From July 19th to 21st, dental technicians and industry professionals from over 10 countries converged on the Glendale Campus of Niagara College to network, to learn about the strategic tools necessary to build their careers, and to discuss the future of the dental technician profession, at the first annual conference of the Dental Technicians Association.

The Dental Technicians International Association (DTIA) is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to define and promote the accomplishments of Dental Technician Professionals, and to increase awareness of the profession of Dental Technology, whose passion and commitment is to serve society through the creation of dental prosthetics.  “Developed out of an expressed need by dental technicians at home and abroad for a forum through which they can further the particular interests of the dental technician profession, the DTIA provides opportunities for networking, worldwide communication, education, and shared resources to assist dental technicians in their quest to build and maintain successful, well-rounded careers,” says Co-Director, Reg Goulding. 

The first DTIA meeting was a great success, garnering accolades from both delegates and visiting dignitaries alike.  Minister of Tourism, Jim Bradley, Mayor Ted Salci of the City of Niagara Falls, and Niagara College President Dan Patterson all expressed their appreciation of the DTIA choosing Niagara, and offered hearty welcomes to the international group of delegates from countries including India, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, the United States of America, Canada, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Panama.  The delegates were overwhelmed with the hospitality shown to them by Niagara hotels, restaurants, and attractions, and expressed their eagerness to return to the region for the next conference.

During the Open Forum of DTIA members, the group agreed that the DTIA’s attention must be focused on areas including education, exposure, encouraging more youth to get involved in the industry, educators inspiring passion in students for the industry, motivation, teamwork, mentoring opportunities and business alliances. The membership agreed that the time has come to put “emotion into motion”, and to begin looking at strategies to achieve the forward motion that is currently lacking in the industry.

To begin and continue the process, members are encouraged to do the following:

1.                  Send in recommendations or nominations for international advisory board members

2.                  Begin inviting key professionals in each designated area to participate in the National or Regional Boards

3.                  Contribute to the discussion threads that have begun on the www.dtia.net website to continue brainstorming and planning the direction of the DTIA

The DTIA meetings will be hosted in the Niagara Region for the next 5 years.  It is open to dental technicians, dental technology educators and students, laboratory owners, and other dental or lab associations.  The 2008 meeting will take place from June 20 to 21.