[Dr. Marvin Herman] We are the only fully accredited Dental Laboratory program in Upper New York State, in the whole region as a matter of fact, the whole north east, so our accreditation standards are very, very rigid.

[John Lenahan]  The laboratories, the ADA mandates we stay around 12 to 1 but in addition to the one faculty we also have a tutor, lectures are 32 students in the class.  When they first come in, the first introduction we have, we introduce the industry to them and we show them in another course we'll teach them about the equipment we have and the materials that we will be using.  We introduce all the occupation how it operates around this equipment and materials and then we, the very first technical thing that they really get in to is we teach them how to make complete dentures.  We introduce them to complete dentures and also we do the format for restorative for crown and bridge work.

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  In the third semester they continue with more advanced crown and bridge, more advanced partial denture techniques, but also now they start getting into ceramics technique and orthodontic techniques.  They start to build braces, appliances for the teeth, to move the teeth to different positions.  And in the fourth semester they continue with brushing up, repetition on all these items.

[John Lenahan]  Most of the classes last a couple of hours, an hour an half a day.  These labs are long labs and we have students that come in early in the morning, 7 o'clock, and they are here right till five o'clock at night.

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  Probably with optionally specialties we are probably exceeding 70 credit hours, which is quite a load.  So, many students do it on a two and a half, three year basis.

[John Lenahan]  Before they leave this program, like usually the end of April or the early part May, they take an exam, National Boards.

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  Our seniors take the national boards right here at our facility in May of every year and we have virtual 100 percent passage.  And because it's national they are not locked into New York State.  So without taking any further exams, without any further documentation, they can go anywhere in the United States.

[John Lenahan]  I would like have everyone start to do some of the work ...

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  My whole purpose is to be able to have them find a job when they leave.  National companies have opened very large labs in the Buffalo area and they need technicians and I say need in capital letters.  So if someone wants to just graduate and go out and work at the bench, they grab them. 

[John Lenahan]  We have several students that go on and try and get into dental school.

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  Most people don't realize you do not need a Bachelorette degree for dental school.  Dental schools love our graduates.  In addition to the dental courses they must have two years of chemistry in organic and with labs, organic chem., physics, a minimum of one year of biology and an upper level math.  And with those courses, and of course with a decent average, they are prime candidates for dental school.

[Raymond Wittmeyer] Just put it up to the light and see if you can see a little slot of light showing through the casting…

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  Every one of our instructors has, so to speak, one leg in the real world and one leg in the academic world.  

[John Lenahan]  We want the student to learn the knowledge that we have.  We don't just want to stand up there and teach.  I feel as though if we just stand up there, they don't develop from that.

[Dr. Marvin Herman]  With the students we try to make a social atmosphere.  We make it almost like a home.  It's really almost like a family.  We keep this corner of building number two in the second floor and the students really live there.  They only leave the area for the ones who have to take liberal arts and then they come right back.

[Laugh]