Advanced Esthetic Dentistry for Ceramist Technicians

Advanced Esthetic Dentistry Technician Program

• Program Overview
• Admissions Requirements
• Application Procedure
• Exam & Interview
• Decisions Process
• Contact Information

Program Overview

Edward McLaren, DDS
Program Director

Dr. McLaren with ceramists

The UCLA School of Dentistry through UCLA Extension and Los Angeles City College offers a full-time Advanced Esthetic Dentistry Technician Program for Ceramist Technicians. Our 2-year curriculum heavily emphasizes direct interaction between the technician, dentist, and patient as the cases are fabricated. The technicians will work directly with the patient by viewing the restorations intraorally during and after fabrication. Technicians will also work closely with the treating dentist from diagnosis to case completion.

The program is designed for technicians with prior experience. Minimum requirements are a basic understanding of tooth form and the ability to wax a tooth to full contour. Prior experience with porcelain is preferred but not required.

The curriculum offers a master ceramist level of training in all restoration cases performed in the Center for Esthetic Dentistry clinic at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Topics to be covered include:

• Hands-on experience with the newest esthetic materials and state of the art equipment, including all-ceramic systems, polymer-fiber systems, and metal-ceramic systems
• Specific training in veneers, inlays, onlays, and metal free crowns
• Extensive training in natural tooth morphology, esthetic arrangement, and smile design
• Treatment planning and proper selection of materials for each clinical situation
• Diagnostic waxing and fabrication of esthetic prototype (provisional) resotration
• Overview of material science
• Digital photography, including how to use photography as a tool to plan, document, and communicate visually the fabrication of esthetic restorations
• Business and financial aspects of successfully marketing esthetic dent and emphasizes collaboration with the treating dentist in all aspects of each case.

A certificate of attendance is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

Length of Program: 2 years

Number of Positions: 9 - 10

Tuition: $4,400 per year for California residents; $8,500 per year for non-California residents; and $9,500 per year for non-US citizens (all fees are subject to change)

Admissions Requirements

• Degree from a 2-year technical school or at least 2 years of professional experience in dental technology
• English language proficiency

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit all of the following materials:

• UCLA Preceptorship Program Application
• Official dental education transcripts translated into English
• 3 confidential reports from people with knowledge of the applicant’s skills and potential
• Proof of English language proficiency for people with English as a second language (fulfilled with either an official TOEFL score and/or other English proficiency examination OR successful completion of an English language course; an interview in English may be required)
• One-time, non-refundable application fee of $150.00**

All application materials must be sent directly to Center for Esthetic Dentistry:

Application Deadline: March 31

A one-time, non-refundable registration fee of $400.00 is due after acceptance into the program.**

**All fees, including tuition, must be paid in US dollars in the form of a check drawn from a US-affiliated bank, cashier's check, money order, or cash made payable to UC Regents.

Exam & Interview

Selected candidates will be invited for a 2-day practical exam and a comprehensive interview. If you have been selected, you will be notified by telephone and/or email.

Timing of Exam/Interview: One session will be administered in March, while another session will be administered in April.

Approximate Number of Candidates Selected for Exam/Interview: Maximum of 25 candidates for each session

Second-round interviews will be conducted on April 17 & 18, 2011

Decisions Process

The admissions committee considers the following criteria in its decisions:

• Academic achievement
• Professional experience
• Content of personal statement
• Content of confidential reports
• Performance on the 2-day practical exam
• Overall impression from personal interview

Accepted candidates are notified by the Center for Esthetic Dentistry. Decisions will be available by May 1.

Contact Information

Connie Daino, RDA
10833 Le Conte Ave, 33-064A CHS
Box 951668
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668
RE: Esthetic Lab
(310) 825-4736
cdaino@dentistry.ucla.edu