The dental technician is a member of the oral health care team with lots of responsibility. When dental patients require special appliances to chew and speak well, dentists request their assistance. Dental laboratory technicians produce a wide variety of appliances to help dental patients who have lost some of all of their natural teeth to function. A qualified dental technician is skillful in using small hand instruments, has artistic abilities and pays close attention to details. Their skills are considered both science and art. Dental lab technicians play a significant role in the delivery of dental health care and take pride in producing hand crafted products.
A career as a dental technician offers many challenges. Due to the differences in the needs and makeup of dental patients, their responsibilities are both comprehensive and varied. While they seldom work directly with patients, they do work directly with dentists. The dentists provides them detailed written instructions as well as the impressions of the patient's teeth or oral soft tissues. The dental technician takes these items and uses them to create such appliances as full and partial dentures, crowns, veneers and orthodontic braces.
Dental lab technicians perform much of their work without close supervision and often experience the satisfaction that goes along with the knowledge that they help to provide a valued health care service and contribute positively to a patients' oral health and self image.
A dental technician career offers flexibility and several opportunities for advancement. Most dental laboratory technicians work in commercial dental laboratories employing from 2 to 200 people. The average laboratory employs about five to ten technicians who may provide a full range of dental prosthetic services, or specialize in producing one particular type of prosthesis (e.g., removable partial dentures, crown and bridge, etc). In addition, there are some opportunities available in private dental offices for technicians who prefer close one-on-one contact with a dentist. Employment opportunities may also be available in dental schools, hospitals and with companies that manufacture dental prosthetic materials. Dental laboratory technology education programs also offer some teaching positions for experienced technicians.
Dental technicians fill prescriptions from dentists for crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental prosthetics. The general process is as follows:
The dentist sends a specification of the item to be manufactured, along with an impression of the patient’s mouth or teeth.
The dental lab technician then creates a model of the patient’s mouth by pouring plaster into the impression and allowing it to set. The model is placed on an apparatus that mimics the bite and movement of the patient’s jaw. This model serves as the basis of the prosthetic device.
The technician examines the model, noting the size and shape of the adjacent teeth, as well as gaps within the gumline. Based upon these observations and the dentist’s specifications, the dental technician builds and shapes a wax tooth or teeth model, using small hand instruments, wax spatulas and wax carvers. The wax model is used to cast the metal framework for the prosthetic device.
After the wax tooth has been formed, the cast is poured and metal is formed.
Using small hand held tools, the dental technician prepares the surface to allow the metal and porcelain to bond. Porcelain is then applied in layers, until the precise shape and color of a tooth is achieved. Once it the shape and color is met, the tooth is then placed into a porcelain furnace in order for the porcelain to be baked onto the metal framework.
The dental lab technician may make some adjustments with the shape and color by grinding and adding porcelain until a sealed finish is achieved. The final product is a very close replica of the lost tooth or teeth.
In some laboratories, technicians perform all stages of the work, whereas, in other labs, each technician does only a few. Dental laboratory technicians can specialize in 1 of 5 areas: orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, or ceramics. Job titles can reflect specialization in these areas. For example, technicians who make porcelain and acrylic restorations are called dental ceramists.
Dental technicians generally work in clean, highly ventilated labs with lots of lighting and have very limited contact with the public. They are usually equipped with their own workbenches, Bunsen burners, grinding and polishing equipment, and hand instruments, such as wax spatulas and wax carvers. Some dental technicians have computer aided milling equipment to assist them with creating artificial teeth. They must also adhere to OSHA Regulations and wear such items as goggles, gloves and masks. Lab technicians may also spend a lot of time standing.
Dental technicians begin with simple tasks, such as pouring plaster into an impression, and progress to more complex procedures, such as making porcelain crowns and bridges. Becoming a fully trained technician requires an average of 3 to 4 years, depending upon the individual’s aptitude and ambition, but it may take a few years more to become an accomplished technician.
Salaried laboratory technicians usually work 40 hours a week, but some work part time. In large dental laboratories, technicians may become supervisors or managers. Experienced technicians may teach or may take jobs with dental suppliers in such areas as product development, marketing, and sales. Still, for most technicians, opening one’s own laboratory is the way toward advancement and higher earnings.
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Dental Technician Salary
Dental technicians held about 50,000 jobs in 2004. Some worked in dental offices, others worked for hospitals. Some dental lab technicians started their own businesses, opening offices or creating dental laboratories in their homes. The median hourly earnings of dental laboratory technicians were $14.93 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.18 and $19.71 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.86, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25.48 an hour. Median hourly earnings of dental technicians in May 2004 were $15.95 in offices of dentists and $14.40 in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing. Dental technicians in large laboratories tend to specialize in a few procedures and, therefore, tend to be paid a lower wage than those employed in small laboratories who perform a variety of tasks.
Lab Technician Career Outlook
The services performed by dental technicians will always be in demand. With the ever increasing patient population growing older, there will be a continued demand for prostheses which improves the nutrition, appearance and speaking abilities of the older generation. In addition, with advancements in technology and materials, there is an increased demand for restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
Yet, despite the great demand and employment opportunities for dental lab technicians, employers will have difficulty filling trainee positions and job growth will be limited. This is due to the relatively low starting salary, lack of familiarity with the occupation, the improvement in the overall dental health of the population due to fluoridation of drinking water and greater emphasis on preventive dental care.
