Dental Technician - Career Profile |
Career OverviewA dental technician is a very important part of the treatment team for patients that are getting any kind of dental prosthesis, including dental implants, dentures, bridges or other dental implements. The dental technician works to actually create the prosthesis using a combination of artistic ability, attention to detail, and following molds and written or dictation from the dentist.
The dental technician is responsible for forming the actual prosthesis as well as making crowns, veneers and even partial and full removable dentures. A dental technician may also assist in making retainers and other devices used to straighten teeth.
A dental technician must have an excellent ability to follow detailed instructions as well have the ability to work with very minute items to create lifelike looking dentures and dental implants. Skill with small equipment is a must as the dental technician will use drills, polishers and other devices to contour and shape the dentures and prosthetics. Very rarely does the dental technician work directly with the patient; rather they work in a laboratory type setting to make the prosthetics for the patients.
In addition to the above mentioned skills the dental technician must have an ability to transpose and adapt impressions and molds to three-dimensional reversed objects. They should also have an artistic ability to match colors and design natural looking dentures and dental implants for each individual patient.
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Career RequirementsDental technicians require minimum of a high school education or equivalent and a two year dental technician certification program or associates degree. Some colleges and universities may offer a four-year baccalaureate program in dental technology and these are usually accredited dental colleges.
In some states it is possible to participate in a five-year apprenticeship program that will lead to certification after successful completion.
In addition to the educational component there is also a hands-on or practical component to the training that allows dental technicians to work in actual clinics and laboratories with the supervision of an instructor.
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Job OutlookWith the increase in dental insurance plans that cover cosmetic procedures such as veneers, dentures and dental implants the demand for dental technicians has increased above the average rate for the dental field. The United States Department of Labor indicates that this trend is likely to continue for the next several years. It is predicted that the employment rate for dental technicians will be slightly above the average employment rate at least until the year 2014.
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Career TrackDepending on the level of educations, specialization and experience that the dental technician has there are several options for moving into different careers. One of the most common career tracks for an experienced dental technician is to move into dental laboratory management or to act as a shift supervisor in a larger dental lab.
Some dental technicians choose to work for a few years as a dental technician and then return to school and work in another field of specialization within the dental industry.
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CompensationUsually dental technicians without any management responsibilities or with little seniority or work experience are paid an hourly rate that averages out to a yearly salary of $25,000 to $29,000. More experience dental technicians can earn up to $36,000 with some management responsibilities.
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