As the industry's technology leader, Patterson Dental has learned a few things over the years. First and foremost, that being the technology leader means being there after the sale. It's not just about providing dentists with the best dental technology on the market today. It's also about supporting them as they continue to use that technology in the years to come.

Patterson Technology^SM, our comprehensive technology service, is headquartered in the Patterson Technology Center, often called the PTC. The state-of-the-art facility in Effingham, Ill., embodies Patterson's reputation for high-tech development, testing and support. Through the PTC's Effingham facility, Patterson provides products that enable dental professionals and their teams to save time, increase productivity and maximize their investment in software and digital technologies.

In short, the PTC helps dental practices optimize equipment and technology from Patterson. This is not a perk that Patterson provides - instead, it is considered a responsibility and a Patterson promise. Patterson has embraced that promise since its inception in 1877 and continues to improve upon it. As the support center for the customers of Patterson Dental, the PTC has grown rapidly over the past decade and a half. In 1997, the PTC had 25 employees and 1,000 customers. Today, more than 400 employees work for the PTC, serving more than 85,000 customers.

"The level of support that comes out of the PTC is staggering," said Pam Hemmen, Patterson vice president, technology services. "At the same time, we are developing new products and finding ways to help dentists get the most out of Patterson Technology at every turn."

The team at the PTC has a single goal: improve the patient experience and practice lifestyle for Patterson dentists. It is by design that product development, implementation, support and practice optimization teams share the same location. The departments work very closely to stay connected with our customers' requests.