Advancing dental technology in Suriname

In Suriname, opportunities to study dental technology are limited. The Smile Factory in Paramaribo wants to change this by investing in the knowledge and skills of a new generation of dental technicians. Since 2024, SmileLab and PUM expert Martin Ronald Scholte have been working together on a step-by-step learning trajectory, combining practical training with the ambition to develop dental technology education in Suriname.

SmileLab is the dental technology laboratory connected to The Smile Factory in Paramaribo. Dental technicians play an important role in oral healthcare, producing solutions such as crowns, bridges and dentures in close collaboration with dentists. However, Suriname currently has no regular Vocational dental technology education available. People who want to specialise in this profession therefore have limited opportunities to receive formal training within the country.

The Smile Factory recognised this challenge and started an initiative to train motivated young people in dental technology. In November 2023, dentist Justin Karsodikromo and a group of students began meeting online every Saturday with PUM expert Martin Ronald Scholte, who is specialised in dental technology.

Building knowledge in phases

The collaboration developed into a longer-term learning trajectory. During a project in Suriname in 2024, Martin worked with The Smile Factory and SmileLab to further develop the initiative and explore opportunities for dental technology and prosthodontics education.

Since then, the team has continued to build its knowledge through follow-up training. The programme progresses from Level 1 to Level 5, from basic technical skills to advanced prosthetic and digital workflows. Group sizes become smaller at the higher levels, allowing more individual supervision and practical guidance.

From theory to daily practice

In May 2026, Martin returned to Paramaribo for the next stage: an intensive eight-day Level 3 prosthetics training for the SmileLab team. This training focused on complete dentures, anatomical principles and the Lingualized Occlusion Concept (LOC). Participants worked on bite registration, model analysis, articulation, occlusion, tooth arrangement and denture stability, with an emphasis on understanding how these principles contribute to a predictable and stable prosthetic result.

The emphasis was not only on learning techniques, but also on understanding why they work and how they can be applied consistently. This enables technicians to make better-informed decisions in their daily work and further improve the quality and reproducibility of the laboratory’s processes. Martin explains: “With this Level 3 training, we are taking the next step in a multi-year process of practical knowledge transfer and professional development. The aim is for the team to apply this knowledge independently and share it with others.”

Creating a foundation for the future

By investing continuously in practical education, SmileLab is building expertise that remains within Suriname. In 2027, when The Smile Factory’s new and larger practice is ready, the plan is to start a new group of six students at Level 1, while the current SmileLab team progresses to Level 4. In this way, the experienced group can continue developing advanced skills while a new generation starts with the fundamentals. This creates continuity in the programme and allows knowledge and skills to be passed on to future dental technicians.