Indiana University School of Dentistry, Fort Wayne is the beneficiary of a grant from the Don Wood Foundation, which funded the purchase of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software and supporting equipment for the School of Dentistry’s dental technology program at Indiana University Fort Wayne (IUFW). Grant-funded equipment includes a 3Shape E3 RED DS Complete Restorative software and scanner and a computer and monitor to furnish a CAD/CAM working station. Additionally, the $25,000 grant provides for faculty and student training.

One of only 13 accredited dental technology programs in the country, the dental technology program at IUFW offers a four-year baccalaureate degree through the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Throughout the years, dental technologies have continuously improved, and CAD/CAM usage in laboratories has grown exponentially. CAD/CAM design and construction is now a mainstay in dental technology, with 67% of all crown and bridge restorations fabricated using this technology.

“CAD/CAM technologies are critical to the design and creation of modern dental appliances. The ability to utilize these technologies in the classroom is a game changer – it will allow us to educate a 21st-century workforce, said Brooke Harris, Dental Technology program director for IU Fort Wayne. “We are grateful to the Don Wood Foundation for this technology grant, as it will prepare our students for successful careers as dental technicians, while also working to grow this unique and important program.”

The Don Wood Foundation serves to align opportunities between students, community, and industry by growing and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Northeast Indiana. Foundation leadership saw this grant request from IU Fort Wayne as a fit for the organization’s mission, as it will provide important technical training for dental students in the region.

“Manufacturing in the 21st century differs significantly from even a decade ago. It is abroad field that touches all areas of our daily lives,” said Laura Macknick, president and CEO of the Don Wood Foundation. “The communities we serve in the Northeast Indiana region directly benefit from this program and the highly customized manufacturing of dental appliances resulting from the student’s ability to integrate CAD/CAM technologies into their studies.”