Man Kwok 'Tommy' Zhu, CDT, TE: Nurturing a Thirst For Knowledge

Tommy Zhu had laid out a detailed plan for becoming a dentist. First, to gain a background in the profession, he enrolled in the Restorative Dentistry program at the New York City College of Technology. After graduation in 2003, the next step was to work as a denture technician to save money for dental school tuition.

That's when the plan fell apart, but only because he loved being a technician and forgot all about dental school. During Zhu's nine years in the field, he has worked in nearly all phases of denture and C&B fabrication; he finds his role as a ceramist to be the most gratifying. "Creating the shape, shade and function of a tooth also makes the ceramist an artist, architect and engineer. We make a great impact on a person's life," he says.

One experience—as a technician in an in-house laboratory—shaped Zhu's philosophy as a ceramist and even compelled him to create his own layering and staining technique. "That patient contact changed the way...