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What Do Dental Laboratory Technician Do?
Dental Laboratory Technician Definition Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
List of Dental Laboratory Technician Job Duties
- Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
- Shape and solder wire and metal frames or bands for dental products, using soldering irons and hand tools.
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Mold wax over denture setups to form the full contours of artificial gums.
- Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
- Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
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Dental Laboratory Technician Required Skills
Dental Laboratory Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Instrument Maker
- Orthodontic Band Maker
- Dental Mechanic
- Dental Technologist
Dental Laboratory Technician Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 38,100 jobs for Dental Laboratory Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,500 new jobs for Dental Laboratory Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Dental Laboratory Technician are Utah, Michigan, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Missouri, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Dental Laboratory Technician Salary
The typical yearly salary for Dental Laboratory Technicians is somewhere between $25,320 and $64,180.
Dental Laboratory Technicians who work in Alaska, Virginia, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Dental Laboratory Technicians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,540 |
| Alaska | $57,940 |
| Arizona | $45,240 |
| Arkansas | $39,260 |
| California | $43,340 |
| Colorado | $47,210 |
| Connecticut | $49,880 |
| Florida | $41,110 |
| Georgia | $43,420 |
| Hawaii | $39,850 |
| Idaho | $45,920 |
| Illinois | $41,800 |
| Indiana | $38,990 |
| Iowa | $42,740 |
| Kansas | $48,000 |
| Kentucky | $44,720 |
| Louisiana | $37,920 |
| Maine | $42,910 |
| Maryland | $39,180 |
| Massachusetts | $45,650 |
| Michigan | $41,310 |
| Minnesota | $44,670 |
| Mississippi | $46,430 |
| Missouri | $40,850 |
| Montana | $51,200 |
| Nebraska | $48,640 |
| Nevada | $42,080 |
| New Hampshire | $41,320 |
| New Jersey | $42,610 |
| New Mexico | $38,390 |
| New York | $50,250 |
| North Carolina | $43,190 |
| North Dakota | $39,540 |
| Ohio | $43,400 |
| Oklahoma | $42,900 |
| Oregon | $40,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,210 |
| Rhode Island | $44,570 |
| South Carolina | $45,560 |
| South Dakota | $32,790 |
| Tennessee | $41,660 |
| Texas | $41,840 |
| Utah | $47,780 |
| Virginia | $52,220 |
| Washington | $43,710 |
| West Virginia | $39,530 |
| Wisconsin | $39,960 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Dental Laboratory Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Dental Laboratory Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Scheduling software
- Graphics software
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- Inventory management software
- Bookkeeping software
- Database management software
- CAD/CAM
- Computer imaging software
How do I Become a Dental Laboratory Technician?
Are there Dental Laboratory Technicians education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Dental Laboratory Technician?
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References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Dallas Edwards via Public domain
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