Crowns, bridges, and veneers are among the dental prostheses that a dental ceramist prepares. These dental professionals work in laboratories with materials such as ceramics and metal, and must complete three to four years of training before practicing as ceramists on their own. Even though the patient may never meet or interact with this member of the dental care team, the ceramist is an important part of the process of fitting a patient for a prosthesis.
A dental ceramist’s job begins when a dentist determines that a patient requires a prosthesis and discusses options with them. A mold of the patient’s mouth is taken and sent to a lab, along with a prescription for the type of prosthesis needed. Furthermore, photographs are taken to allow the ceramist to match the natural color of the patient’s teeth. Unless the patient has specifically requested a specialty prosthesis, color matching is critical to ensure that the prosthesis blends in.
When creating a dental prosthesis, the dental ceramist uses the impression as a guide, using wax to create a form that will be used to make the prosthesis. When the wax model has been designed and fitted to the patient’s teeth impression, it is used to create a form, which is then filled with dental ceramic. To create a point of attachment for the prosthesis, metal framing may be used. The dental ceramist cleans and polishes the prosthesis after it has been set, confirms that it matches the prescription, and sends it to the dentist.
This is extremely time-consuming work. A dental ceramist must balance dental needs with aesthetic concerns to ensure that the impression is the correct size and shape for the patient’s mouth. In addition to their dental technician certifications, some dental ceramists have a background in art and may even hold fine arts degrees.
The pay for a dental ceramist is determined their level of training, experience, and skill. Highly skilled artisans can charge a lot of money for their services and are often in high demand. People who are just starting out may have fewer job opportunities and earn less money. A dental ceramist can choose to work for a specific lab, accepting jobs as they come in, or for a specific dentist, handling all of that dentist’s prosthetic needs.