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Dental Technician

 

Dental technicians construct and repair dentures (false teeth) and other dental appliances including crowns, bridges, partial dentures, pre and post oral and maxillofacial surgical devices and orthodontic appliances in a laboratory.

Dental technicians work under the prescription of dentists.

 

Dental technicians may perform the following tasks:

  • Make models of the mouth and teeth from impressions of the patient's mouth (taken by the dental prosthetist [clinical dental technician] or dentist);
  • Build up wax replicas of part of all of the mouth and/or teeth on the model;
  • Encase the wax in a mould material and melt away the wax;
  • Replace the wax with either plastic, metal or ceramic materials to make the replacement appliance;
  • Polish and finish the appliance prior to it being placed in the patient's mouth; and
  • Make appliances for patients with cleft palates, braces and plates for correcting irregular teeth and mouthguards.

 

Dental technicians work in dental laboratories on their own or in small groups. They use a wide range of materials and techniques in their work. Dental technicians use a high degree of technical ability, training and skills involving a diversity of techniques. These include plaster casting, electro-spot welding, metal casting, metal polishing, wax modelling, ceramics, wire bending, electroplating and sandblasting.

 

Dental technicians usually have no direct contact with patients.

 

Personal Requirements

  • Manual dexterity and ability to do precise and detailed work
  • Able to judge form and design
  • Able to concentrate
  • Good communication skills

 

Related Jobs

  • Dental Laboratory Assistant
  • Dental Assistant


Employment opportunities

Dental technicians may work in hospitals or dental laboratories or for dental practices.

Demand for dental technicians who work with dentures appears to be diminishing as the incidence of tooth decay declines. However, demand is growing for dental technicians working in areas, such as crown and bridge, orthodontics and other prosthesis.

 

 

Additional Information

In order to work as a dental technician, graduates must, in some States or Territories, be registered with the Dental Technicians Registration Board or the Dental Registration Board of these States or Territories if that is where they intend to work.

 


 

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34th Australian Dental Congress - Brisbane
30 Mar - 03 Apr 11

 

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As part of a community campaign to promote good oral health care for babies and toddlers the ADA has developed oral hygiene tips for parents and carers of young children.
 
> Learn more



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ADAVB’s Convention – Dentistry2010 – will
be bigger and better with the introduction of pre-Convention workshops and multiple concurrent sessions. 

 

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The ADA's 2010 Advertising Planner is now available.


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Dental Health Week is a community awareness program coordinated and funded by the ADA. In 2009 the ADA is leading a campaign to target 55 year olds and over and has developed a range of Fact Sheets on oral health care. August 3rd - 9th is Dental Health Week.

> Click here for DHW 2009 Media Release.

>Click here for previous Dental Health Week material.

 

 


 

 

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The ADA is once again conducting a Mouthguard Awareness campaign in 2009. 

>Read More  
 

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Have you recently covered a story on dentistry or oral health?

Find out more  information on the  ADA's Journalism Award.


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