What You Need to Know About Dental Laboratory Technician
Occupation Description Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Life As a Dental Laboratory Technician: What Do They Do?
- Prepare wax bite blocks and impression trays for use.
- Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
- Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
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Dental Laboratory Technician Skills
These are the skills Dental Laboratory Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
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
- Denture Waxer
- Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech)
- Dental Appliance Repairer
- Orthodontic Band Maker
- Crown Ceramist
Job Opportunities for Dental Laboratory Technicians
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 38,100 jobs in the United States for Dental Laboratory Technician. 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.
Average Dental Laboratory Technicians Salary
The average yearly salary of a Dental Laboratory Technician ranges between $25,320 and $64,180.
Dental Laboratory Technicians who work in Alaska, Virginia, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
How much do Dental Laboratory Technicians make 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 & Technology 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
- CAD/CAM
- Computer imaging software
How to Become a Dental Laboratory Technician
What education is needed to be a Dental Laboratory Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Dental Laboratory Technician?
Where do Dental Laboratory Technicians Work?
Dental Laboratory Technicians work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Dental Laboratory Technician may also be interested in:
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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