What Does a Dental Laboratory Technician Do?

There are several vital roles in dentistry, each with a different emphasis. If you’re interested in the oral care field, there are career opportunities to match every interest and aptitude. For students with a passion for science and artistry, a job as a dental laboratory technician may be particularly rewarding. Let’s look deeper at this exciting occupation and what you’ll learn in a training program.

Dental laboratory technicians create dental prosthetics and restorations, such as dentures, bridges, crowns, and veneers, based on specifications provided by a dentist. These custom-made appliances help restore oral function, improve aesthetics, and enhance patients’ overall health. It’s an expansive role. The work includes:

Material Selection

A quality dental appliance product requires appropriate materials. Dental technicians work with ceramics, metal alloys, acrylics, and resins, choosing suitable compounds based on strength, durability, biocompatibility, and appearance. The goal is to reproduce the patient’s natural teeth shape, size, and color.

Modeling and Waxing

Waxing and carving are steps in creating dental prosthetics of all kinds. Each involves using dental materials to sculpt replicas of restorations before they are cast or printed in the designated final material. Although they refer to different steps in the same process, waxing and carving are often used interchangeably in dental laboratory work.

Casting

Dental technicians cast metal alloys using specialized equipment, melting and injecting the metal and molding it into the desired shape for dental prosthetics involving metal components, such as crowns with metal posts.

Ceramic Layering

Ceramic layering, or porcelain build-up, is a technique dental laboratory technicians use to create the outermost layer of dental restorations. The purpose is to recreate the healthy appearance of natural teeth by applying layers of ceramic material onto a metal framework or high-strength ceramic core. After applying each layer, fire fuses the ceramic together to impart a natural translucence. The dental technician may add stains or glazes to enhance color and texture to optimize aesthetics.

Orthodontic Appliance Fabrication, Cleaning and Maintenance

Dental laboratory technicians may also create removable orthodontic appliances that aid in correcting jaw and tooth misalignment. Examples include retainers, splints, and aligners.

What Diploma or Degree Will Help Me Become a Dental Laboratory Technician?

There are several options to choose from so review each to determine which best fits your needs.

Diploma in Dental Laboratory Technology

Diploma programs in dental laboratory technology offer focused training in the skills required for entry-level positions. Offered by universities, full-time students can graduate in sixteen months. You will be out of the classroom and in the field quickly, making it a perfect option if you do not have years to dedicate to getting an education.

Associate Degree in Dental Laboratory Technology

Associate degree programs provide a more comprehensive education in dental technology. Available at universities, the curriculum includes dental technology and general education courses.

The associate degree in dental technology takes two years to complete. If you have the time, a degree program will provide a solid foundation for advanced roles in dental laboratories.

What Do You Learn in a Dental Lab Tech Associate Degree Program?

Intro to Prosthodontics Technology

In this introductory prosthodontics course, students learn to design, fabricate, and fit dental prostheses, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, and implants.

Students explore:

Prosthodontics as a specialty
The role of prosthodontics in restoring oral function, aesthetics, and comfort
Impression techniques and materials
Types of dental prostheses, including complete dentures, partials, crowns, and bridges
The principles of prosthetic design and fabrication

Dental Anatomy

In dental anatomy, students study oral structures, including the teeth, gums, and oral tissues.

Topics include:

Dental terminology
Human permanent dentition
Common dental anomalies and variations in tooth morphology
Oral tissues, including the gingiva, alveolar bone, and oral mucosa
Clinical crown morphology.
Tooth numbering systems
Dental occlusion and its significance in restorations

Intro to Full Dentures

Full dentures are prosthetic devices that replace all the teeth in the upper and/or lower dental arches.

This introductory course covers the following:

The significance of dentures in restoring oral function and aesthetics
Edentulous arch assessment and impression techniques
Balanced occlusion
Design principles for denture bases
Processing techniques such as artificial tooth alignment, waxing, flasking, packing, curing, and de-flasking procedures
Denture polishing and adjustment

Full Dentures Material

Students discuss:

Denture materials
Types of denture teeth
Tooth selection and arrangement
Shade selection
Occlusion concepts and bite registration
Finishing techniques to achieve a smooth and comfortable fit
Denture maintenance, repair, and relining procedures

Full Dentures Clinic

This course provides hands-on training in working with dentures, bridging the gap between laboratory work and patient care.

You will practice:

Pouring impressions
Bite registration techniques
Denture fittings and adjustments
Infection control and safety principles
Patient communication skills
Professional collaboration and case management

Special Prostheses

Special prostheses include devices like immediate dentures, relines, and rebases.

