About Dental Lab Technicians

If a person is interested in a job in the medical field, but prefers not to work directly with patients or work in the front office, the field of lab technician may be the solution. A dental lab technician works in the background rather than directly with patients, but is a very important part of the dental care field.

Identification

A dental lab technician works in the background of a dental office. The lab technician is rarely seen by the patient. Only in rare situations does the lab technician need to work directly with the patient. A dental lab technician is responsible for creating dental prosthetics according to a prescription written by a dentist. A few of the dental prosthetics that a dental lab technician makes include dentures, crowns and bridges. A dental lab technician may work from a dentist's office or a free-standing dental lab.

Benefits

One of the biggest benefits of choosing to become a dental lab technician is that this position does not require a degree. Although some employers may require some degree of dental health care education, many dental lab technicians train on the job. If you are in high school and are considering a job as a dental lab technician, some courses that may help you are math, drafting, computer skills, and wood and metal shop.
There are, however, both 2-year and 4-year accredited programs available. In some environments, graduating from an accredited program may make it easier to get the job and may enable a person to receive higher pay.
There are some jobs available in a manufacturing setting. These jobs will usually have the best medical insurance and benefits. The benefits for those working in dentists offices and hospital settings are dependent on the size of the office and whether the person works full or part-time.
Another benefit of working as a dental lab technician is that the technician usually has a specific work area. The lab technician does not work with patients, but follows a set of instructions set forth by the dentist.

Time Frame

A person seeking work as a dental lab technician may not need anything more than a high school diploma. The time it takes to enter this line of work depends on the need for dental lab technicians in the area. If the dentist or manufacturing company does require a formal education, it usually takes only 1 to 2 years to acquire the training necessary to start. Additional training is usually provided in the workplace. Graduates of a 2-year program are awarded an Associates Degree. There are also 4-year programs available that offer a Bachelor's degree.

Function

The role of the dental lab technician is to follow the orders on a doctor's prescription to make dentures, crowns and other dental prosthetics. The lab technician receives a prescription from the dentist detailing the specifics of the prosthetic needed along with a impression, mold, or digital impression of the patient's teeth or mouth. The technician then pours plaster into the impression to make a model of the patient's mouth. Once the plaster has set, the technician places the model on a machine that copies the actions of the human jaw and mouth. From this model, the technician creates a wax model of the tooth or teeth. The technician uses the wax model to create the framework for the prosthetic device.

Significance

The typical earnings for a dental lab technician range from a low of around $9.00 per hour to over $27.00 per hour with an average salary of around $15.00 per hour. The growth of jobs in this industry is expected to be around 4% over the next ten years according to the Department of Labor. However, opportunities to get a job in this industry are better than normal because not as many people seek these type jobs as compared to jobs in other medical fields.