
Additionally, the Labnet program allows dental offices to view case progress on-line, drastically reducing time-wasting phone calls to the lab. All financial information is on the same password protected site, eliminating the need for the lab to send out statements – a major saving in time and expense. The Labnet program creates even more efficiency by allowing clients or our lab to attach digital images and other digital documents to the lab prescription for easy access to all.
The Internet provides the opportunity for labs to communicate with their dentist clients as never before, offering unprecedented benefits to both. We suggest that labs not using the web, to communicate with their clients to get stared ASAP! Most up-to-date lab computer programs provide this option.
Jonathan Brooks received his M.D.T. Degree in Dental Technology in September 2007.

Smile Vision is located at 143 California Street, Newton, MA 02458. Phone: (800) 634-3480

What is to Be a Dentist in the USA

Jim  DuMolin,  a well known expert in dental practice management posted in his Blog results of his survey about national licensure for dentists Dental Licenses: It’s Not Easy To Be a Dentist!
"Getting a dental license in the US requires three things:
·    graduating from an ADA accredited dental school,
·    passing a written exam, and
·    passing a clinical exam. "
Recommend to reading – it has some interesting thoughts…..

American Society of Master Dental Technologists (ASMDT) Master’s Certificated International Program

ASMDT is a highly recognized teaching institution established in 1974 in the state of New York, U. S.A. ASMDT is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dental Prosthologist Development Corporation (DPDC), a New York State, U. S. A. Corporation. All equipment, materials, and supplies are exclusively provided to ASMDT students by DPDC.

ASMDT offers the Master Dental Technologists (MDT) course for Dental Technicians in 2 study variants, the On-Site Hands on Course, and the Home Study Course. The Home Study Course is a Learn at Your Own Pace program that contains 18 MDT DVD’s which encompasses the exact curriculum as the Hands-On course. Home Study students are encouraged to complete their course in 12 months and present their work to the Board of Examiners in New York U. S. A. at the end of their semester when possible.

The MDT Master’s Certificated Course is a non-academic university based program. Our Master’s Certificated Curriculum, Course, and Diplomas are recognized by the U. S. Department of Education via TheNational Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC) and recognized by the U. S. CDT and N Y U College of Dentistry’s Continuing Education credit systems; our Master’s Certification diplomas are internationally recognized through out the world.

ASMDT will provide U. S. visa invitation letters for all non U. S. students of ASMDT who need U. S. visas for Board of Examiner presentations and graduation.      

1.    MDT On-Site Hands On Course is taught at New York University College of Dentistry, Department of Continuing Education in New York City, New York, U. S. A. MDT classes are offered on alternating Saturdays, 18 sessions from late September / early October to July each year. Upon completion of the course each student presents their work to the Board of Examiners for final grades in August each year at New York University College of Dentistry Department of Continuing Education in New York City, New York, U. S. A. Graduation ceremonies and diploma issuances follows in mid August. For all foreign students, diplomas are issued shortly after Board of Examiners presentations. 
2.    Master Dental Technologist Home Study Program – the 12 months Program is perfectly suited for dental technology practitioners throughout the world. The Home Study Program is a condensed Course - a product of 35 years of educational experience - that gives an opportunity to learn step-by-step procedures at your own place in your time frame. The Program consists of eighteen sessions, which include anatomy, physiology, and hands-on practical maxillary-mandibular reconstruction cases. Pre-positioned maxillary-mandibular casts and dies prepared for mounting on an adjustable Articulator with a mechanical incisal platform, provide the functions for reconstruction. The Course is complete with manuals, models, semi-adjustable articulator, instruments and all supplies are shipped to the students by mail.  Our Course is extremely comprehensive with substantial hands-on experience and lectures on DVDs by leaders in the field of Dentistry.  Each session contains supplemental self-testing materials; this is an interactive effort: the students have the option to send their summary reports for overview and critique to Program Managers at ASMDT . Audiovisual programming provides a stop-and-go feature that simplifies the overall learning concept.
    
Since 1974  over 700 technicians have graduated the Course and were awarded with Master’s Certification diplomas. Among them are the practitioners from Russia and the Ukraine. It should be noted that in many cases our graduates have found more challenging and financially rewarding jobs; while some of them upon graduation were promoted to higher positions in their existing businesses. The graduate testimonials can be found at our Web-site at www.asmdt.com

International MDT Course: Russian Technologist Testimonial

Привет, коллеги!

