Dental Laboratory Technology

Job Description | Advantages | Disadvantages | Salary | Preparation / Requirements | Future Trends | References | Links

Dental laboratory technology is the art and science of fabricating corrective devices and replacements for natural teeth. The patient's dentist plan the treatment and place the restoration or corrective device in the patient's mouth and the laboratory technician, following the written orders or prescription of the dentist, fabricates the restoration or device. The technician's great challenge is to capture and recreate both the perfection and the imperfection of natural teeth.

There are more than 60,000 active dental laboratory technicians in the U.S. today. States set no minimum qualification for persons to be employed as dental technicians, and so the field exhibits a wide range of skills and abilities. Skill in using small hand instruments, accuracy, artistic ability and attention to minute detail are the hallmarks of the qualified dental laboratory technician.

The majority of dental laboratory technicians work in commercial dental laboratories (laboratories that provide services to a number of different dentists). These laboratories are often very small averaging between 3 and 5 technicians but can range in size to over 200 people.

Some dentists have their own laboratory and employ one or two technicians doing the laboratory work for just the dentist(s) practicing in that office.

Trainee options are offered by many dental laboratories-mainly larger ones-where persons hired at the entry level may rapidly progress to being productive employees performing a limited range of laboratory procedures.

The military services still train and employ a number of dental technicians, as do government and private hospitals and companies that manufacture dental prosthetic materials.

Schools teaching dental technology offer some teaching positions for experienced technicians.

Dental technology is an excellent field for persons who dream of owning their own business someday. It is imperative; however, those technicians who wish to become entrepreneurs first educate themselves in sound business practices.

Laboratory Technician positions include, but are not limited to:

· Crown and Bridge (C&B) Waxer
· C&B metal finisher
· Ceramist
· Model/die prep
· Denture setup
· Denture finisher
· Frame waxer (Partial)
· Frame finisher
· Orthodontic

States set no minimum qualification for persons to be employed as dental technicians.
Certified dental technicians (CDT) option is available for those interested in distinguishing themselves in the profession.
The standards and requirements for certification do not vary across state lines and certification is universally endorsed.
Since most dentists utilize laboratory services, employment and career opportunities in this field are excellent and in demand.
Dental technology is an excellent field for persons who dream of owning their own business.
The dental technician can choose from a variety of practice types, based on personal interest. E.g., commercial dental labs (small or big), private practice labs, military, government or private hospitals.
Dental laboratory technology offers tremendous work schedule flexibility between full or part-time positions.
Generally, the schedule for dental laboratory technology is fairly flexible.
Dental technology presents equal career opportunities for women and men and minorities.

Due to no set minimum qualification for persons employed as dental technicians, the field exhibits a wide range of skills and abilities.
Because of the wide variety of employment settings, and the wide possible range of skills and skill-levels, it is difficult to establish meaningful averages for technicians' earnings and job benefits.
There are a constantly evolving variety of materials and techniques necessary in recreating the appearances of natural teeth. The technician must keep current through continuing education and understand the physical forces and the characteristics and handling properties of wires, plastics and other dental materials.
Many laboratory technicians are not happy with the prices their work commands and at the present time it is felt by some that, labs are forced into quantity--not quality-to make a good living. (1)

Good candidates for careers in dental technology usually possess good eye-hand coordination and color perception, accuracy, artistic ability and attention to minute detail, dexterity in using small instruments, and an interest in learning the underlying material sciences.

Dental Laboratory Technology Education

Dental technicians can begin their careers without a college degree, however a formal college-level education is strongly encouraged.
Many dental laboratories -- larger ones in particular -- offer positions for trainees. Persons hired at this entry-level position may rapidly progress to being productive employees performing a limited range of laboratory procedures. Whether (and how soon) the trainee will have additional opportunities to learn more advanced tasks and underlying theory will depend entirely upon the employer's needs and resources.
Most dental laboratory technicians receive their education and training through a two-year program at a community college, vocational school, technical college or dental school. There is evidence that dental technicians that have completed a formal training program will advance more rapidly in the field, resulting in higher lifetime earnings.
In the U.S. there are approximately 35 two-year programs in Dental laboratory technology. These courses provide students with broad-based theory and an introduction to laboratory procedures across the various dental technology specialties. A graduate may expect to be hired at a salary not significantly higher than that paid to a trainee, but should be able to progress far more rapidly to professional-level skills.
Technicians who have at least five years of education and experience in dental technology may wish to distinguish themselves by taking the examinations to become Certified Dental Technicians (CDTs). To qualify for certification, technicians must have a two-year dental technology degree (or the equivalent) and must pass written and practical examinations. To maintain certification, they must document at least ten hours of continuing education annually, including study of infection control.
New materials, techniques and equipment are regularly introduced to dental technology, and it is essential that dental technicians maintain state-of-the-art information and skills through frequent attendance at continuing education (CE) programs offered throughout the country.

The salary of a dental technician varies, depending upon the responsibilities associated with the specific position and the geographic location of employment. Information from Laboratory Management Today's 1998 Wage and Price survey indicate the National average starting wage for all dental laboratory technician positions is $7.05 an hour, up from $6.44 in 1996. Starting salaries for orthodontic technicians increased the most dramatically -up 50% in the past two years to $9.96 per hour. With experience, ceramists eclipse all other positions, earning an average of $16.38 per hour. (1) Basing their assessment on advertised salaries the American Dental Association estimated a skilled technician employed in a quality-oriented laboratory presently might expect to earn in the $40,000-$60,000 range.

In an effort to keep employees satisfied, respondents to the 1998 LMT wage and price survey found that respondents typically give salary increases between one and six percent every six months to a year. Three-quarters of them give year-end bonuses, either cash or through profit sharing/pension/gainshare plans. Sixty-two percent offer health insurance for their employees and about half also extend this benefit to employees' spouses and children. It was also found that many dental technicians receive benefit packages from their employers, which may include disability insurance coverage, reimbursement for continuing education programs, paid vacations and holidays.

Gross personal income of laboratory owner's can vary significantly ranging from under $25K and rising proportionately with the size of the laboratory, to over $200K. These estimates depend largely on the clientele served, and, more importantly, the financial management skills of the owner.

Because many people are completely unaware of dental technology, this career has not historically attracted large numbers of new entries into the field. But as restorative dentistry becomes more sophisticated and the demand for dental services continues to grow, the dental profession is seeking more highly skilled dental technicians to provide the services and products they require. At the same time, the US military services -- once the largest single source of dental technology training -- are training fewer technicians, and dental schools are teaching a decreasing amount of dental technology to dental students, which, in turn, makes them more dependent upon the skills and knowledge of the dental technician.

National Association of Dental Laboratories
1530 Metropolitan Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Main NADL Number:
   Phone: (800) 950-1150
                (850) 205-5626
   FAX : (805) 222-0053
   Email: nadl@nadl.org
National Board for Certification:
   Phone: (800) 684-5310
                (850) 205-5627
   FAX: (805) 222-0053

American Dental Association
211 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 440-2500
Fax: (312) 440-2800

Lab Management Today (LMT's 1998 Wage and Price Survey)

1. Labor Pains: We are not alone. Lab Management Today, April 1998, p5-13

ADA: www.ada.org/prof/ed/careers/factsheets/labtech.html

ADA Accredited Programs: www.ada.org/prof/ed/programs/dahlt/index.html

National Association of Dental Laboratories: www.nadl.org

Web Dental: www.webdental.com

Dental related resources- Dental Labs links: www.dental-resources.com/labs2.html

U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook

Revised: July 17, 2002.
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