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What You Need to Know About Dental Laboratory Technician
Dental Laboratory Technician Job Description Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
A Day in the Life of a Dental Laboratory Technician
- Mold wax over denture setups to form the full contours of artificial gums.
- Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- Place tooth models on apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient’s jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
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Skills Needed to be a Dental Laboratory Technician
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.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Dental Instrument Maker
- Dental Appliance Fixer
- Denture Technician
- Dental Technology Advisor
- Orthotic Prosthetic Technician
Job Outlook for Dental Laboratory Technicians
There were about 38,100 jobs for Dental Laboratory Technician in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 5,000 positions for Dental Laboratory Technician per 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.
Do Dental Laboratory Technicians Make A Lot Of Money?
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 |
What Tools do Dental Laboratory Technicians Use?
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
- Computer imaging software
- CAD/CAM
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?
Where Dental Laboratory Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Dental Laboratory Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Dental Laboratory Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Dallas Edwards via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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