LACC Dental Technology Program Finds New Home

Los Angeles City College (LACC) is all smiles thanks to a new science and technology building that houses its state-of-the-art dental technology program. The building is part of the college's $34 million modernization efforts made possible with $5.7 billion in voter-approved bonds.

LACC dental technology program has trained more than 2,000 students since Donald Lund, CDT, William Westrick and William Woodworth, CDT, began the program in 1965 at three temporary bungalows. Two years later, the program became accredited by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Education.

After enduring a number of financial problems, in 1997 the program received $500,000 in federal funds to rebuild the program's facility, which was then comprised of one laboratory classroom. The dental technology program set a new course in 2001, when Los Angeles voters approved the first of three bond measures that paid for the current 85,000-square-foot facility. LACC’s dental department has two modern laboratories, one dedicated to fixed prosthetics and the other for removable prosthetics, adjoined by a processing laboratory, storage area, SMART classrooms and CAD/CAM technologies. The science and technology building also houses the campus’ nursing, chemistry and geophysical sciences, life science, physics and engineering departments.

"There are critical shortages in science specialists, particularly in such professions as dental technology and registered nursing," said Dr. Jamillah Moore, LACC’s president. “Our new Science and Technology building is fully equipped with modern tools and resources that will ensure that students are well trained."

LACC's dental technology program partnered with the UCLA master ceramist program in 2000 and the implant prosthodontics and maxillofacial program in 2004 to provide students with greater educational opportunities. Productivity Training Corporation’s (PTC) step-by-step methodology was integrated into the curriculum in 2006 to increase student performance, efficiency and employment options.

City College's dental technology program is supported by Kurt Tennyson, CDT, and Renzo Casellini, MDT along with top industry leaders, including Pentron Corporation/Art Saltzer, Sirona, Vident, Harris Dental, DaVinci Studios, Noble Biocare, Degussa-Naey, Kerr Lab and Amann Girrbach America, Inc.

Because of budget cuts, more funding is needed to keep the program thriving. The program is one of only two community college programs in California fully accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission of Dental Accreditation. For more information and partnership opportunities, please contact LACC at (323) 953-4000, ext: 2501 or cohendb@lacitycollege.edu.