| If you want to work in the dental field, yet you are not | | | | Most dental laboratory technicians must complete at |
| really a "people person" why not consider working in a | | | | least a two-year program at either a community |
| dental laboratory? While a dental laboratory technician | | | | college or university level dental school. Vocational and |
| does not work in a dental office, they are an important | | | | technical colleges also offer dental laboratory |
| part of the dental care team. What does a dental | | | | technician courses and graduates receive either an |
| laboratory technician do? They make what are called | | | | associate degree or a certificate of completion. In |
| dental prostheses, which is a fancy word for dental | | | | order to even apply for the dental laboratory technician |
| replacements of anything from a tooth to a full set of | | | | program however, be advised that a high school |
| dentures and everything in between. | | | | diploma or other equivalent will be necessary. |
| A dental laboratory technician must have sure and | | | | Some universities also offer a four-year baccalaureate |
| steady hands in order to create masterpieces of | | | | program in dental technology. A dental laboratory |
| dental ingenuity. One must also utilize a sense of | | | | technician, no matter where they complete their |
| creativity and attention to detail. A dental laboratory | | | | schooling and clinic experience, must take exams |
| technician's job is never boring, and skills are challenged | | | | administered by the National Board for Certification in |
| on a daily basis. A dental laboratory technician is | | | | Dental Laboratory Technology. After passing the |
| trained to create full dentures for patients, partial | | | | exams, a dental technician becomes a Certified and is |
| dentures and bridges as well as veneers, crowns and | | | | eligible to specialize in orthodontics, dentures, crown |
| orthodontic appliances and splints. | | | | and bridge, partial dentures or ceramics. |
| A dental laboratory technician is also able to work with | | | | A dental laboratory technician does not usually work |
| several different substances such as plastics, precious | | | | directly with a dental patient unless it's necessary, and |
| alloys, stainless steel and porcelain, among others. | | | | if so, they will work under the direction of a licensed |
| Dental laboratory technicians pour dental molds using a | | | | dentist. A dental laboratory technician is fully trained in |
| variety of plasters and stones and are able to carve | | | | the operation and use of a myriad of equipment and |
| tooth structures in wax that are then used to create | | | | must pass skills tests in their use. A dental laboratory |
| dental bridges and dentures. Dental laboratory | | | | technician earns a nice salary, which, however, may |
| technicians are so talented that they are able to easily | | | | depend on location. |
| match tooth color and texture to blend with remaining | | | | It is not unusual for an experienced dental laboratory |
| dental work in a patient's mouth. | | | | technician, after several years of experience, often opt |
| A dental laboratory specializes in creating appliances | | | | to open their own dental laboratories. As with any job |
| and dentures for patients, but it's also a growing field, | | | | position in a medical field, there will always be a need |
| especially with the rising popularity of cosmetic | | | | for dental laboratory technicians, and the field provides |
| dentistry. | | | | a secure career choice for many individuals. |