Become a Dental Lab Technician
Dental lab technicians create and repair dental prostheses such as dentures, crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances.
They work with a variety of materials such as waxes, plastics, precious and non-precious alloys, porcelains and others to make replacements for natural teeth.Job prospects are excellent due to great demand. Starting your own business is even an option for this career.
Here's what you need to know:
1) What is a Dental Lab Technician?
2) Requirements for the career
3) Certification
4) Salary Potential
5) Schools
1) What is a Dental Lab Technician?
Dental Lab Technicians are part of the dental care team.
They work directly with dentists by following detailed written instructions and using impressions (molds) of the patient's teeth or oral soft tissues to create:
- dentures for patients who are missing part or all of their teeth
- crowns, which are caps for teeth that are designed to restore their original size and shape
- veneers, that enhance the esthetics and function of the patient
- orthodontic appliances to help straighten and protect teeth.
They must have accuracy and artistic abilities, are skilled in using small hand instruments and possess great attention to minute detail.
They work with a variety of materials including waxes, plastics, precious and non-precious alloys, stainless steel, a variety of porcelains and composites or polymer glass combinations.
2) Requirements
Below are some basic requirements:
- Must complete and graduate from 2 year program at a community college, vocational school, technical school, university or dental school, preferably accredited
- Must have good finger and manual dexterity
- Attentiveness to detail
- Possess accuracy and artistic abilities
3) Certification
Dental laboratory technicians can become certified by passing an examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology.
Upon passing the certification examination, you become a Certified Dental Technician (CDT).
CDTs specialize in one or more of 5 areas: complete dentures, removable partial dentures, crown and bridge, ceramics or orthodontics.
4) Salary Potential
Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting, and years of experience.
Experienced dental lab technicians can even choose to be self-employed and open their own dental laboratories.
The median hourly salary of a dental lab technician is approximately $15/hour.
The average annual salary is approximately $35,000.
5) Dental Lab Technology Schools
The American Dental Association?s Commission on Dental Accreditation approved approximately 24 programs in dental technology in the United States.
Most programs take 2 year or less to complete.
Graduates of these programs receive either an associate degree or a certificate.
There are also a few programs that offer a four-year baccalaureate program in dental technology.
If accreditation is important to you, please make sure you verify the status of the school prior to enrolling in the program.
Below are the dental lab technology schools accredited by the American Dental Association:
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in ALABAMA
H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College
Montgomery, AL 36108
(334) 420-4428
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in ARIZONA
Pima County Community College
Tucson, AZ 85709-0080
(520) 206-3100
ADA-accredited dental lab technology schools in CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 953-4000
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 585-7542
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools
in FLORIDA:
Indian River Community College
Ft. Pierce, FL 34981
(772) 462-4480
McFatter Vocational Technical School
Davie, FL 33317
(754) 321-5741
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in GEORGIA
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, GA 30310-4446
(404) 756-3811
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in IDAHO
Idaho State University College of Technology
Pocatello, ID 83209-8380
(208) 282-3141
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in INDIANA
Indiana University Purdue University
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
(260) 481-6568
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in IOWA
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
(319) 398-5400
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in KENTUCKY
Lexington Community College
Lexington, KY 40506-0235
(859) 257-4872 x4086
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in LOUISIANA
Louisiana State University School of Dentistry
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-619-8684
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex Community College
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 656-3056
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in NEW YORK
Erie Community College, North Campus
Williamsville, NY 14221-7095
(716) 851-1759
New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2983
(718) 260-5136
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in NORTH CAROLINA
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 686-3399
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in OREGON
Portland Community College
Portland, OR 97219
(503) 977-4229
(605) 677-5379
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in TEXAS
School of Health Care Sciences-Air Force
Sheppard AFB, TX 76311-2246
(940) 676-6967
University of Texas Hlth Science Cnt-San Antonio School of Allied Health Sciences
San Antonio, TX 78284-7914
210-567-3056
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in VIRGINIA
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond, VA 23285-5622
(804) 786-6931
ADA-accredited Dental Lab Technology Schools in WASHINGTON
Bates Technical College
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 680-7215