New York's Dental Laboratory Higher Education: How It All Began

Part 1 Introduction

Not a month goes by where one or more dental technology publications write about the state of education or more precisely the decline or inadequacy of our educational system. Historically, dental laboratory technology education has been, for the most part, over-the-shoulder apprentice type of training. As we now know, the development of dentistry has evolved in a non-systematic path since before recorded history. Those who have been in the profession for over 30 years remember the "good old days" where education, training and development were kept secret and not readily shared with the younger technicians. Stories abound of the apprentices who made deliveries and cleaned the lab for years before being allowed to make a baseplate, polish dentures or invest a cast. Thankfully, these days are gone.

Over the last 100 years many dental technology training centers have come and gone. Unfortunately, most lacked the skills, funds, organization...