Dental Laboratory Technicians

Also Called: Dental Ceramist, Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech), Dental Technician (Dental Tech), Denture Technician

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$33,940

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Dental Laboratory Technicians do

Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.

  • 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.
  • Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatus.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

Dental Assistant • OCT-Only Health Care

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Exposed to Contaminants
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  • Time Pressure
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Tools

  • Dental finishing or polishing discs
  • Dental articulators or accessories
  • Dental laboratory casting machines or its parts or accessories
  • Dental laboratory furnaces
  • Dental laboratory lathes or accessories

Technology

Computer aided design CAD software
Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
Dental product design software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software
Easy Solutions Easy Lab
Mainstreet Systems & Software DentaLab/PC II

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Time Management
  • Active Learning

Knowledge

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
manufacture and distribution of products
Engineering and Technology
design
product and service development
Health
medicine and dentistry
Business
customer service

Education

  • 43% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 22% Post-secondary certificate
  • 17% Associate's degree

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Dental Laboratory Technicians Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Dental Assistants

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

Dental Hygienists

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Bioengineers & Biomedical Engineers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Dentists, General

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Abilene Christian University

    Abilene, TX

  • Allen County Community College

    Iola, KS

Apprenticeships

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Persistence
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control

Values

  • Support
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Dental Laboratory Technicians across the country typically make.

$16.32 / hour
$33,940 /year

Entry Level

$22.93 / hour
$47,690 /year

Median Level

$37.24 / hour
$77,460 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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