What You Need to Know About Dental Laboratory Technician
Example of Dental Laboratory Technician Job Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Dental Laboratory Technician Responsibilities
- Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
- Create a model of patient’s mouth by pouring plaster into a dental impression and allowing plaster to set.
- Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
- Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
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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.
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.
Types of Dental Laboratory Technician
- Dentures Laboratory Technician
- Crown and Bridge Technician
- Orthodontic Technician
- Metal Room Dental Technician
- Dental Mechanic
Dental Laboratory Technician Employment Estimates
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.
What is the Average Salary of a Dental Laboratory Technician
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 & 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
- Computer imaging software
- CAD/CAM
How do I Become a Dental Laboratory Technician?
What education is needed to be a Dental Laboratory Technician?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Dental Laboratory Technician?
Similar 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.