What is the meaning of dental laboratory technology? Dental laboratory technology can be defined as an art, science, and system of designing and creating corrective devices and replacements of natural teeth. A dental technician communicates and aligned with the dentist to plan, design, and produced dental prostheses for individual patients.
Note, the dentist is the one responsible for providing dental technician with a prescription detailing final treatment choice. He also work for placement of restoration or corrective device in the patient’s mouth. However, the dental technician aids the dentist with the material choices and case design, and is responsible for production of the final prostheses or corrective devices.
What is Dental Laboratory Technician Job?
Dental lab tech job is the type of job whereby a dental technician involved in designing, constructing, and repairing a variety of dental devices. Here, as a dental technician you’ll work with the prescription of a dentist to make, modify, crowns, dentures, braces, and other orthodontic devices for individual patients.
What are The Specialized Areas of Dental Lab Tech?
1. Fixed prosthesis– such as implants, crowns and bridges that be cemented into place.
2. Orthodontics- devices such as braces to straighten teeth and mouth guards.
3. Removable prosthesis- such as dentures and removable partial dentures.
4. Maxillofacial appliances- for patients who, through an accident or disease, have lost part of their face or jaw.
However, any dental tech that will work in this specialized areas mention above. He would work with a range of materials such as plastic, porcelain, wax and metals (including gold and stainless steel). You’ll also need skills in areas such as modelling, sculpting, polishing, wire bending, ceramic work, and casting.
What Are The Responsibilities of Dental Lab Tech?
Note as dental technician, the following are what you need to do:
1.Construct partial or full dentures (metal and non-metal) to replace the partial or total loss of teeth.
2. Restore natural teeth by fabricating crowns, veneers and bridges or creating dental implants.
3. Use traditional methods and increasingly CAD/CAM for designing dental devices.
4. Update your dental laboratory knowledge and skills by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks and joining professional organizations.
5. Maintain dental laboratory records and prepare reports on laboratory activities.
6. Replace missing facial and body tissues due to injury, disease or developmental abnormality by fabricating maxillofacial prostheses.
7. Correct dental irregularities by manufacturing fixed or removable appliances, such as dentures, braces and retainers.
8. Undertake all aspects of prosthetic work including making bites, castings, mouth guards
9. Construct accurate models of the mouth and teeth from impressions of the patient’s mouth taken by the dentist
10. Use various dental techniques for restorative work including diagnostic wax-ups, Smile Design cases, dental composite work and IPS e.max Press restorations
What Are The Qualifications Of A Dental Lab Tech Job?
However, to work as a dental technician you must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) before you can start work. To be among people in the register, you have to complete a GDC approved qualification in dental technology.
.BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Technology: Here, you’ll need to have GCSEs with four grade from 4 to 7 (A-C)
Foundation Degree in Dental Technology: however, here also you need to be employed in a trainee dental technician role in a dental laboratory or as an apprentice.
Bsc (Hons) in Dental Technology.
For instance, degree courses are three years, full time at a university or dental school. The BTEC and foundation degrees can also be done on a full-time basis or they can complete part time while working as a trainee dental technician.
However, for advanced or specialist dental technology work, you’ll usually need a degree or postgraduate degree-level qualification.
What Is The Salary of A Dental Technician?
As a newly qualified dental technicians, his salaries ranges from $20k to $22k per month. However, once you’ve built up several years of experience and you’ve developed your areas of specification, this salary can rise to almost $42k.
Note, within the NHS starting salaries are usually between $28,407 and $34,581 per month.
Specialist technicians and those with management responsibilities in the NHS can earn between $35,392 and $42,618(band 6). Moreover, salaries for some highly specialist roles range from $43,742 to $50,056 (band 7).
However, note that salaries vary and is based on your qualifications, specialisms, and experience whether you work for the NHS, or private commercial laboratory.
What Are The Working Hours of A Dental Lab Tech?
The working hours of a dental technician are typically around 37.5 hours a week, usually completed during standard hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This can vary however, depending on where you work and in some instances you need to do some weekend work.
What Are The Things to Expect as a Dental Laboratory Technician?
As a dental laboratory technician, the following things are expected from you,
Which are:
1. Working in a laboratory involves time spent especially working alone and as part of a team. You won’t generally have contact with patients themselves, unless you’re working in a hospital. In the hospital, you’ll have direct contact with dental and oral surgeons.
2. Job security and conditions vary but are generally good, especially if working for the NHS.
3. Most of your work will be done by hand to fine-tune each dental piece to exact individual specifications. Wearing protective clothing is essential when working with specialized equipment in the laboratory.
4. If you work for a hospital, you’ll usually be attached to the maxillofacial department, which works on reconstructing damaged faces due to accidents, burns or diseases. You may also be involved in making other prostheses such as eyes, ears and noses
5. You’re most likely to be based in a dental laboratory, or in a laboratory in a general dentist practice or a hospital.
Does Dental Lab Technician Need Work experience?
Yes, as a dental technician it is very important to get experience in your areas of concentration. However, dental technology is a science based role that requires sound analytical and practical skills. Getting experience in the field will help you gain a place on a course or to get a trainee position. Work experience is particularly valuable if you choose the degree route to qualification, which involves full-time study. You’ll be competing for jobs with people who have chosen an on-the-job route, so any practical experience in a related role will enhance your application.
What Are The Professional Development of a Dental Technician?
Note, in order to maintain your registration with the General dental Council (GDC). Firstly, you must undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career. Secondly, as a dental technician you’ll need to complete a minimum of 50 hours of CPD across a five year period, with at least 10 hours done every two years.
However, the following are the relevant activities a dental technician need to partake:
1.Taking in-house training courses (more typical in larger organizations).
2.Attending events, seminars, courses and conferences run by the relevant professional associations.
3.Active involvement with a professional body.
4.Writing articles for journals.
5.Undertaking private study, such as online courses or top-up courses relating to certain specialisms, or postgraduate study for more advanced dental technology work.
In conclusion
dental lab tech is a vital role in the world of medical healthcare. Therefore, a dental lab tech is responsible for providing dentist with a correct design and fabricate dental prostheses for individual patients.
they involved in designing and creating corrective devices and replacements of natural teeth.