West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry and the Center for Research and Education in Technology, Inc. (CRET) celebrated the opening of the CRET Innovation Center on September 21, a state-of-the-art dental clinic which will provide fourth year students an educational experience to learn the latest in dental digital technologies while providing oral health care to people living in West Virginia. This is one of three digital high-technology dental centers that has been opened by CRET in collaboration with academic institutions across the United States. CRET also opened Innovation Centers at The Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and the University of Missouri Kansas City’s School of Dentistry.
Founded in 2004, CRET is a forward-looking nonprofit association of dental industry leaders that partners with academic institutions to develop technology education programs for dental students, dental residents, and dental faculty with the aim of promoting knowledge and competency in the industries’ latest technologies while providing quality oral care.
“We are excited about the opening of our latest Innovation Center as we continue to help ensure dental schools are equipped with the latest digital tools and technology for future oral health professionals to experience before they join or open a practice,” said Dr. Edward F. Rossomando, CRET President and Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. “CRET’s partnership with WVU to design, build, and open the Innovation Center embodies the power of partnering industry leaders with academia.”
The CRET Innovation Center at WVU’s School of Dentistry was designed jointly by CRET and WVU to resemble a fully functional private dental office. Because it is located within the dental school, the Center will provide dental students with critical practice management experience in addition to technology training.
“CRET is comprised of a group of manufacturers and distributors that represent the very best in what being good corporate citizens is all about,” said Anthony (Tom) Borgia, D.D.S., M.H.A, the dean of the WVU School of Dentistry. “Part of their motivation in that role is understanding that the best place for them to put their philanthropic efforts is into the areas that have the greatest needs and the fewest resources with which to address those needs. They have recognized that in West Virginia.”
The Innovation Center features five dental operatories with consigned equipment from CRET corporate members, including: A-dec, Air Techniques, Acteon, Benco Dental, Bien Air, Carestream, Gentrix, Inc., Delta Dental of Wisconsin, Dental EZ, Dentsply Sirona, GC America, Henry Schein, Heraeus Kulzer Dental, Hu-Friedy, Isolite, Ivoclar Vivadent, J. Morita USA, Kavo Kerr, Midmark, Patterson Dental, Porter Instrument, Premier Dental, Ralph Green LLC, Royal, Takara Belmont, Ultradent and 3M ESPE Dental Division.
(Left to right) Dr. Edward Rossomando – CRET President, Mia Cassell, (BS, RDH) Innovation Centers Operations Manager & Assistant to the President, Dr. Anthony (Tom) Borgia – WVU School of Dentistry dean, Dr. Lauren Yura – Innovation center director, Donna Haid – Director of Clinical Education and Patient Care, WVU School of Dentistry, Don Hobbs – Vice President of Equipment for Henry Schein Dental and CEO and chairman of the board, CRET.
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