Dental workshop offers 'great value' Published Feb. 23, 2007 By Jennifer Ledford 21st Space Wing Public Affairs COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Peterson Area Dental Laboratory held its 36th annual workshop earlier this month at the Cheyenne Mountain Conference Center. Hosting 345 military and civilian dental technicians and doctors from around the world, the workshop offered 20 clinical lectures and 26 hands-on courses providing advanced Computer Aided Drafting and Computer Aided Manufacturing training. "Not many people realize that the Air Force has its own dental laboratory system," said Col. Alan Sutton, Military Consultant to the Surgeon General for Prosthodontics/Dental Laboratories. Peterson's ADL serves as the central laboratory for the Air Force, making between $1.2 and $1.5 million each year in service to laboratories from bases all over the world, he said. In its 51 years of operation, the ADL continues to provide overflow support, advanced technologies and consulting to every base lab, according to Senior Master Sgt. Thom Torttier, ADL superintendent. The ADL takes their mission of "Supporting military readiness by improving oral health through advanced technologies" globally in its service to bases all over the world. "What we do here for our folks is very instrumental," said Master Sgt. Marie Hinkle, section chief of operational support. The annual workshop focuses on providing advanced CAD/CAM training through lectures and hands-on courses taught by sponsored professionals. The Peterson ADL also provides national certification for dental laboratory technicians, and recertification requires the hands-on training provided by the workshop. A group at the ADL, led by Cheryl Jardin, administrative assistant, organized this year's workshop. "She's a great time manager," said Sergeant Hinkle. Ms. Jardin creates the 50 page program for the workshop in addition to the duties of organizing teams and workshop registration. Ms. Jardin and Sergeant Hinkle had to guide a brand new committee through this year's planning, a difficult task for such a large event. However, "it makes it easier when you have great folks on your team," Sergeant Hinkle said. "Consistency keeps us going," Ms. Jardin explained, "We learn from our mistakes, so it's just going to get better next year." The ADL workshop does not charge registration or course fees. "It's a great educational value," Sergeant Torttier said.