This fall, the Center for Research & Education in Technology (CRET) will publish a report on the state of emerging technologies in dental schools. The 2017 Dental School Technology Audit will be a first-of-its-kind report, according to CRET. Instead of measuring the number of products and pieces of equipment in each school, it will be a snapshot of the readiness of dental schools in the United States to accept emerging technologies into their developmental pipelines.
Information for the report is currently being gathered from dental school deans through an online survey. Deans were contacted this summer with an invitation to complete the survey, and responses are now being filed. CRET reports that it has taken measures to ensure the survey’s accuracy and integrity.
“Today, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, and other emerging technologies are entering the dental marketplace, again bringing a tsunami of change to the dental profession,” said Edward Rossomando, DDS, PhD, president of CRET and leader of the project. “If dental schools are to fulfill their obligation to the next generation of dental students, they must be prepared to respond.”
“To help future dental leaders, it is important that we work with our partners to outfit dental schools with the latest technology, equipment, and materials,” said Don Hobbs of Henry Schein Dental and CEO and chairman of the board at CRET. “We have been supporting CRET for approximately 7 years, serving on its board and helping to provide the tools and resources needed by dental schools so that future professionals are equipped to succeed in the digital era of dentistry.”
CRET’s goal is to transfer technological knowledge and competency to dental students and faculty, which often is challenged in educating students about emerging technologies due to the rapid pace of technological change. CRET has worked to open innovation centers at 2 dental schools in the United States, with a third scheduled to open in 2018 at the University of West Virginia.
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