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5 Questions

ADEA membership is made up of a diverse group of professions that span all facets of dentistry and dental education. But we are more than just our professions.

In the feature 5 Questions With... , we shine a spotlight on various ADEA members, asking them five questions (both professional and personal), giving us all a chance to get to know one another better.

Susan Ferrante
Global Director of Institutional Sales
A-dec Inc.


1. What gives you the most satisfaction professionally?

I take great pride in working for a family-owned company that has interacted with dental education for almost 60 years. For me, personally, satisfaction is being able to have an impact on the student learning environment and to see the process from design, planning and to fruition of a completed preclinic or clinic space. All of which will have a lasting footprint and impact on the school for years to come.

2. What’s a major development in your field that’s flying under the radar?

I do not necessarily believe that this is flying under the radar, but I do believe that that there is a great amount of untapped potential in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) in dental education. We already begin to see how AI is having an impact on the curricula, treatment planning and patient care.


The progression and speed of movement on this technology will have a substantial impact on the changing face of dentistry. Additionally, AR has had an impact on dental education, and I believe that we are not yet into the full potential of this technology. Currently, we see the use of AR for teaching in a virtual environment, space planning and clinic design—what other areas will be impacted? In my opinion, there is a lot of work being done for the advancement of these two technologies that might not be visible so may seem like it is flying under the radar.

3. In 10 years, the biggest change about dental education (or dentistry) will be …

In 10 years, the biggest change in dental education will be the Dental Compact Licensure. This will have an impact on addressing the shortage needs for dentists and dental hygienists as well as increasing access to care. The Compact has been adopted by nine states and if it continues at this rate, it will have a large impact on licensure portability. This is a trend that is growing and falls in line with other health care providers.

4. What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I love to cook. Whether it is perfecting an old recipe, trying a new one or making up my own, it gives me great joy to cook. Cooking tugs upon my creative side.

5. If you could be in any movie, what part would you want to play?
For me, I would be Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun. Diane’s character is truly about taking on a project to lead a change in her life. It is the story of rebirth and coming out of a difficult time to a new beginning and the strength that she finds within. She also gives back to the community to become part of something so meaningful to others. Most importantly, there is a happy ending—who doesn’t like a happy ending?

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2023