All About Dental Laboratory Technicians
Dental Laboratory Technician Definition Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Dental Laboratory Technician Responsibilities
- Prepare wax bite blocks and impression trays for use.
- Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
- Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
- Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
- Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
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Dental Laboratory Technician Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Dental Laboratory Technicians say are important on the job.
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 for this Occupation:
- Dentures Laboratory Technician
- Denture Finisher
- Dental Ceramist Assistant
- Denture Technician
- Bridge Technician
Dental Laboratory Technician Job Outlook
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.
How Much Does a Dental Laboratory Technician Make?
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.
How much do Dental Laboratory Technicians make in each U.S. state?
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
- CAD/CAM
- Computer imaging software
How to Become a Dental Laboratory Technician
Education needed to be a Dental Laboratory Technician:

What work experience do I need to become a Dental Laboratory Technician?

Where Dental Laboratory Technicians Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Dental Laboratory Technicians employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Dental Laboratory Technician may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Dental Laboratory Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Dallas Edwards via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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