A dental technician is someone who has been trained to create prosthetics for dental patients. Full or partial dentures, crowns and veneers, as well as orthodontic appliances, are examples of these devices. Each device that the technician creates is unique to the patient for whom it will be used.
Dental technicians receive information from the patient’s dentist, which includes molds of the patient’s mouth, also known as impressions. The dentist also specifies what he wants the technician to do in great detail. The technician is trained to take this information and, using the molds, create the dental patient’s specific prostheses.
The majority of dental technicians’ work is done with small hand tools. They must be extremely detail-oriented and patient to do this type of work all day. The job description includes a requirement for accuracy. If the appliance is not constructed correctly, it must be returned to the technician or even scrapped and a new one constructed.
Dental technicians can get their education in a number of different ways. While some technicians begin working right after high school and receive on-the-job training, the majority enroll in a training program. A two-year degree or certificate program is typically offered vocational schools, technical colleges, and community colleges. A baccalaureate degree in dental technology is available from some four-year schools.
In most cases, dental technicians work in commercial laboratories. Instead of completing this type of work in the office, most dentists send it out. Each laboratory may work for a number of different dentists. Some dental laboratories produce a wide range of prostheses, while others focus on a specific area.
The fact that a dental technician’s work may be performed thousands of miles away from the patient emphasizes the importance of precision. The prostheses are made entirely from notes from the dentist and an impression of the patient’s mouth. The appliance is returned to the dentist and is expected to fit perfectly without any additional adjustments.
A dental technician’s career options are expanding. The demand for work completed technicians is increasing as cosmetic surgery becomes more common. Furthermore, as the population ages, so does the demand for dental prostheses. Dental laboratories, private dental offices, and dental schools are expected to grow in demand.