Highlights

1. Dental technicians craft custom dental restorations and appliances like crowns, bridges, and dentures.
2. Dental technicians work in private labs, hospitals, universities, and dental practices, supporting dentists and patients.
3. To become a dental technician, complete an accredited program and gain professional certifications.
4. You must craft your resume highlighting education, experience, and certifications for job applications.

Have you ever wondered what makes a dental lab technician truly exceptional? It’s not just about working with teeth. It’s about combining precision, creativity, and technical expertise to create dental appliances that improve smiles and change lives. 

So, in this guide, we’ll discuss the top skills needed for dental lab technician to excel in this rewarding and detail-oriented profession.

What Does a Dental Technician Do?

The dental laboratory expertise ensures precision and excellence in crafting dental restorations and appliances. A skilled dental technician works with detailed dental impressions to create accurate models of a patient’s mouth. These models are the foundation for designing and producing high-quality dental restorations and appliances, including crowns, bridges, dentures, and orthodontic devices.

Where Does a Dental Technician Work?

Dental technicians can work in a variety of professional settings, including:

1. Private Dental Laboratories: Crafting custom dental appliances for individual patients.
2. Commercial Dental Laboratories: Producing dental products on a larger scale for multiple practices.
3. Hospital Dental Departments: Assisting with dental prosthetics and appliances for hospital patients.
4. Universities or Research Institutions: Contributing to dental research and advancing technology.
5. Private Practice: Supporting dentists directly within a private clinic.

15 Skills Needed for Dental Laboratory Technician Skills Resume and Career

Following are the technical skills for dental technician: 

1. Dentures

Here’s how dental lab technicians work with dentures:

1. Created dentures and metal prostheses based on precise measurements.
2. Repaired dental appliances following prescriptions.
3. Fabricated full and partial dentures by reading prescriptions and examining dental models and impressions.

2. Patients

Dental lab technicians skills also revolve around supporting patients:

1. Improved patients’ oral health by crafting fixed prostheses as prescribed by dentists.
2. Worked closely with elderly and mentally challenged patients to ensure their satisfaction with the final product.

3. Prosthetics

Here’s how dental lab technicians handle prosthetics:

1. Recorded and tracked the exact materials used for prosthetic creation.
2. Performed basic to intermediate-level procedures for prosthetic fabrication.

4. Dexterity

Here’s how dental lab technicians use dexterity:

1. Paid close attention to detail while demonstrating strong organizational skills, manual dexterity, and good eyesight.
2. Maintained precision and steadiness due to the detailed nature of the work.

5. CAD/CAM

Here’s how dental lab technicians use CAD/CAM technology:

1. Designed and milled Lava crowns with CAD/CAM software.
2. Operated advanced 3D scanning systems for accurate designs.

6. Infection Control

Infection control involves managing the spread of germs and ensuring safety in healthcare settings.

Here’s how dental lab technicians ensure infection control:

1. Followed strict sterilization procedures to maintain a clean work environment.
2. Trained 43 staff members on digital radiography and infection control techniques while meeting annual safety requirements.

7. Grinders

Here’s how dental lab technicians use grinders:

1. Worked with articulators, grinders, and polishers to craft dental appliances.
2. Used materials like wax, plastic models, and plaster models, along with grinders and polishers, to create precise dental products.

8. OSHA

Here’s how dental lab technicians follow OSHA standards:

1. Followed all safety guidelines the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set.
2. Conducted regular internal audits to ensure compliance with OSHA safety procedures.

9. CAD/CAM

Here’s how dental lab technicians use CAD/CAM:

1. Designed up to 55 units daily using 3Shape CAD/CAM scan and design software.
2. Produced 30 cases per day using Dental Wings CAD/CAM software and printing technology.

10. Hand Tools

Here’s how dental lab technicians use hand tools:

1. Skilled in using various tools, including high-temperature porcelain furnaces and traditional lathes.
2. Shaped and soldered wire and metal frames for dental products using hand tools and a soldering iron.

