Dental Lab TechnicianWhat does a dental laboratory technician do?

  • Dental laboratory technicians assemble and build dentures, bridges, crowns, orthodontic appliances, and other protheses for the purpose of use in dental patients.
  • Take prescription and specifications from a dentist to fabricate oral products using a variety of materials ranging from plastics, waxes, and other precious and non-precious alloys like gold and porcelain.
  • The dental laboratory technician may use computer aided design (CAD) software to build and manufacture custom-fit devices for patients.

Workplace

  • Most dental laboratory technicians work in commercial dental laboratories, dental offices, dental schools, or hospitals.

Education Requirements

  • Minimum high school diploma or GED and Associate’s degree or certificate from an accredited dental laboratory technology program which is usually two (2) years.

Accreditation

  • The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) approves dental laboratory technician training programs.
  • Employers generally prefer CODA approved training programs.