When I was a practicing orthodontist, I realized the importance of effective communication with my laboratory. The lab is integral to dentistry — from fulfilling the clinician’s plan to providing materials for the individualized needs of the patient. The dental lab should have a partnership rather than vendor-type relationship with the dentist. According to the…
By: Mark T. Murphy, DDS, FAGD With apologies to President Abraham Lincoln. “Three score and two years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new concept called dental insurance, conceived from the medical model, and dedicated to the proposition that all should have access to quality dental care” …oops! Dental “insurance”, once intended…
Who Makes Your Crown? By Bennett Napier, CAE Over a hundred years ago, it was not uncommon to find a dentist in a barber shop. Over the course of time, processes, training and technology have vastly improved the delivery of dental services. During the evolution of dentistry, allied specialists emerged to perform certain functions, i.e.…
Hundreds of dental laboratory owners and technicians from around the country had an opportunity to learn about Food and Drug Administration regulations on dental implant abutments when top leaders from the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) recently presented on the latest updates. NADL’s Bennett Napier, CAE, and Eric Thorn, Esquire, led “FDA, Implants/Abutments and…
According to research by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), only four states in the U.S. require dental technicians to be certified or obtain continuing education. To increase awareness of the lack of standards in the dental industry, NADL created the “What’s In Your Mouth?” campaign to inform dentists that the technicians they trust…
By: Ryan Kath BOSTON (CBS) – Whether it’s a crown, an implant, or a bridge, dental work usually stays with us for life. Today, more of these products are now being imported. There are no regulations or mandatory inspections before these items are put in a patient’s mouth. Dickerman Dental Prosthetics in Sharon has made quality…
By: ABC15’s Dave Biscobing More than one-third of the dental laboratory products placed in the mouths of U.S. patients are made overseas, experts said. The products face few, if any, health and safety inspections or regulations, depending on the state. It’s one of the many ways our country and state fail to regulate the industry.…
By: ABC15’s Dave Biscobing Dental laboratories and technicians in Arizona face virtually zero regulation – a lack of oversight that experts say can put patients at risk. Labs are not required to register with the state, and there are no health or safety inspections. For technicians who make dental products, Arizona doesn’t require any sort of…
Photo of NADL member Heather Voss, CDT, by Kate Lovering Dental patients might have less access to high-quality dental restorations in the near future. It is predicted that from 2006-2017 the number of dental laboratories in the U.S. will be reduced by 39 percent, according to National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) Market Research compiled…
Most dental patients are not aware that nearly 38 percent of dental restoration units are made overseas by foreign dental laboratories, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. Additionally, domestic labs remain unregulated in more than 40 states by their respective state boards of dentistry. The National Association of Dental Laboratories has created the “What’s…