Dental laboratory technicians fill prescriptions from dentists for crowns, bridges, dentures,
and other dental prosthetics. First, dentists send a specification of the item to be
manufactured, along with an impression (mold) of the patient’s mouth or teeth. Then,
dental laboratory technicians, also called dental technicians, create a model of the
patient's mouth by pouring plaster into the impression and allowing it to set. Next, they
place the model on an apparatus that mimics the bite and movement of the patient’s jaw.
The model serves as the basis of the prosthetic device. Technicians examine 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, technicians build and shape a
wax tooth or teeth model, using small hand instruments called wax spatulas and wax
carvers. They use this wax model to cast the metal framework for the prosthetic device.
After the wax tooth has been formed, dental technicians pour the cast and form the metal
and, using small hand-held tools, prepare the surface to allow the metal and porcelain to
bond. They then apply porcelain in layers, to arrive at the precise shape and color of a
tooth. Technicians place the tooth in a porcelain furnace to bake the porcelain onto the
metal framework, and then adjust the shape and color, with subsequent grinding and
addition of porcelain to achieve a sealed finish. The final product is a nearly exact 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.
Working Conditions
Dental laboratory technicians generally work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated
areas. Technicians usually have their own workbenches, which can be equipped with
Bunsen burners, grinding and polishing equipment, and hand instruments, such as wax
spatulas and wax carvers. Some technicians have computer-aided milling equipment to
assist them with creating artificial teeth.
The work is extremely delicate and time consuming. Salaried technicians usually work 40
hours a week, but self-employed technicians frequently work longer hours.
Employment
Dental laboratory technicians held about 47,000 jobs in 2002. Around 7 out of 10 jobs
were in medical equipment and supply manufacturing laboratories, which usually are
small, privately owned businesses with fewer than five employees. However, some
laboratories are large; a few employ more than 50 technicians.
Some dental laboratory technicians work in offices of dentists. Others work for hospitals
providing dental services, including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. Some
technicians work in dental laboratories in their homes, in addition to their regular job.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Most dental laboratory technicians learn their craft on the job. They 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.
Training in dental laboratory technology also is available through community and junior
colleges, vocational-technical institutes, and the U.S. Armed Forces. Formal training
programs vary greatly both in length and in the level of skill they impart.
In 2002, 25 programs in dental laboratory technology were approved (accredited) by the
Commission on Dental Accreditation in conjunction with the American Dental Association
(ADA). 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.
Accredited programs normally take 2 years to complete and lead to an associate degree.
A few programs take about 4 years to complete and offer a bachelor’s degree in dental
technology.
Graduates of 2-year training programs need additional hands-on experience to become
fully qualified. Each dental laboratory owner operates in a different way, 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 they have completed a formal program. Many employers will train someone
without any classroom experience.
The National Board for Certification, an independent board established by the National
Association of Dental Laboratories, offers certification in dental laboratory technology.
Certification, which is voluntary, can be obtained in five specialty areas: Crowns and
bridges, ceramics, partial dentures, complete dentures, and orthodontic appliances.
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.
A high degree of manual dexterity, good vision, and the ability to recognize very fine color
shadings and variations in shape are necessary. An artistic aptitude for detailed and
precise work also is important. High school students interested in becoming dental
laboratory technicians should take courses in art, metal and wood shop, drafting, and
sciences. Courses in management and business may help those wishing to operate their
own laboratories.
Job Outlook
Job opportunities for dental laboratory technicians should be favorable, despite expected
slower-than-average growth in the occupation through the year 2012. Employers have
difficulty filling trainee positions, probably because entry-level salaries are relatively low
and because the public is not familiar with the occupation.
The overall dental health of the population has improved because of fluoridation of
drinking water, which has reduced the incidence of dental cavities, and greater emphasis
on preventive dental care since the early 1960s. As a result, full dentures will be less
common, as most people will need only a bridge or crown. However, during the last few
years, demand has arisen from an aging public that is growing increasingly interested in
cosmetic prostheses. For example, many dental laboratories are filling orders for
composite fillings that are the same shade of white as natural teeth to replace older, less
attractive fillings.
Earnings
Median hourly earnings of dental laboratory technicians were $13.70 in 2002. The middle
50 percent earned between $10.51 and $18.40 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned
less than $8.16, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.65 an hour. Median
hourly earnings of dental laboratory technicians in 2002 were $13.78 in medical
equipment and supplies manufacturing and $12.98 in offices of dentists.
opportunity should
increase slowly, as
the public’s improving
dental health requires
fewer dentures but
more bridges and
crowns. Dental
laboratory technicians
need artistic aptitude
for detailed and
precise work, a high
degree of manual
dexterity, and good
vision.
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.
