Durham Tech receives $5,000 for new 3D printer for Dental Laboratory Technology program

The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology awarded the Durham Technical Community College Foundation $5,000 to purchase a 3D printer for the college’s Dental Laboratory Technology program.

The printer, a Formlabs product, will be used by all the program’s classes, which cover anatomy, dentures, orthodontics, and ceramics.

“Durham Tech is proud to have the only accredited Dental Laboratory Technology program in North Carolina,” said Melissa Chappell, Executive Director of the Durham Tech Foundation. “Having this unique offering means we have a responsibility to keep up with current trends in the field, such as the demand for workers with computer-aided design and manufacturing skills. The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology’s Keystone Grant will give our students access to a piece of cutting-edge technology, letting them hone valuable skills needed to excel in today’s dental lab environment.”

The Dental Laboratory Technology program annually serves about 34 students, according to Chappell. Throughout the course of its lifetime, the printer is projected to be used by 340 students.

"The Foundation has been providing financial support to educational institutions with a dental laboratory technology program through the Keystone Grant for eight years,” said Gary Iocco, Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology Chair. “As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, every dollar provided from the Keystone Grant is funded exclusively through our generous donors dedicated to a brighter future for our dental laboratory profession.”

The program at Durham Tech is one of the oldest offered by the college, having been conceived during the college’s first year in 1961. It is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and is a member of the North Carolina Dental Laboratory Association.

“We are constantly looking for ways to help our students be amply prepared to enter the workforce,” said Erin Popov, Clinical Coordinator of and Instructor with the Durham Tech program. “This printer will allow us to use virtual scans of a patient’s mouth and then print the working models needed to complete prosthetic restorations. More and more employers are seeking technicians with these advanced technological skills, so we are deeply grateful and looking forward to giving our students the opportunity to have that skillset when entering the job market.”

The Durham Tech Foundation is a charitable organization that promotes the current and long-term success of Durham Tech by inspiring charitable investment in its students, faculty, and staff.

For more information, visit durhamtech.edu/foundation. For more information about Durham Tech, visit durhamtech.edu.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Stephanie Turner: Durham Tech Marketing and Media Relations Coordinator 919-536-7246, ext. 5202; turners@durhamtech.edu