Center for Research and Education in Technology (CRET) celebrates the opening of its latest innovation center at West Virginia University School of Dentistry.

Industry and academia partners to provide dental students with state-of-the art dental digital technology to provide oral health care to citizens of West Virginia

West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry and the Center for Research and Education in Technology, Inc. (CRET) celebrated the opening (shown above, courtesy West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry News) of the CRET Innovation Center on September 21 in Morgantown, West Virginia.

The state-of-the-art dental clinic 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.

Site Visit Team in late 2016 for Center for Research and Education in Technology (CRET, Inc.) includes: (from left) Chuck Cohen, Benco Dental; Dr. Edward Rossomando, President, CRET; Tiffany Crain, Midmark; Betsy Ashworth, Dentsply Sirona; Mia Kenefick, CRET Innovations Center Operations Manager; Dr. Michael Meador, Associate Dean, West Virginia University; Dr. Anthony Borgia, Dean West Virginia University School of Dentistry; Don Tomko, Air Techniques.

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.

“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.”

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.

Source: The Center for Research and Education in Technology