North Carolina Dental Laboratory Association

The NCDLA shall promote the advancement of the science and business of dental technology; aid its members in the attainment of their professional growth; and encourage, foster and elevate the standards of dental technology.

The first organizational meeting of the N.C. Dental Laboratory Association, Inc. (NCDLA) was held in Chapel Hill, NC in the spring of 1933. The laboratory owners that attended this first meeting were in Chapel Hill to attend the annual meeting of the North Carolina Dental Society. In fear that dental technicians would form a union, organized dentistry opposed dental technicians holding formal meetings. These brave men overcame the threats of retribution, met secretly and began organizational efforts anyway. It was important to them to have an organized group of their peers to discuss techniques and trends of the industry and hold educational seminars to advance their knowledge in the field. We appreciate their persistence and bravery in founding this association and have remained an organized group since 1933-supporting organized dentistry with quality laboratory services. The main focus of the NCDLA today is education of its members. We believe that through better education we will be better informed to make the right choices regarding materials, techniques and equipment that make the best restorations available to dentistry for the dental public. We offer two meetings in the state per year where a technician may have a wealth of choices for continuing education. We urge all technicians to take advantage of the programs offered in NC - they are second to none in the country. The NCDLA supports the credentialing of dental technicians and dental laboratories and endorses the only program available to accomplish this - the CDT and CDL programs. These programs are administered by the National Board for Certification (NBC) established by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL).