Dental Lab Technician Education
Dental laboratory technicians are responsible for a wide variety of tasks, fulfilling the orders and prescriptions of a licensed dentist. Dental lab technicians use orders and molding and impressions in order to create crowns, bridges, dentures or any other dental prosthetic. Depending on the size of the dental laboratory, some dental lab technicians are responsible for filling the entire order placed by a dentist. In other labs, dental lab technicians work as more of an assembly line to complete requested tasks.
Other People Are Reading
-
Formal Education
-
The American Dental Association recognized 20 different programs in 2006 that were accredited to train dental laboratory technicians. At these institutes, prospective candidates receive training through classroom instruction and in a dental laboratory. Students learn how to complete basic procedures and cover topics such as dental materials science, oral anatomy, ethics and other related dental subjects. Accredited programs typically take two years to complete, but several are designed as four-year programs.
On-the-Job Training
-
Even with formal training, many dental laboratory technicians go through additional training once they are hired on by a dental laboratory. Dental lab technicians work alongside more experienced technicians to help them learn the procedures completed in that specific laboratory. Many students who complete only a two-year program often need more hands-on experience before they can be successful as a laboratory technician.
-
Other Qualifications
-
In addition for formal education and training, prospective dental laboratory technicians must have other, more personal, qualifications in order to be successful. Dental lab technicians should have good vision and a high degree of manual dexterity. Dental lab technicians also need to be able to recognize very fine color shadings in order to successfully handle teeth, moldings, partials, dentures and crowns. Dental lab technicians must also have an eye for detail and precision in everything that they do.
Certification
-
The National Association of Dental Laboratories offers certification options for dental laboratory technicians. The certification process is voluntary in all but three states throughout the United States (as of May 2006). Dental lab technicians can choose to obtain their certification in one of five specialty areas. The specialty areas include: crowns and bridges, ceramics, partial dentures, complete dentures and orthodontic appliances. By becoming certified, dental lab technicians increase their chances of higher pay and advancements in their career path.
Advancement
-
Many times, especially in large dental labs, highly qualified dental lab technicians earn promotions towards higher level positions. Dental lab technicians become supervisors or managers, depending on the size of their dental laboratory. For candidates interested in promotions within their career path, obtaining more advanced education or certification in addition to gaining work experience is highly recommended.
-
