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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Technicians in large 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.
Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
2004-05 Edition,
Dental Laboratory Technicians
, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/
ocos238.htm
(visited January 27, 2005).
