Making a Connection
Collaboration Between Dental Assisting and CAD/CAM Programs at Van Dyke Public School District’s Lincoln High School
Dentistry has evolved tremendously over the past few decades, thanks in large part to the development of CAD/CAM technology, which stands for Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing. This advanced technology allows dental professionals to digitally design and produce restorations such as crowns, bridges, veneers, and inlays. By using digital scans and computer modeling, CAD/CAM makes the process of creating dental restorations faster, more precise, and more efficient. What used to take several days or even weeks in the dental field can now be completed in just a few hours. Patients benefit from quicker turnaround times, improved comfort, and high-quality, long-lasting results.
Lincoln High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are always looking for innovative ways to connect classroom learning to real-world careers. This year, the Dental Assisting and CAD/CAM programs collaborated to give their students a firsthand look at how technology is shaping the future of dentistry. To make this connection come to life, students from both programs visited Olson Dental Laboratory in Clinton Township, Michigan.
Olson Dental Laboratory has partnered with Lincoln High School’s Dental Assisting program for many years, offering students the opportunity to see how dental restorations are created in a professional lab setting. This year, for the first time, the CAD/CAM students were invited to join the visit as well, making it a unique learning experience that bridged two different yet connected career pathways.
During the visit, students were guided through the entire process of creating a dental crown from start to finish. They watched as dental assistants performed a digital intraoral scan to capture an exact 3D image of a patient’s teeth. Then, lab technicians demonstrated how that digital file is imported into specialized CAD software, where the crown design is customized to fit perfectly within the patient’s bite and smile. Finally, students witnessed the CAM milling machine bring the design to life by carving the crown out of a solid block of ceramic with incredible precision.
Seeing this process unfold gave students a clear understanding of how technology and healthcare work hand in hand. Dental Assisting students were able to connect what they’ve learned about patient care and dental procedures to the digital design process, while CAD/CAM students saw how their skills in design, modeling, and manufacturing can be applied to a healthcare setting. The collaboration opened students’ eyes to a variety of career possibilities. Some may go on to work in dental offices, others in dental labs, and some may even pursue careers in advanced manufacturing or digital design.
As both dentistry and digital manufacturing continue to advance, the relationship between these two fields will only become more important. By exposing students to this connection now, Lincoln High School is helping prepare the next generation of skilled professionals who are ready to adapt, innovate, and lead in the future of healthcare technology.
Lincoln High School’s CTE programs are proud to provide students with these kinds of hands-on, real-world learning opportunities. Experiences like the visit to Olson Dental Laboratory not only make learning more engaging but also help students see how their classroom skills apply in professional settings. The staff and students would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Olson Dental Laboratory for their continued partnership, support, and dedication to student success.
Article provided by Van Dyke Public Schools for publication in the Macomb Daily.
