Dental technician what is

Most are small 2 — 5 person laboratories. About 6 laboratories in BC have over 30 employees. Your salary depends on experience, skill, area of expertise and employer. Your salary tends to be higher if you work in a smaller lab performing a variety of tasks compared to a large lab with more specialized duties. You will generally have the highest income if you own and operate your own lab.

In addition to a salary, most full-time Dental Technicians receive health and dental benefits, paid sick days, and paid vacations. Full-time Dental Technicians usually work a 5-day, hour week. Overtime may be necessary on occasion. You can work in a dental lab as a Dental Technician Assistant without being registered as a Dental Technician.

Due to the success of preventive dentistry in reducing the incidence of oral disease, the expanding older population will retain their teeth longer, and will be even more aware of the importance of regular dental care.

With the emphasis on preventive care, dentists will need to employ more dental hygienists than ever before to meet the increased demand for dental services. Online learning and flexible scheduling will benefit students with family responsibilities as well as those who are working while they learn.

There are more than accredited dental hygiene education programs in community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools and universities across the U. Most associate degree programs take at least two years to complete. Some universities offer four-year baccalaureate programs. Innovative training methods include distance learning and institution-based, didactic coursework combined with community experience. You will receive hands-on clinical instruction in the form of supervised patient care experiences.

Dental hygiene programs may also include courses in liberal arts for example, English, speech, sociology and psychology ; basic sciences anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, microbiology or pathology ; and clinical sciences dental hygiene, radiology and dental materials.

After completing your dental hygiene education, you may choose to seek additional training in areas such as education, business administration, basic sciences, marketing and public health. When your coursework is complete, you can become a registered dental hygienist RDH by passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination a written test and the authorized licensure exam in your state.

As a dental assistant, you will handle a wide range of tasks such as taking x-rays and impressions and helping make patients comfortable before, during and after treatment. The duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. Although state regulations vary, responsibilities may include:. Variety: Dental assisting is a challenging and rewarding career, demanding versatility and a willingness to assume responsibility for many different tasks.

Flexibility: Since dental assistants are in demand, career options include both full-time and part-time positions, giving you the freedom to arrange your schedule around family and lifestyle needs.

Excellent working conditions: Dental offices are interesting, pleasant, people-oriented environments. Personal satisfaction: Dental assisting involves people contact, and with this comes the personal satisfaction of knowing you've really helped someone with a valuable health service. Contact your dentist or your local dental society to learn more about careers in dental assisting. You may be able to visit a dental office to observe dental assistants at work.

You also can contact an accredited dental assisting program and arrange to talk with a counselor or visit the school. Dental lab technicians blend art and science to create custom dentures, crowns, veneers and orthodontic appliances that restore smiles — and confidence. Dental laboratory technology is both a science and an art.

Since each dental patient's needs are different, the duties of a dental laboratory technician are comprehensive and varied. Although dental technicians seldom work directly with patients, except under the direction of a licensed dentist, they are valuable members of the dental care team.

They work directly with dentists by following detailed written instructions and using impressions molds of the patient's teeth or oral soft tissues to create:. Dental technicians work with a variety of materials including waxes, plastics, precious and non-precious alloys, stainless steel, a variety of porcelains, and composites or polymer glass combinations.

Many technicians skillfully use sophisticated instruments and equipment. It is important for the technician to help create tooth replacements that are both attractive and functional.

Opportunity: Thanks to constant advancements in technology and materials, there is growing demand for restorative and cosmetic dentistry, creating expanded opportunities for laboratory technicians. Flexibility: Dental lab technology is a flexible career offering several opportunities for advancement. Experienced technicians can find well-paid positions in commercial laboratories based on their technical or communication skills, become department heads in larger laboratories with supervisory responsibilities, or even own their own laboratories.

Dental technicians also may teach dental technology courses in educational programs and apply their knowledge to research, sales and marketing of prosthetic materials, instruments and equipment. Independence: Technicians perform much of their work without close supervision. They often experience the satisfaction that results from taking an entire project from start to finish. Creativity: Dental lab technology requires the skill and touch of an artist.

Technicians need to be creative when they make prostheses. Security: The services performed by dental technicians will always be needed.

With the population growing older, there will be a continued demand for prostheses which improve these individuals' nutrition, appearance and ability to speak clearly. Technicians play a significant role in delivering dental health care and take pride in producing a hand-crafted product.

In , the ADA launched the community dental health coordinator program to provide support and services for people who may have difficulty gaining access to quality dental care. Learn more about this emerging role and what it takes to become a CDHC. In these laboratories you'll receive prescriptions from dentists to work on and will also repair and adapt appliances.

You may have the opportunity to specialise, particularly in a larger laboratory. You may also work as a specialist technician in a hospital dental department making maxillofacial and other dental appliances. There are also some opportunities to work in large private dental practices that may employ their own dental technicians to carry out work. Other opportunities include working for the armed forces. Sometimes dental technicians are involved in research or teach undergraduate dental students on one of the GDC-approved course providers.

Once you have enough experience, you may set up and run your own business. Whether you're employed privately, via the NHS or through another organisation such as the armed forces, you'll be required to prove that you're registered with the GDC in order to work in the UK. Vacancies are also advertised on general recruitment websites and employers' own websites.

Social media websites, such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, are also a great way to network, find vacancies and get in contact with potential employers. You must undertake continuing professional development CPD throughout your career to keep your skills and knowledge up to date and to maintain your registration with the General Dental Council GDC.

You'll need to do a minimum number of hours of CPD and keep a log of your activities. Search postgraduate courses in dental technology. Membership of professional bodies can provide access to a range of CPD and networking opportunities.

Relevant associations include:. If you want to work directly with patients you could take further clinical training to work as a clinical dental technician, designing, creating and fitting removable dental appliances for patients with no, or only some, teeth.

There are also opportunities to train to become an orthodontic therapist, helping dentists with orthodontic treatments such as fitting braces, tooth separators and bonded retainers. During the programme you'll be employed in a fixed-term, salaried training post and will also study towards a Masters degree in clinical science maxillofacial technology.

Once qualified, there are plenty of avenues you can take for career progression. There are likely to be more opportunities available with the larger commercial laboratories, with scope to specialise.

You may need to change employer in order to further your career, particularly if you work for a very small laboratory. With a few years' experience you could move into a management position. With significant experience, you could even set up your own laboratory. Within the NHS, there is a clear career structure and you can move through the grades as you gain further qualifications, skills and experience.

There are some opportunities to move into senior or chief dental technician roles. To progress into advanced or specialist dental technology, you'll usually need further training at undergraduate or postgraduate degree-level.

For example, there are opportunities with further training and qualifications to specialise in reconstruction sciences such as maxillofacial technology, conservation, orthodontics and prosthodontics. If you're interested in working in a teaching role, you could take teaching qualifications to work as an instructor dental technician. Other options include moving into a related area such as quality control or sales. There are also opportunities to work abroad. Jobs and work experience Search graduate jobs Job profiles Work experience and internships Employer profiles What job would suit me?