When Arthur Zwingenberger took over his father’s medical import company, SciCan, in 1975, he knew he needed to bring the 25-year-old business up to date if it was to survive. He asked his team to come up with a unique technology that SciCan could make their own.
The result: the novel STATIM quick autoclave, a sterilization system that became a vital piece of infrastructure for every dental practice. And it propelled SciCan into a leading position in the Canadian and international dental markets.
Now Zwingenberger, a double U of T alumnus (BA 1963 UC, MA 1965), is helping the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry secure its own future through infrastructure. With a $1-million gift—and some important advice—he’s helping launch fundraising for an exciting renovation project that will see first- and second-year dental students learning the foundations of their trade in a state-of-the-art facility.
Arthur Zwingenberger
“Aging infrastructure will define a school and its graduates,” says Zwingenberger. “In the highly sophisticated technological environment needed for excellent dentistry today, up-to-date and forward-looking infrastructure is imperative.”
Arthur Zwingenberger
Now retired, Zwingenberger sat on the Faculty’s dean’s advisory board and is a staunch volunteer and trusted advisor. Through his recent work on the board, he validated infrastructure as a key fundraising priority for U of T Dentistry.
Current project: renovating Lab 4. The simulation lab for preclinical students is designed to train first- and second-year students on the basics of dental technical skills. It was also built in 1959 and still features the original wood cabinets.
Sonia Huang, student in Lab 4 before demolition. Photo by Matt Volpe
I feel grateful for these alumni who have been so generous in supporting our education.
Space became available when the Faculty moved its Clinic 2 operations to the new 777 Bay St. clinic site in order to comply with COVID-19 protocols in effect at the time. That’s allowed the Faculty to temporarily host Lab 4 in the old Clinic 2 space. With Zwingenberger’s leading gift, the Faculty has started demolition of the space, with the goal of opening the Lab of the future in the fall of 2023.
“Personally, I feel grateful for these alumni who have been so generous in supporting our education, our clinical experience and student life,” says Sonia Huang (DDS 2020), a master’s student in periodontics.
“It will have the most up to date patient simulator,” says James Posluns, Director of Clinical Affairs at U of T Dentistry. That’s the mannequin-like head and equipment set-up that gives students the feel of what it’s like to try to reach back teeth, how a dental drill feels in your hand, how to suction properly, how to position your body and the best angle for your lighting.
Sonia Huang, student in Lab 4 before demolition. Photo by Matt Volpe
I feel grateful for these alumni who have been so generous in supporting our education.
It will have 124 stations—room for an entire year of students. It will be built of modern materials for infection control, come equipped with the latest delivery system for the handpieces and other equipment, and include, for the first time, a computerized chart and x-ray system, so students can get up to speed on clinic management and interpretative skills.
“There’s a huge educational benefit to doing that right from the get-go,” says Posluns. “It means that when students enter clinics in third year, they have an improved level of comfort. With this foundational knowledge, upper-year students can spend their time learning advanced skills. They’ll graduate as better, more well-rounded dentists.”
The renovations now underway are the basics, says Posluns. “If further funds can be raised, we’ve roughed in a whole room for a fully equipped digital dentistry lab.” In this rapidly emerging field, dentists learn to fabricate digital models and 3D print dental adjuncts and prostheses on-site. With digital technology, a patient can be fitted with a crown the same day.
“We’d love to be able to have more support for the infrastructure so that we can support the overall simulation lab project and implement the digital lab going forward,” he says. “Digital is going to be the predominant method in less than five years. While we’re really happy with the renovations we’re doing, we’re also building a platform to take it to the next level so we can continue to progress and grow as the profession evolves.”
“Arthur has made the largest-ever, in-life individual, gift to U of T Dentistry, and we’re deeply, deeply grateful for his generosity,” says Laura Tam, interim dean of the Faculty. “Dentistry is a dynamic field; our students must graduate fully qualified for the techniques and technologies of today and tomorrow. Arthur’s gift enables this—and through support for strong dental education, also helps ensure a robust dental profession into the future.”
Zwingenberger hopes other alumni will see things this way too.
“U of T in my eyes is the pre-eminent university in Canada,” he says. “This excellence requires constant investment in human and physical capital. Developing and realizing the dental school for the next many decades will achieve this illustrious goal. I am sure that many other U of T alumni will be keen to join me in this effort.”