Dealing with a Dental Technician
A dental technician is an integral part of the dental team; a dental laboratory technician needs to be in constant and clear communication with the dentist and other members of the dental team, to ensure that the right dental and restorative appliances will be manufactured according to the specifications of a particular patient.
This is Dentistry will give you the information you need about dental technicians, and will also help you in searching for a dental technician lab to suit whatever dental concerns and/or dental appliances you may need. Your search for a dental laboratory technician can begin by going through the comprehensive This is Dentistry dentist directory, where you can get the contact information of dentists in your local area, who in turn can point you to the right direction to aid your search for a dental technician.
Meet the Dental Technician
The dental technician is an important part of the dental team; dental technicians are registered dental professionals who have a high level of expertise in the construction, design, adjustment and repair of a number of dental appliances. A dental laboratory technician bases his work from direct communication and a written prescription from a dentist or a dental surgeon, which is the reason why dental technicians need to work with a high level of precision and accuracy – to ensure that the dental appliances will conform perfectly following the dentist’s and the patient’s specifications.
What Does a Dental Laboratory Technician Do?
- Interprets or receives written orders from a dentist or a dental prosthetist
- Construct custom-made impression trays that will be used by the dentist or dental prosthetist
- Construct wax replicas parts of the mouth or the whole mouth cavity using a given model
- Make stone or plaster models of the teeth and mouth, using the impressions that were taken by the dentist
- Replicate the positions of the jaw with the use of articulating equipment models
- Use specialized equipment or direct vision to record a patient’s tooth shades
- Use specialized or manual skills to create ceramic restorations
- Construct and design removable and fixed metal and acrylic orthodontic appliances
- Fix the position and appearance of prosthetic teeth to be used for partial or full dentures
- Repair or adjust partial or full dentures
- Finish and polish dental appliances before they are placed inside the patient’s mouth