Intro to Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are dental prostheses used to replace missing teeth when some natural teeth are still present.

This class explores:

Types of partial dentures
Design and fabrication techniques
Partial base design
Major and minor connectors in partial denture frameworks
Tooth selection, molds, and arrangement for artificial teeth in partial dentures

Partial Design and Survey

This course covers the design and survey skills applicable to partial dentures.

Topics include:

Surveying techniques used to assess the undercut areas around natural teeth
Framework design for partial dentures
Types of clasps used for appliance retention
Occlusion considerations
Designing partial dentures supported by dental implants

Partial Dentures Clinic

Like the full denture clinic, this course covers the techniques required to work with partials.

Students will:

Practice pouring impressions
Prepare bite registration plates and wax rims
Fit and adjust partial dentures

Peter K. Thomas Functional waxing system. (PKT)

This class explores techniques for contouring and carving the wax patterns used for fabricating dental restorations.

Concepts include:

The PKT technique and its significance in achieving lifelike ceramic restorations
The properties of dental wax and handling techniques
Wax pattern designs for dental restorations
Creating texture and surface details
Mastering natural light reflection
Shade and color matching

Intro to Crowns and Bridges plus Materials

Crowns and bridges are fixed dental prostheses that restore damaged or missing teeth’ form, function, and aesthetics.

You will learn about:

Crowns, bridges, and their role in restoring damaged or missing teeth
Types of crowns and bridges
Tooth preparation techniques for crown and bridge restorations
Crown and bridge materials and fabrication

Crown and Bridge Clinic

Students in this course gain practical experience creating and fitting dental crowns and bridges.

Construction and Design of Working Casts and Dies

Working casts and dies are the foundation of PFM fabrications.

This course covers:

Pouring dental stone or plaster into impressions to create working casts.
Creating dies from working casts
The use of die spacer materials
Abutment teeth identification and margin trimming.

Intro to Marginal Design

Marginal design is a crucial step in fabricating well-fitting restorations.

Students get a comprehensive overview including:

The clinical and aesthetic significance of accurate marginal design
Marginal identification such as chamfer, shoulder, and featheredge
Marginal trimming and finishing.
Dental preparations and application of die sealers and spacers.

Introduction to Porcelain

Porcelain is widely used in dentistry for its natural appearance but requires excellent hands, skills, and finesse.

Students learn about:

The physical and optical properties of porcelain
Color theory and matching
Porcelain layering techniques
Porcelain firing
Creating surface texture and characterization
Contouring and incisal effects
Stain and glaze application

Porcelain Crowns and Bridge Materials plus Clinic

This hybrid course covers the knowledge and skills you need to work with porcelain.

Topics include:

Porcelain materials, felspathic and alumina ceramics.
Porcelain properties and color characteristics
Occlusal, functional, and aesthetic considerations
Margin and finish line adaptations

Vacuum Porcelain Procedures

Vacuum porcelain procedures involve using vacuum technology to aid the porcelain layering and firing process for improved aesthetics, density, and fit.

Through hands-on exercises, students explore:

Vacuum porcelain system.
Vacuum porcelain layering techniques
Dental porcelain stratification and characterization
Stain and glaze application

Special Crown and Bridges Porcelain Prostheses

This class focuses on specialized restorations involving multiple units and complex aesthetic considerations.

An in-depth course that covers:

Advanced porcelain techniques:
Dental CAD CAM
Different types of CAD CAM case materials.

– CAD Case entry

– CAD case scanning

– CAD case design

– CAM case printing or milling.

What Do You Learn During a Dental Laboratory Tech Diploma Program?

Diploma programs cover the same topics as associate degree programs but must be more in-depth. Introduction, material, and clinic courses are combined into a single course. Students spend less time in school but need to learn more on the job. The expectation is that graduates will take entry-level positions.

Final Thoughts

Oral care is an exciting and evolving field, but not every role requires filling cavities. If you prefer test tubes to toothbrushes, a career as a dental laboratory technician may be a perfect fit.

Eager to Learn More?

This Dental Laboratory Technician diploma program offers technical training and theory in Full and Partial Dentures and Crown & Bridge and Porcelain. Florida National University awards a diploma upon completion of the program.

This Dental Laboratory Technology Degree program offers technical training and theory in Full and Partial Dentures and Crown & Bridge and Porcelain. The program includes a fifteen-credit-hour component of general education/liberal arts courses. Students must demonstrate computer literacy before graduation; otherwise, the student must take a computer course. FNU awards an Associate of Science Degree upon graduation.

If you are interested in dental laboratory technology, let Florida National University answer any questions. Contact us today to learn more about our associate degree and diploma programs.