Become a Dental Lab Technician

As a dental lab technician, you'll fill orders from dentists for a variety of dental appliances. You'll work with sophisticated equipment and a broad range of materials to create tooth replacements that are realistic and aesthetically pleasing, as well as functional.

Dental Laboratory Technician Job Description

Using the dentists' detailed written directions and molds of the patient's teeth or oral soft tissues, you'll make the following items:

• Full dentures for patients who are missing all of their teeth
• Removable partial dentures or fixed bridges for those who are missing only one or a few teeth
• Crowns, which cover the tooth and are designed to restore its original size and shape
• Veneers, which are bonded to the tooth surface to improve the appearance of discolored, worn, chipped or misaligned teeth
• Orthodontic appliances and splints used to help straighten and protect teeth

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To craft these dental devices, dental lab technicians use waxes, plastics, precious and non-precious alloys, stainless steel, porcelain and polymer glass combinations. They shape the materials with small hand-held instruments as well as grinding and polishing equipment.

Depending on the work setting, dental lab technicians may perform all stages of the process or only a few. Dental lab technicians also specialize in one of five areas: orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, or partial dentures and ceramics.

Dental Laboratory Technician Salary

The median salary range for dental laboratory technicians is $35,545 and $55,856. Self employed dental lab techs report the highest earning at $59,919 per year.*

Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting and experience. Technicians who work in small laboratories and perform a variety of tasks tend to earn higher wages than those in larger laboratories who specialize in fewer procedures.

Dental Lab Tech Work Environment

Most dental lab technicians work in commercial dental laboratories, which have between two and 200 employees. The typical lab has five to 10 technicians who may provide a range of dental prosthetic services or focus on one particular type of prosthesis. You might also work in the following settings:

• Private dental offices
• Hospitals, including the US Department of Veterans Affairs' hospitals
• Dental schools
• Dental manufacturers and suppliers
• Private practice

Salaried dental lab technicians usually work 40 hours per week, while self-employed technicians often work longer hours.

Dental Lab Tech Education

Although some dental technicians begin careers without a college degree, you'll find it's easiest to start your career by pursuing formal training through an accredited program. There are 2-year dental lab technology programs leading to an associate degree or certificate; a few 4-year bachelor programs are also available. These programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, technical colleges, universities and dental schools.

In addition to formal training, you'll find the following skills will serve you well in your dental technician career:

• Ability to do precision work with your hands
• Ability to work independently
• Attention to detail and aesthetics

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Dental Lab Tech Program Prerequisites

Although admission requirements vary from program to program, a high school diploma or GED is required in applying to an accredited dental lab technology program.

Dental Lab Tech Certification

There is no license required for dental lab technicians, but optional certification is available. Certification recognizes a dental lab technician's knowledge and technical skills. It involves passing an exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology. In order to take the certification exam, you must have completed an accredited dental laboratory technology program and had two years of professional experience, or, if you've been trained on the job or through a non-accredited program, you can take the exam after five years of work experience as a dental lab technician. Upon passing the exam, you become a Certified Dental Technician (CDT).

* Source: PayScale.com

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