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Dental Laboratory Technicians Occupation Detailed Description

Dental Laboratory Technicians career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Dental Laboratory Technicians

The main tasks and work activities of Dental Laboratory Technicians are to read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements, repair medical or dental assistive devices, construct customized assistive medical or dental devices, inspect medical or dental assistive devices. In general, for the Dental Laboratory Technicians, reading Comprehension, time Management, quality Control Analysis, critical Thinking and other 6 skills are required.
Dental Laboratory Technicians Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Dental Laboratory Technicians jobs. 42.74% of Dental Laboratory Technicians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 22.01% of Dental Laboratory Technicians have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
11.12%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
42.74%
Post-Secondary Certificate
22.01%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
16.98%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
7.15%

Tasks and Work Activities of Dental Laboratory Technicians

  • Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
  • Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
  • Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
  • Place tooth models on apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
  • Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatus.
  • Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
  • Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
  • Create a model of patient's mouth by pouring plaster into a dental impression and allowing plaster to set.
  • Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
  • Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
  • Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
  • Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
  • Prepare wax bite blocks and impression trays for use.
  • Mold wax over denture setups to form the full contours of artificial gums.
  • Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
  • Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
  • Shape and solder wire and metal frames or bands for dental products, using soldering irons and hand tools.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Scheduling Work and ActivitiesScheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Repair medical or dental assistive devices.
  • Construct customized assistive medical or dental devices.
  • Inspect medical or dental assistive devices.
  • Measure clients to ensure proper product fit.
  • Place materials into molds.
  • Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
  • Melt metal, plastic, or other materials to prepare for production.
  • Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Cast molds of patient anatomies to create medical or dental devices.
  • Load items into ovens or furnaces.
  • Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
  • Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
  • Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures.
  • Direct operational or production activities.
  • Solder parts or workpieces.
  • Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.

Skills and Abilities for Dental Laboratory Technicians

  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Dental burse.g. Acrylic cutters
  • Dental articulators or accessoriese.g. Adjustable articulators
  • Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
  • Dental laboratory air abrasion unitse.g. Air scribes
  • Amalgam carrierse.g. Amalgam dispensers
  • Amalgam carrierse.g. Amalgam instruments
  • Dental articulators or accessoriese.g. Anatomic articulators
  • Dental articulators or accessoriese.g. Arcon articulators
  • Dental articulators or accessoriese.g. Articulators
  • Chuckse.g. Auto chucks
  • Dental finishing or polishing discse.g. Build-up brushes
  • Gas burnerse.g. Bunsen burners
  • Dental laboratory burners or torchese.g. Casting torches
  • Laboratory balancese.g. Clinical scales
  • Dental laboratory lathes or accessoriese.g. Conventional lathes
  • Dental laboratory model trimmers or accessoriese.g. Crown holders
  • Dental laboratory casting machines or its parts or accessoriese.g. Crucible formers
  • Crucibles for dental casting machinese.g. Crucibles
  • Tissue culture coated plates or dishes or insertse.g. Culture plates
  • Culture tubese.g. Culture tubes
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.