Who is a Dental Technician?

(From About.com career planning website and Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Dental Laboratory Technicians)

Job Description

Dental technicians manufacture dental prosthetics including bridges, crowns and dentures according to specifications dentists send them.  They work in specialties that include orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, or ceramics.  Dental technicians are also called dental laboratory technicians.

Educational Requirements for Dental Technicians

Although dental technicians generally receive on-the-job training, many employers prefer to hire job candidates who have received formal training available through community colleges and vocational-technical schools.

Other Requirements for Dental Technicians

In addition to receiving classroom instruction, dental technicians also need hands-on experience. One who wants to become a dental technician should have good manual dexterity, good vision, and be adept at recognizing very fine color shadings and variations in shape. Another important trait is an artistic aptitude for detailed and precise work.

Advancement Opportunities for Dental Technicians

Experienced dental technicians who work in large laboratories may become supervisors or managers. Some may teach or work for dental suppliers. Others may open their own laboratories.

A Day in a Dental Technician's Life:

 On a typical day a dental technician will make crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental prosthetics
             based on dentists' prescriptions. These are some of the steps he/she will take to make a dental
             prosthetic device:

 create a model of a patient's mouth by pouring plaster into an impression (mold) made by a dentist;

 examine the model taking note of the patient's bite, surrounding teeth and gum line;

 build and shape a wax model of the patient's teeth or tooth, which the dental technician will use to cast
             a metal framework for the prosthetic device;

 after casting the metal framework, the dental technician will prepare its surface to adhere
             to the porcelain "teeth";

 form "teeth" from porcelain by applying it in layers to the prepared metal framework;

 continue to adjust the color and shape of the tooth or teeth, which includes placing it in a porcelain
             furnace which will allow the porcelain to bake onto the metal framework;