Pankey Institute Offers New Opportunity to Lab Technicians

The Pankey Institute’s new Chairman of Education, Dr. Jim Kessler, hopes to increase partnered learning by the members of the restorative team, the dentist and dental laboratory technician. Thanks to the Pankey Institute’s faculty, alumni and corporate scholarship donors, we are able to offer a new tuition policy designed to support that partnered learning. In addition, the tuition for the Pankey Essentials courses has been lowered, and lodging in the Pankey Lodge condos is now included in that lower tuition. 


“I have long believed that the most positive growth takes place when the dentist and dental laboratory technician study together. Our goal is to encourage this concept as the team learns about relationship-based, comprehensive-style dentistry. Together they will develop a common expertise in treatment planning, occlusion, and aesthetics so they communicate optimally for predictable, exquisite results,” says Dr. Kessler.  “We have seen that whenever a technician participates in the courses, all participants benefit from their perspective, and that the participating technician then works with Pankey-trained dentists at a whole new level.  We believe that the best dentistry and the most supportive and fulfilling relationships occur when all members of the team have the same foundational understanding.”


Lab technicians may attend any of the Pankey Essentials courses at the same grant-supported tuition as dentists. However, with this new program, the lab technician may attend the Essentials I course with a dentist for a combined tuition with significant savings.  For example, Essentials 1 is a Sunday-Thursday course consisting of 47 lecture and participation credits.  With the new $2,000 tuition grant, the cost of attending that course is now $3,400 and includes shared occupancy lodging in the Pankey condos.  If a dentist and lab technician attend together, the combined tuition is $4,400, including the lodging. “This means that the dentist-technician team attend E1 for $2200 each.” says Dr. Kessler. “We are so dedicated to seeing this partnered learning concept grow, that if a technician happens to have a chance to accompany two or more dentists to an E1 course, the technician attends at no charge!”


In addition to the Essentials continuum, The Pankey Institute offers courses in Key Biscayne, Florida, specifically designed for laboratory technicians.  Coming soon is Lee Culp’s course, “The Art of Full Contour Waxing” on March 17-19, 2011. “I have taken Lee Culp’s waxing course and I am so excited to be able to offer this experience at the Pankey Institute. This course will change a technician or dentist’s understanding of dental morphology, and perfect their ability to reproduce natural anatomy and perfect occlusion at the same time”, Kessler adds. “Another course, that I would enthusiastically recommend for the restorative team is our ‘Aesthetics I’ course, offered February 6-10, 2011. In addition to the world class list of dentists, Mr. Matt Roberts is on the faculty. Matt is widely recognized as one of the top ceramists in the world. Imagine sitting with a small group in the condo after a day of incomparable lectures and hands on laboratory work, and having the opportunity to ask questions of Matt Roberts, Gerry Chiche, Tom Trinkner, Susan Hollar, Jim Fondriest, J. A. Reynolds, Frankie Shull, and Tyler Lasseigne. This course is without a doubt one of the most valuable learning experiences in which I have ever participated.” Details and registration are on www.pankey.org or by phone at 1-800-4PANKEY.

The Pankey Institute is a nonprofit organization in Key Biscayne, Florida that promotes optimal oral health care through advanced continuing education for dental professionals (www.pankey.org).  Founded in 1972, it was the first institute of its kind and remains among the most prestigious, attracting dentists from 44 nations to its educational programs.  Over 21,000 dentists and specialists have attended its courses and now serve millions of patients worldwide.