DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS California Occupational Guide Number 243 Interest Area 13 1995
THE JOB
DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS construct and repair dental appliances
such as crowns, bridges, and dentures. They perform many tasks and use a variety of hand tools. The tasks may include mixing ingredients, filling dental- appliance molds, sculpting and building forms, bending and soldering wires, and grinding and polishing finished work. All work is done following instructions written by the dentist and using models and impressions of patients' teeth or mouths.
In some laboratories, Dental Laboratory Technicians are all-round workers having full responsibility for studying prescriptions, planning the work, and designing, constructing, repairing, reworking, or adjusting dental appliances. In most laboratories, however, each Technician concentrates on one aspect of the work.
Specialists include crown and bridge technicians, who plan, fabricate, and/or repair crowns, inlays and metal frames for dental bridges. Denture Technicians design and construct full or partial dentures. Technicians specializing in ceramic work are called Ceramists; they plan and construct porcelain jacket crowns, bridges, and inlays, and repair porcelain teeth. Those specializing in metal do the design and fabrication of framework and clasps, and they rework and repair metalwork.
Orthodontic Technicians design, construct, and rework orthodontic appliances such as bands, retainers, and positioners. Any of these Technicians may be highly skilled specialists assigned to the most difficult tasks, or they may be workers in assembly line operations requiring more limited skills.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Dental laboratories range in size from one-person firms to large assembly line operations. They are clean, well-lighted, and usually air-conditioned. Dental Laboratory Technicians' work is not strenuous and can usually be performed while seated.
Technicians usually have their own workbenches, which are equipped with Bunsen burners, grinding and polishing machines, and various hand tools. Proximity to sharp tools and the high speed grinding and polishing equipment create some hazard.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 6,560 Estimated number of workers in 2005 6,700 Projected Growth 1990-2005 2% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 2,640
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
The number of Dental Laboratory Technicians is expected to grow much slower than average through 2005. (Projected growth for all occupations in California is expected to average 24 percent through 2005.) The expansion of employer-sponsored dental coverage may increase job opportunities for technicians.
Fully qualified technicians are very difficult to find. Highly skilled specialists and well-rounded technicians able to handle all phases of work for small laboratories are in demand. However, new technological advancements may require less need for technicians.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
The salaries of Dental Laboratory Technicians vary, depending upon experience, skill, specialization, and geographic area. Pay for fully experienced technicians is generally between $7.50 and $16.25 per hour. Experts in the more technical specialties usually earn from $10.00 to over $20.00 an hour. Starting salaries for trainees with neither experience nor specialized schooling receive minimum wages of $4.25 an hour. Graduates of a two-year program in dental technology with no experience may receive from $5.00 to $8.00 per hour or more. Industry growth in some geographical areas usually pay at a higher wage level. Technicians work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Sometimes, overtime is necessary. Fringe benefits usually include paid vacations and holidays, sick leave, health insurance, profit sharing, retirement plans, and uniforms.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Qualifications for this occupation include eye and hand coordination, finger dexterity, attentiveness to detail, mechanical aptitude and spatial comprehension, good eyesight and color perception, and the ability to follow specifications. Patience, dependability, and artistic ability are also desirable characteristics. Speed in meeting deadlines and quality of work are both important to the success of a Dental Laboratory Technician. Thus, many employers use practical tests or probationary periods when hiring. Some look for technicians certified by the National Board for Certification in Dental Technology (NBC), a trust established by the National Association of Dental Laboratories. Certification is obtained by passing written and practical examinations given by the NBC.
The usual way to learn this work is through informal on-the-job training. Three to five years of training and experience are required to become a skilled Dental Laboratory Technician.
Completion of an accredited two-year course in dental laboratory technology is not only recommended but preferred by many employers. This training enables the trainee to learn quickly and eventually to develop a high level of skill. Instructional courses are offered by many community colleges throughout the State. Write to the National Board for Certification (address appears below) for a list of these colleges.
ADVANCEMENT
In large laboratories, there are opportunities for promotion to supervisor, department head, or manager positions, especially for those who keep up with the technology and refine their skills. Laboratories sometimes offer a percentage of the profit or a partnership to their most skilled Technicians.
FINDING THE JOB
Best contacts can be made through the yellow page listings in telephone directories under the heading "Dentists," which includes Orthodontics and Prosthodontics and the heading "Laboratories-Dental." Another source is the nearest Job Service office of the California Employment Development Department or friends and relatives working in the occupation.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Career information: -- National Association of Dental Laboratories -- 3801 Mount Vernon Avenue -- Alexandria, VA 22305 -- (703) 683-5263
Certification Information: -- National Board for Certification in Dental Technology -- 3801 Mount Vernon Avenue -- Alexandria, VA 22305 -- (703) 683-5310
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Dental Assistants No. 27 Dental Hygienists No. 155 Dentists No. 377
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Dental Laboratory Technician 712.381-018 Dental Laboratory Technician A 712.381-022 Orthodontic Technician 712.381-030
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Precision Dental Laboratory Technicians 899210 Medical Appliance Makers 899230
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
Home 
Job Key 
Wages 
Demand