Crowning Achievment

The renovation of the Center for Contemporary Dentistry will expose students to the latest dental technology

By Erin Peterson

If the smiles on the faces of University dental school students seem a bit brighter these days, it may be due to the recent renovation of the School of Dentistry’s Center for Contemporary Dentistry.

With the help of Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., the University expanded and equipped the center with the most innovative, up-to-date technologies. The center’s space more than doubled, giving more students access to the technology. The center re-opens this fall.

The new technology advances student learning and patient care in a variety of ways. The digital X-ray systems, for example, develop images more quickly than traditional methods and can be electronically distributed and enhanced. The center will also have computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems, which will allow dental students to create restorations for patients while they wait, avoiding the need for temporary crowns and multiple appointments. Pen-shaped intraoral cameras will allow students to show patients on-screen views of difficult-to see areas as they discuss diagnoses and treatment.

The renovation places the University among the leaders in contemporary dentistry education, says Daniel Skaar, chair of the Department of Primary Dental Care. “This remodeling will position Minnesota as having one of the most up-to-date, specifically dedicated clinics for exposure to emerging dental technologies, both for undergraduate dental students and dental hygiene students,” he says. Skaar anticipates that community dentists enrolled in continuing dental education courses will also have opportunities to try out the new technologies when classes are not in session.

The new center is particularly important for a profession such as dentistry, where understanding and using the latest technology gives students an edge when they join a practice. While the expense of new equipment makes it nearly impossible for any university or dental practice to keep up with every advancement, partnerships like those between Patterson and the School of Dentistry make it possible for students to become familiar with the latest technology.

Jim Wiltz, president and CEO of the St. Paul-based Patterson Companies, says the opportunity to partner with the University makes perfect sense. “We work with other schools, but, because this is our home base, we have our most extensive center here,” he says. “We want the students to be exposed to the newest equipment that’s available today.” The company plans to swap out equipment every three to five years so each generation of students will be able to learn from the best technology available.

“When our students graduate, they’ll be right at the cutting edge,” says Patrick Lloyd, dean of the School of Dentistry. “This will allow them to go into any dental office and be ready to practice and use the equipment a practitioner has.”

For students who start in practices that don’t have the latest equipment, they can share what they’ve learned to help a dentist decide whether the technology is right for the practice. In addition, dental hygiene students will spend up to two weeks working in the center.

Skaar emphasizes that the link between Patterson and the University of Minnesota is important; not only did the company provide the equipment free of charge, it also helped in the planning and design of the expansion. “This project is another example of how the dental school is committed to partnering with leading public and private organizations and companies to ensure that we stay at the forefront of dental education and research,” he says. “We think it’s important to form strategic partnerships to help give students opportunities.”

The goal is improved education for students, who will have the training and equipment to do the best job possible for their patients. And that should make everyone’s smile just a little brighter.