11. Lab Equipment

Here’s how dental lab technicians manage lab equipment:

1. Accounted for lab equipment, completing inventory checks for 71 items valued at $190K.
2. Monitored and maintained equipment worth $188K to ensure smooth operations.

12. Relines

Here’s how dental lab technicians handle relines:

1. Experienced in denture and partial repairs, relines, space maintainers, retainers, and shading.
2. Progressed from relines and repairs to setting teeth and finishing products.

13. Splints

Here’s how dental lab technicians work with splints:

1. Created oral appliances, including mouth guards, splints, retainers, and CT scans.
2. Designed orthodontic splints to protect and straighten teeth.

14. Dental Appliances

Here’s how dental lab technicians create dental appliances:

1. Designed and repaired removable and fixed dental appliances to aid treatments or replace missing teeth.
2. Trimmed and finished appliances before sending them to dentists for insertion.

15. Custom Trays

Here’s how dental lab technicians fabricate custom trays:

1. Made custom trays, base plates, bite rims, bleaching trays, and mouth guards.
2. Created bite blocks, duplicating models, and base plates tailored to specific needs.

How to Become a Dental Laboratory Technician?

Following are the dental technician qualifications that you must follow to start a successful career:

Earn Your High School Diploma or GED

To begin your career as a dental laboratory technician, you must complete your high school education and obtain a diploma or GED. This is a basic requirement for enrolling in a dental laboratory technician program. Some programs may also require a minimum high school GPA of 2.5, so check the specific enrollment criteria for the programs you are considering.

Complete a Dental Laboratory Technician Program

Choosing an accredited dental laboratory technician program ensures you receive a comprehensive education meeting industry standards. Programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) are ideal. You can find these programs at various community colleges, universities, vocational schools, and even the military.

These programs vary in length. You may choose from a one-year certificate program, a two-year associate’s degree, or even a four-year bachelor’s degree in dental or dental laboratory technology. 

Gain Professional Certifications

While certification is not always mandatory, obtaining professional certifications demonstrates your expertise and skill in the field. It can help you stand out to potential employers and boost your earning potential.

The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology offers certifications in several areas, including:

1. Implants
2. Full dentures
3. Partial dentures
4. Crowns and bridges
5. Ceramics
6. Orthodontics

To become certified, you must pass a comprehensive written, specialty, and practical exam. You can take these exams in any order and have up to four years to complete them.

Prepare Your Resume and Cover Letter

Once you have completed your education and earned the necessary certifications, you can start applying for jobs as a dental laboratory technician. You can search on Yulys for “jobs near me.” Ensure your resume and cover letter highlight your education, experience, and certifications. 

Tailor your resume with our best resume builder for each job application, using keywords from the job description to ensure your qualifications align with the employer's needs.

Summary

Becoming a dental technician requires education, hands-on skills, and dedication to providing high-quality dental restorations and appliances. With the right training and certifications, you can work in various settings, from private labs to hospitals. By mastering the skills needed for dental lab technician, you can play an important role in improving patients' oral health. So, keep learning and gaining experience to grow in this rewarding field!

FAQs

What Skills Are Essential For A Dental Lab Technician?

Dental lab technicians need skills in precision, attention to detail, problem-solving, and knowledge of dental anatomy and materials. They must also have the ability to use various tools and technologies effectively.

Do Dental Lab Technicians Need Artistic Skills?

Yes, dental lab technicians require artistic skills, particularly in molding, shaping, and customizing dental prosthetics to ensure they are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

How Important Is Hand-Eye Coordination In Dental Lab Work?

Hand-eye coordination is crucial for dental lab technicians, as they must work with delicate materials and tools to create accurate and precise dental prosthetics and restorations.

What Technical Skills Are Required For Operating CAD/CAM Systems In Dental Labs?

Dental lab technicians need technical skills in operating CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) systems, including the ability to design, model, and fabricate dental prosthetics using specialized software and machinery.