Annual Planning Sessions
August 16-17, 2007
Chicago, Illinois
NADL Mission
The NADL is the unified voice for the
dental laboratory industry supporting
dentistry and serving the public interest
by promoting high standards. NADL
accomplishes this by providing programs,
services and networking opportunities
responsive to the evolving technical,
educational, professional and business
needs of dental laboratories.
NADL Vision
The NADL shall be the voice for the dental
laboratory industry to ensure
professionalism through strategic
leadership, partnering and cohesive
representation before regulatory and
educational entities. NADL shall guide the
industry by setting standards and
providing a venue for members to advance
in the field of dental technology.
Are we moving at the speed of
light?
U.S. Workforce Demographics
Source: Nawb.org
Dental Industry Growth –
The Upside for Labs is Good
Total Dental Products and Services Spending
($ in billions)
$180
$160
$140
$120
$100
$167
Projected Growth: 7%,
$80
$60
$40
$125
$ in billions
$50
$54
$57
$62
$68
$73
$77
$82
$87
$20
$0
1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005P 2010P 2015P
Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Number and Type of U.S. Allied Dental
Programs: 1970 - 2006
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1970
1975
Dental Hygiene
1980
1985
Dental Assisting
1990
1995
Dental Laboratory Technology
2006
Dental Laboratory
Establishments

Approximately 12,089 businesses
classified as dental laboratories

5,000 of those are single
technician labs. (many of which are
nearing retirement age)
Dental Technician Workforce Statistics

48,000
full and part-time
technicians. (U.S. Census)

By 2014, 11,000
technician employees
will leave the profession
due to retirement or
leaving the industry for
other reasons (U.S. Dept.
of Labor)
Top Issues Impacting the Dental Technology
Profession and Dental Laboratories
(reaffirmed since 2005)
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Shortage of qualified technicians and
Managers
Existing and potential state and federal
regulation of technicians and facilities
Cost and proliferation of technology
Globalization of dental device production
Dental insurance (reimbursement rates)
What Has Changed Since Last
August?
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Media Coverage of Chinese and foreign product
safety
Food and Drug Administration officials now
contacting NADL rather than the other way around
Modest growth in dental laboratory sales
2,000 dental laboratories have closed since 2005
based on U.S. Dept. of Labor information
Continued closure of ADA accredited educational
institutions
2006 saw a marked increase in % of imports
NADL Member Demographics

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Majority are white male, average age is 50 and they have the
position of laboratory owner or non owner manager
78% of NADL members have 10-25 employees
Regardless of size of lab, NADL members have been in
business on average between 17-30 years
63% of NADL members lease their facility
47% of small labs have no exit plan; 53% of medium labs have
no exit plan; 33% of large labs have no exit plan
70% of small labs do not plan to purchase or lease a CAD/CAM
system; for medium its 28%; 20% for large lab members
Small labs spend $2.5 K a year on CE or training; medium size
labs spend $4.5K; large size labs spend $10.5K
Small labs average 13.5% net profit; medium labs average
11.8%, large labs average 13.5% net profit
2005 NADL
Member Survey

Top 3 NADL member benefits in terms
of perceived value
 85% of respondents said Journal of
Dental Technology
 68% of respondents said
representation in regulatory and
legislative affairs
 68% of respondents said NADL
website
2005 NADL
Member Survey

Top 3 statements that characterize
NADL
77% of respondents said NADL keeps its
members informed about
legislative/regulatory affairs
 71% of respondents said NADL is
responsive to industry issues
 69% of respondents said NADL represents
the interests of all dental laboratories
regardless of whether they are members or
not

2005 NADL
Member Survey

Top 3 NADL activities in terms of importance:
 90% of respondents said dental technology
education
 90% of respondents said representation in
legislative, legal and regulatory affairs
 83% of respondents said dental
technology/promotion/awareness
 81% of respondents said Business management
education
How Is NADL
Meeting its Mission?
voice – categories of
membership include laboratories;
suppliers, state and regional dental
laboratory associations,
educational programs; and
individual technicians
 Promoting high standards – CDL,
CDT, DAMAS, Competency
Standards
 Unified
How Is NADL
Meeting its Mission?
needs of the industry –
WOK, JDT, study products from
dental manufacturers and
suppliers, National Lab Network
 Business needs of the industry –
Vision 21, NADL University,
Industry reports, JDT, JDT
Unbound, DAMAS, HR Hotline,
Insurance Programs
 Technical
How is NADL
Meeting Its Vision?

Voice for the dental laboratory industry
– officially recognized spokesperson
with over fifteen allied dental
organizations and state/federal
governmental agencies

Strategic Leadership – annual planning
session/consistent analysis of
programs/services
How is NADL
Meeting Its Vision?
 Representation
– participation at
allied organization meetings, (both
on the laboratory side and the
clinician side); with allied
educational associations
 Standard setting –competency
standards, administrator of
DAMAS quality assurance process;
promotion of compliance with
QS/GMP
Member Programs and Services

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Tangible
Business insurance
HR/Labor Law Consulting
Credit Card Processing
Discounted Shipping
Payroll Processing
Industry Data and Report
JDT
JDT Unbound
Fulfillment House (product
inventory for training)
Vision 21
NADL University
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Intangible
Representation before
government agencies
Representation before allied
dental organizations
Leadership training to state
and regional dental lab
associations
Tradeshow Attendance and
speaking engagements at 1215 dental lab meetings a year
Representation with dental
laboratory associations in
other countries
NADL Moving Forward –
Areas of FOCUS for next 12 -18
months
Road Map for Education (traditional, adult
learning, cross training among dental team
members, alternative methods of delivery)
 FDA Regulations (lobbying and/or legal
representation before Congress and other
appropriate public officials)
 Public Relations/Marketing of the Dental
Technician Profession and Dental
Laboratory Industry

