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Dental Laboratory Technicians

In the Dental Laboratory Technicians occupation, workers construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances. O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on reading comprehension, time management, and critical thinking. A regular part of the work is to read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed. Interest ratings put Realistic on top at 6.6 out of 7 and Investigative second, so the code is RIC and the day leans toward hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.

What they do

Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.

Main tasks

  • Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
  • Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
  • Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
  • Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
  • Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
  • Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Time Management
  • Critical Thinking
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Speaking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and time management.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RIC takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Ceramist
  • Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech)
  • Dental Ceramist
  • Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech)
  • Dental Technician (Dental Tech)

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.