Dental Laboratory Technicians
Also known as: Bridge Technician, CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), CAM Tech (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technician) (+37 more)
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
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What You'll Do
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
- Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatuses.
- 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.
- Create a model of patient's mouth by pouring plaster into a dental impression and allowing plaster to set.
- Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
- Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
Essential Skills
Career Fit Overview
Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.
Top passions
- Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
- Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
- Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
Common styles
Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Initiative, Achievement/Effort
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Key Abilities
This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:
Technologies & Tools
Work Environment & Style
Common Styles for This Career
- Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.77/5)
- Dependability (High importance: 4.47/5)
- Integrity (High importance: 4.29/5)
- Initiative (High importance: 4.26/5)
- Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.25/5)
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Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.
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Also Known As
This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:
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