Education Concept:
an educational system that will facilitate the
continual upgrade of the educational level
of domestic incumbent worker to allow for
and maintain a competitive edge in a
global market, to mitigate knowledge
erosion and meet the future needs of
changing workforce models and emerging
technologies and that will result in a formal
institutional awarded degree
Creative linkages

Identify barriers:
CODA restrictions
 Institutional restrictions
 ADA


Identify facilitators
ADEA
 Lab Summit
 NBC/NADL
 Prosthodontic Forum

Occupational Map

Identified Core Competencies

All Disciplines

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Dental Technology
Clinical Dental Technology
Dental Assisting
Dental Hygiene
Dental Therapist
Dentist
ADA Community Dental Health Coordinator
Skills Audit gap analysis to place you on the
ladder
ADEA Roadmap (matrix) for
Allied Dental Education
Dental Laboratory Technology
Dental
Dental
Laboratory
Laboratory
Technician I Technician II
Dental
Dental
Laboratory
Laboratory
Technician III Technician IV
 Direct Patient
Position
Overview
Recommended
Degree
Length of
Program
(Academic Years)
 Entry Lab
Tech
Contact
Skills Lab Tech  Practice
Management
Advanced
 Research
 Education
 Administration
Certificate
A.S.
B.S.
M.S.
1 year
2 years
4 years
+ 1 year
Categories
Knowing What We Know – What
should change?


JDT and JDT Unbound
are highly valued by
members (47% of total
NADL expenses
budgeted for this
purpose)
Regulatory
representation is
important to NADL
members – 1% of
expenses are budgeted
for this purpose

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81% of members said
business management
education is important
– NADL allocates 20%
of its expenses for this
purpose (not counting
business mgmt training
in JDT)
83% of NADL members
said promotion of the
profession and industry
are important – NADL
only budgets 1% of its
expenses for this
purpose
NBC Mission Statement
The National Board for
Certification in Dental
Laboratory Technology provides
professional certification to
dental technicians and dental
laboratories for the health and
safety of the dental patient.
NBC Vision Statement
The NBC is dedicated to administering a
globally-recognized certification program
to verify the knowledge, skills and abilities
of dental technicians through examinations
and continuing education. NBC is also
dedicated to the certification of dental
laboratories for the purpose of ensuring
employee safety and quality assurance
practices that meet or exceed government
requirements.
Credibility of Programs
“The (ADA) Council on Dental Education and
Licensure believes that the examination and
certification of dental laboratory technicians is
necessary to provide the dental profession with
an indication of those persons who have
demonstrated their ability to fulfill the dental
laboratory work authorization.”
1998:92, 713 passed by the ADA House of Delegates
Certification of Technicians
Conventional CDT
 Master CDT
 Technologist
 Recognized Graduate

CDT Demographics
(2006 NBC Survey)
Only 25% of CDTs work in a CDL
 52.7% of CDTs believe they are more
likely to be hired than a non CDT
 55.5% of CDTs believe CDTs receive
higher compensation
 60.6% of CDTs believe CDTs are given
more responsibility at work
 40% have been CDT’s for 30+ years

CDT Educational Levels
(2006 NBC Survey)
High School/GED
 Some college (no degree)
 2-yr DT degree
 2-yr "other" degree
 4-yr college degree
 Masters degree or higher

14%
27.7%
29.5%
8%
15%
5.4%
Why Do People Become CDTs?
79% pride of being a recognized
professional
 63% respect of co workers
 55.5% to be tested against a national
standard
 53.3% respect of dental clients
 37% marketing advantage over other labs
 37% to get higher pay

Barriers to Becoming a CDT
(2006 NBC Survey)
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Not Required
Few benefits
Lack of value to dentists
Lack of interest
Costs too much
Exam location convenience
Exams are too difficult
76.4%
73.4%
75.4%
63%
44%
37.2%
20%
The next Generation of CDTs (from 2006
NBC Survey – non CDT respondents)
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50/50 Male to Female Ratio
Minority Representation of Those Aspiring to Be
CDTs: 11.6% Asian; 14.5% African American;
13% Hispanic; 7.2% American Indian
58% are non owner, non manager technicians
17% of aspiring CDTs are from Florida (the
highest percentage of all 50 states), 10% are
from California and 12% from Texas
CDL Facility Standards
NBC has officially launched the new
criteria and standards for the Certified
Dental Laboratory program which
raises the bar for employee safety and
business operations of the facility
Certified Dental Laboratory
Facility requirements
 Equipment requirements
 Managerial requirements
 Personnel requirements

Regulatory Frameworks
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Requirement for a CDT as part of state dental
practice acts
FDA GMP requirement for training records
FDA requirement for “competent to place on
the market” – CDT should be considered to
meet that requirement
Increased acceptance of clinical technicians
(denturists in state practice acts)
Globalization
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Mobile workforce with legitimate
credentials from other countries
Need for independent verification for
non- U.S. lab workers working in the
U.S. and for those technicians
supplying products into the U.S.
Standardization: NBC is working with
ANSI through endorsement process to
ensure commonality of baseline
education, testing methods and CE
Modularization
Testing technicians
through task achievement
for finite areas of skill
competency
 Provides clearer career
path for development and
production value for life
long learning

NBC Areas of FOCUS
Public Relations
 Budget Reallocation based on matters of
importance (based on constituent desires)
 Public Policy Advocacy

Thank you for your
participation in this
important process!
NBC Priorities
Existing:
 CDT
 RG
 CDL
 Testing: CDT/RG
 Marketing (to the
dentists, for
recognition to the
CDT)
Future:
 Globalization
(endorsement and
foreign testing)
 Advocacy
 Modularization
 Education