Dental Technician

Dental Technician

Duties and Responsibilities:

       They maintain and improve patients oral health by fabricating fixed and removable prostheses according to dentist descriptions. Replaces partial or total loss of natural teeth by constructing partial or full dentures (metal and non-metal).

Restores natural teeth by fabricating crowns and bridges.

Corrects dental irregularities by manufacturing fixed or removable appliances.

Completes implantology procedures by fabricating prostheses to fit implants the dentist places directly into the patient's jawbone.

Replaces missing facial and body tissues due to injury, disease, or developmental abnormality by fabricating maxillo-facial prostheses.

Documents actions by completing forms, reports, logs, and records.

Utilizes and conserves supplies and equipment by completing plaster casting, electro-spot welding, metal casting, metal polishing, wax modeling, ceramics, wire bending, electroplating and sandblasting; using CAD/CAM units; maintaining supplies inventories; keeping equipment operating.

Improves quality results by studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes; implementing changes.

Updates dental laboratory technician job knowledge and skills by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.

Enhances dental laboratory reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Salary: $36,000- $100,000

Education: Dental laboratory technicians may receive their education and training through a two-year program at a community college, vocational school, technical college, university or dental school. Graduates of these programs receive either an associate degree or a certificate. There also are a few programs that offer a four-year baccalaureate program in dental technology.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?