The National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) and the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC) celebrate June as Dental Technician and Certified Dental Technician (CDT) Appreciation Month.
Dental technicians bring considerable experience and subject matter expertise in the areas of dental materials, technology utilization, shade verification, and restorative dentistry. Although generally operating behind the scenes of the oral health team, dental technicians are a crucial part of ensuring delivery of quality dental care.
“Dental technicians perform an incredible service in our mission to assist our dentists and clients in effectively treating patients in need,” shared Travis Zick, 2019 NADL President. “Technicians who take the initiative to earn their CDT designation demonstrate a higher level of commitment and pride in our profession. Having the CDT designation also shows their peers and clients that they have a proven knowledge and understanding of dental laboratory fundamentals. We encourage all of our technicians to pursue their CDT if they intend to pursue a career in dental technology.”
NADL seeks to inform dentists and patients of the important role of the dental laboratory technician and dental laboratory through its What’s In Your Mouth campaign. In the US, most states set no minimum standards for persons to be employed as dental technicians. In fact, only four states in the US require either certification or continuing education for dental technicians.
“Being a Certified Dental Technician means that I challenged myself to achieve this recognition and I continue to maintain a high standard of excellence in my profession,” said 2019 NBC Chair Morris Fucarino, CDT. “I am proud to be a CDT and have a great admiration for those who have and continue to challenge themselves in pursuing and maintaining the CDT designation. It is important for our profession to have a standard of excellence and certification can serve as a demonstration of knowledge and skill in our field.”
The NBC is an independent certification organization dedicated to improving the quality of dental laboratory technology through voluntary testing and certification of dental laboratories and technicians. This is the only voluntary certification program for dental laboratory technicians recognized by the American Dental Association.
The CDT designation demonstrates a mastery of the knowledge and applied skills needed in dental technology. It illustrates a technician's commitment to the field of dental technology and demonstrates their knowledge in six specialty areas: ceramics, complete dentures, crown and bridge, orthodontics, partial dentures, and implants.
NADL is the unified voice of the dental laboratory industry, supporting dentistry and serving the public interest by promoting high standards. NADL accomplishes this by providing programs, services, and networking opportunities to meet the evolving technical, educational, professional, and business needs of dental laboratories.
The month of June is dedicated to dental technicians and Certified Dental Technicians. Help spread the word on Dental Technician and CDT Appreciation Month by liking and following the NADL and NBC Facebook pages and by sharing our posts. Feel free to post on your own social media pages and be sure to tag NADL or NBC.
