State of Education Key Concern at Future of Dental Technology Conference

"This is a crisis. There has been a 67% reduction in accredited dental technology programs and a reduction in the number of new comprehensively trained dental technicians entering the job pool from traditional sources including the military. At the same time, there has been a shift in curriculum in dental schools drastically reducing the experiences and number of clock hours required for dental students. Dentistry and dental technology are at a crossroads," said Dr. Bill Yancey, assistant dean and director of UCLA Continuing Dental Education and Alumni Affairs, during his presentation to attendees at the Future of Dental Technology Conference held at the ADA headquarters in Chicago on August 7.

Dr. Burney Croll, a prosthodontist from New York City, echoed Yancey's concerns. "The level of skill required to fabricate a single molar is much different than for large complex cases. How will technicians be educated to integrate complex treatment and who...