Я, Вадим Нисанов, Master Dental Technologist, владелец National Dental Laboratory, Inc. в штате Нью Джерси, США. После 20 лет работы в зуботехнических лабораториях СССР, Нью-Йорка и Нью Джерси на должностях зубного техника, менеджера и президента лаборатории, я поступил на курсы ASMDT при New York University College of Dentistry. Процесс обучения и программа курсов включает в себя широкий диапазон лекций, охватывающих как детальные процедуры работы зубного техника, так и глобальные тенденции и перемены, с которыми сталкивается наша индустрия. Большая часть времени уделена изучению анатомии, функции стоматологической системы и концепции центральной окклюзии.
Коллектив и инструкторы ASMDT обладают большим стажем практической работы и теоретическими знаниями, и всегда готовы оказать помощь в ежедневной работе студентов.
Vadim Nisanov, MDT, President, Dental Laboratory, Inc.
nationaldlusa@gmail.com

Master Dental Technologist - A New Awakening

by Sandra C. Marin

Knowledge is power! A statement often taken for granted.

Before I embark you on a great journey, I must first let you know that a fluke brought about my now chosen career path. Upon entering college I was undecided of what path I would take career-wise, so I just began taking liberal arts electives. That first semester, Dental Hygiene students walked around campus recruiting other students to be their guinea pigs. Having a long break in my schedule I agreed to participate and have a young lady, by the name of Gina, clean my teeth. While in the chair, I inquired a bit about the program. She went on to explain about the health of the tissues, the make-up of the teeth, the different materials used, and the different types of restorations. By the time I left, I was sold. The next semester I registered for the Dental Hygiene program and began classes the following fall only to find out that half way through "Anatomy of Oral Facial Structures" and "Preliminary Denture" class, I was in the wrong program. Upon looking at my transcript the wrong code was used and I was now a Dental Lab Technician student!
After the initial shock that I wasn't enroute to becoming a Hygienist, I sat back and thought, "what is dental lab?" It was interesting. It dealt with teeth and I had the chance to be creative with many different materials. So I said “what the hell, lets see what it's all about” and I loved it! I've only been in the business five years, but I'd much rather sit at a bench creating than standing looking into the oral cavity of a patient. Now that I have painted a picture for you, I would like to bring the colors to life by stating a quote given by the anthropologist Shaw in 1924, "The writing cut with such precision upon the complex patterns of teeth may indeed be hieroglyphics, but even so, it was surely no random and meaningless scribbling. More probably it was a real organic language in which the principals of tooth design and mechanics were inscribed, and we might yet succeed in deciphering it if first we took pains to learn its dynamic alphabet and master the elements."
In essence, knowing why the teeth function the way they do, we will have mastered the concept of occlusion, a subject the clinician and dental technician deals with everyday. This is why I'm ecstatic to say that signing up for the MDT Program, given by the American Society of Master Dental Technologists at New York University Dental College, Continuing Education, was the best move I ever made, thus a new journey. Upon entering the Program I had no clue of what was in store or what MDT was really about. All I knew was that every convention or seminar I attended I saw a select few intellectual individuals with the title M.D.T. I knew it was a prestigious title to hold, and I wanted it also. But, just not knowing the vast amount of knowledge it came with.
From the beginning, the M.D.T. Program grabbed my attention. Each Saturday filling my brain to its' fullest capacity and leaving me longing for more knowledge. From the simplest definitions I had learned in college to the complex functions I was now learning, everything was coming together like a puzzle. I knew how to build up and contour teeth but never realized that nature had them this way for a reason, that there was Biomechanics involved, along with geometric relationships and fixed points of references. And let me not forget averages. It sounds like a math or science class, but it's not, it's the M.D.T. Program in all its glory.
I've always longed for knowledge and this Program put it together in a way that allows you to gain information from various sources. There's no dental subject untouched; every lecturer and clinician bring their knowledge and experience to the table with a common ground at hand - "the patient." No matter what technique is used, what type of restoration, whether you use the most elaborate Facebow or just arbitrarily mounting a case, the final judgment is made by the person in that chair.
Such great information acquired, but too much to share. Only those individuals who long for greatness in the dental field should attempt to embark on such a great journey. In the beginning I said, "knowledge is power," but not over someone or something, but power within yourself to gain knowledge and utilize it to the best of your ability. Only my peers can appreciate the value of being an M.D.T., for there is no task at the bench or dental chair that can withhold us from being "consciously competent.”