How to Become a Dental Technician

Dental technicians create dental appliances for patients, based on a dentist’s prescriptions. Appliances that they make include braces, retainers, and dentures. Some dental technicians may also work directly with patients to install dental appliances.

A dental technician creates and amends dental appliances, including dentures, crowns, and braces. They will generally hand make these appliances to fit the individual patient, with information from the prescription and dental moulds. They use a wide range of materials in their work, including plastic, porcelain, metal, and wax. 

There are several different types of dental technician. 

• Prosthodontic technicians specialise in making dentures.
• Conservation technicians create crowns and bridges for teeth.
• Orthodontic technicians specialise in orthodontic dentistry, so they create braces and retainers. 
• Maxillofacial technicians work in hospitals and use dental technology to help reconstruct a patient’s face after a severe face injury or surgery.
• Clinical dental technicians also work with patients. They create and install removable dental appliances, such as dentures, directly onto the patient.

Dental technicians – especially maxillofacial and clinical – may specialise in a particular area. However, laboratory-based technicians may have a more general role.

As well as creating appliances, dental technicians are expected to keep updated with laboratory reports and in some cases, check on their patient’s dental welfare. 

Most dental technologists will have either taken a degree or a diploma in dental technology. They may also be required to take an approved dental technician course – this will vary depending on their country of residence. There is the option to join the vocation as a trainee dental technician and take a part-time course while working.

Dental technicians are expected to do continual professional development (CPD). They can do this by training organised by their job, independent research, or writing journals. 

Work experience is also essential for prospective dental technicians. Work shadowing at a dental practice or working on reception might be an option. Laboratories are also often open to work experience placements. 

Dental technicians will need to have excellent dexterity and attention to detail. They typically hand-make appliances, so will need to demonstrate acute precision. Some of their appliances are created with computer-aided-design, so they should feel proficient with this technology.

They will also need to have excellent eyesight – they may need to do eye tests to prove this. Dental technicians cannot be colour blind, as part of their job involves shading, which is matching items of very similar colour together.

Dental technicians should have an artistic flair and be aware of the importance of aesthetics when creating appliances. They should be able to communicate with dentists and doctors, as well as work independently. 

Most dental technicians will work office hours, although overtime may be required. Candidates can progress to becoming a clinical dental technician or working in management. They could also move into quality control, teaching, or sales. Some dental technicians even set up their own dental laboratory.