Preparing for a Dental Lab Technician Career
Most dental technicians learn their craft on the job, as each dental lab owner operates differently, and classroom instruction does not necessarily expose students to techniques and procedures favored by individual laboratory owners. Students who have taken enough courses to learn the basics of the craft usually are considered good candidates for training, regardless of whether or not they have completed a formal program. However, some employers prefer to hire those with formal training in a related field. 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. Programs vary greatly both in length and in the level of skill taught and graduates of these programs receive either an associate degree or a certificate. (Graduates of 2-year training programs may need additional hands-on experience to become fully qualified). There are also a few programs that offer a four-year baccalaureate program in dental technology. In most cases, a high school diploma or its equivalent is needed to apply to an accredited dental laboratory technology program.
There are currently 24 accredited dental lab technician programs in the US. These programs provide classroom instruction in dental materials science, oral anatomy, fabrication procedures, ethics, and related subjects. In addition, each student is given supervised practical experience in a school or an associated dental laboratory. Upon graduating, a dental technician can volunteer to become a certified by passing an examination that evaluates their technical skills and knowledge. The examination is administered by the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology. Dental technicians who pass the certification examination become Certified Dental Technicians (CDTs). CDTs specialize in one or more of five areas: complete dentures, removable partial dentures, crowns and bridges, ceramics or orthodontic appliances.
Applying to Dental Technician Program
There are approximately 25 ADA accredited dental lab technician programs in the U.S. The American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), sponsored by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), is a centralized application service for individuals applying to dental assistant school. AADSAS simplifies the application process for both applicants and schools by allowing applicants to complete one application form. Information is then sent in a standardized format to each school that is requested by the applicant. AADSAS serves as an information clearinghouse only. It does not influence any school’s evaluation or selection of applicants, nor does ADEA recommend applicants to dental assisting programs.
The AADSAS online application and instructions are located here. ADEA customer service representatives are also available to assist applicants.
Contact Information: American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) 1400 K Street NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Customer Service: 202-289-7201 or 800-353-2237 E-mail: csraadsas@adea.org Website: http://www.adea.org/aadsas/
Financing a Dental Lab Technician Education
ADA Scholarship Programs
The ADA Foundation has a scholarship program for students pursuing a dental technician career and the number of scholarships awarded is dependent upon available funds. Scholarships help to defray program expenses, which include tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses. Scholarship disbursements are made twice yearly in equal payments and sent directly to the student's financial aid office. The second disbursement is made contingent upon the student's maintenance of the required grade point average. The general scholarship eligibility guidelines are:
All applicants must be U.S. Citizens (permanent resident status does not qualify);
Criteria for eligibility for an award is determined by the applicant’s demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, biographical sketch questionnaire and two completed reference forms;
All applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credit hours;
All applicants must demonstrate a financial need;
All applicants must have a minimum accumulative grade point average of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale;
The ADA Foundation scholarship program for dental technicians is called the Dental Laboratory Technology Scholarship. This award has a maximum annual award of $1,000 and is partly funded in part by Handler Manufacturing, Inc.. The application criteria for the scholarship includes the following:
All applicants must be U.S. Citizens (permanent resident status does not qualify);
All applicants must be an entering final year student at the time of application and enrolled in a dental lab technology program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;
All applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 credit hours;
All applicants must demonstrate a minimum financial need of $1,000;
All applicants must have a minimum accumulative grade point average of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale;
All applicants must submit two (2) reference forms from two dental laboratory technician program representatives, supporting the applicant. References are submitted as part of the application form.
ADA Scholarship Application Process
Only dental lab technician programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association are eligible to participate in the ADA Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Students must contact the program director or financial aid officer at the school to request a scholarship application form, as the forms are disbursed by program officials. Dental lab technician program officials are also responsible for selecting and submitting to the ADA Foundation, its top two students for scholarship consideration. School officials may contact the ADA Foundation by phone at 312-440-2763 or by e-mail: famularor@ada.org to request the scholarship application form.
Dental lab technicians must submit the following to school officials for scholarship consideration:
a completed application form, including the Academic Achievement Record Form* and Financial Needs Assessment Form*, signed by school official;
A copy of the school or program’s letter of acceptance, if entering as a first-year student;
Two completed reference forms, sealed and signed on the back flap of the envelopes by the referrers;
A typed, biographical sketch questionnaire;
A self-addressed, stamped postcard, which can be mailed upon receipt of the application of you wish to have receipt verification. Foundation staff may not be able to verify receipt of the application over the phone or by e-mail.
* These are required forms that are part of the scholarship application form that must be used.
The top two (2) completed applications must be submitted by the school to the ADA Foundation by the deadline date of October 16th for consideration. Any applications received after this date will not be considered. Notification of funding decisions will be made after December 31st.
The best way to secure dental assistant jobs is to receive formal education in an accredited program. A dental assistant job requires knowledge of the latest dental procedures and techniques. The dental assistant programs contained in this list are responsible for ensuring all standards which apply to a dental assistant job are taught to prospective students and that they emerge as competent dental assistants, able to fully function in dental assistant job positions.
Below are links to all of the accredited dental technician programs in the United States. Graduates receive a certificate upon completion of the program. For dental lab technician programs in the US, please click on the State to receive a list of schools in that particular State. Any questions that you may have that relates to admission criteria and application processes should be directed to each program. The information that is provided includes the school mailing address, program administrator and contact number, if available.
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