According to dentists’ orders, a dental laboratory technician, also known as a dental technician, creates prosthetic dental parts such as dentures and bridges, as well as appliances such as orthodontic retainers. Some dental technician jobs require the creation of a wide range of dental components, while others are more specialized. Employer-provided training for dental technicians is common, though some schools and universities offer degrees in dental technician studies.
The majority of dental technician jobs begin when the technician receives an order from a dentist for a dental prosthesis or appliance. A physical or digital mold of a patient’s mouth, made the ordering dentist, is usually included in the order. First, the technician creates a life-sized model of the patient’s teeth using this mold. He makes a wax model of the required prosthesis or appliance after studying the patient’s teeth. After that, the wax model is recast in metal and layers of porcelain are added, resulting in a final product that, if well-made, appears natural once installed in the patient’s mouth the ordering dentist.
Some dental technician jobs entail designing and fabricating a wide range of dental prosthetics and appliances. In some cases, dental technicians specialize in creating a specific type of dental insert. For example, a technician may specialize in removable prosthetics such as dentures or permanent prosthetics such as crowns and veneers. He may also specialize in the creation of orthodontic appliances, such as removable or permanent retainers, which are used to keep teeth aligned after braces have been removed.
The working environment for a dental technician varies depending on the job. Some dental technicians work in big labs with a lot of other people. Others work for small companies or are self-employed. Small-business employees may have more contact with the dentists with whom they work than those employed large laboratories.
Employers frequently provide training for dental technician positions. These employers frequently require candidates to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Those looking for a competitive edge in the job market should consider enrolling in a dental technician degree program, which are available at a variety of universities, community colleges, and technical institutes. These programs typically take two years to complete, with graduates receiving an associate’s degree.