dr - University of Washington School of Dentistry

Technology center gets major boost
For years, School of Dentistry leaders
have dreamed of having a technology
center that would introduce students to
the newest developments. Now that the
School’s Advanced Technology Center
is nearing realization, it has received a
major boost from Issaquah Dental Lab.
IDL has announced a $115,000 gift
to the School, to be delivered
over the next four years. The
gift supports the purchase of a
Cadent iTero digital impression
system for the ATC. The iTero
takes digital impressions for
crowns and bridges, with the
dentist using an intra-oral wand
to scan the prepped tooth and
surrounding dentition.
“The School of Dentistry is very
pleased with the support of Issaquah
Dental Laboratory and Cadent,” said
Dr. Ricardo Schwedhelm, Associate
Professor of Restorative Dentistry. He
George Englund
worked closely with Greg Harris, IDL’s
head of business development, in helping
to develop the gift.
“The iTero system will be an important
part of the Advanced Technology
Center’s mission to improve
dental student training,”
Dr. Schwedhelm said. “This is
an excellent example of
how we can work with
the dental industry to
integrate technological
advances to the dental
curriculum.”
“When we heard about the
Advanced Technology Center
being put together, that’s
what really pushed us,” said IDL Vice
President George Englund. “We are the
technology leaders in this area, and we
really need to be a part of that.”
The ATC, to be located near the
School’s third-floor clinic, will be used
On hand for the new iTero unit’s arrival at the School are (from left) Dr. Dan Chan, Greg Harris
of IDL, Dean Somerman, Jeff Denney of Cadent iTero and Dr. Ricardo Schwedhelm.
Larry Searles
news
by third-year and fourth-year students,
a fourth-year honors course, CDE
courses and study clubs. Start-up is
planned for December.
Englund’s enthusiasm for
the project was kindled when
he attended his first Dean’s
Club dinner for School of Dentistry
donors this past spring.
“I loved what I saw – it just
goes to the core, that we want
to be a supporter of the school
and the Dean’s vision,” says
Englund, whose Seattle-area laboratory
has distinguished itself by its use of
cutting-edge technology.
IDL has installed 10 3M Lava
CAD/CAM milling systems, making
crown and bridge frameworks.
“We’re currently the largest producer
in world of Lava frameworks, and
we do a lot of outsourcing work for
hundreds of labs across the country,”
Englund said.
Beyond the iTero purchase, IDL’s
gift will support other activities at the
Advanced Technology Center. In addition,
IDL will also be a Gold-level
sponsor of the Dean’s Club Dinner,
and support various UW Dental Alumni
Association and
student events.
IDL’s gift will
earn it designation
as a University
of Washington
Benefactor,
and will also be recognized by IDL’s
inclusion on the School’s Partners in
Excellence donor wall. R
summer / fall 2009 DentalAlumninews 9