Back to School: Build a Smarter Lab

In the early 1990s, there were 56 CODA-accredited dental laboratory technology programs in the U.S.; today, there are 10. Low enrollment, limited funding and the cost of keeping up with digital technology have contributed to that decline. However, the remaining programs are strengthening recruitment...

For technicians stepping into management, the learning curve can be steep. Lab owners say the strongest new managers build credibility through everyday actions: how they communicate, respond to mistakes, earn trust and stay connected to the team. Here’s their advice for learning to lead:

1. Manage...

We asked and you answered! When it comes to favorite educational resources, respondents to LMT’s recent Training Survey shared the tools, websites, videos and online communities they rely on most.

From entry-level training to leadership development and exit planning strategies, the NADL has a wealth of resources to support dental laboratory professionals in every facet of their journey. 

“Dental technology is constantly evolving and education is what allows us to evolve with it. The...

Like many laboratories today, Dental Prosthetic Services (DPS) in Cedar Rapids, IA, mainly hires employees with little to no dental technology experience.

“Our philosophy is that if we find someone with a strong work ethic and an eagerness to learn, we can teach the technical skills,” says...

Throughout her career, Allie Williamson, CDT, TE, has been passionate about helping technicians reach their full potential. With experience as a laboratory owner, technical educator for multiple laboratories nationwide and former NBC examiner who was named NADL’s Educator of the Year in 2025, she...

Technical training is entering a whole new dimension thanks to a system developed by Digident Global Academy (DGA). Wearing a virtual reality headset, a technician can go through the steps of a design workflow or learn a stain-and-glaze process before performing the task at the bench.

“Anything...

Production schedules don’t stop just because there’s something new to learn. That’s why Web CE Powered by LMT makes continuing education fit the realities of the laboratory, delivering live and on-demand webinars technicians can watch whenever it works best for them.

The webinars cover...

Trainual is a comprehensive digital platform designed to help businesses create and house Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), onboarding guides and training materials. David Jackson, CDT, Founder/Owner, Mid-South Dental Lab, Brentwood, TN, has been using it for about three years and says it’s...

Structure Your Approach

“I believe every technician has different strengths so I focus on understanding each person’s capacity and skill level. I always talk about ‘capacity’ because I want to ensure the workload and responsibility match the individual’s current ability....

When Seth Potter entered our industry in 2015, he joined a laboratory with no digital department. A self-described computer enthusiast, he convinced the owner to let him lead the transition to digital workflows. “I became the digital guy,” he says. “I installed the scanners and mills,...