Career: Dental Laboratory Technicians
Working with plaster, wax, and metal is not for everyone. But if you’re good with your hands and have a knack for precision, a career as a dental laboratory technician may be just the ticket. Working with a mold of the patient’s teeth and the dentist’s instructions, technicians craft crowns, bridges, orthodontics, and other dental fixtures. And with cosmetic dentistry on the rise, a dental tech who can create the perfect porcelain veneer (false front for teeth) will be in demand.
Dental laboratory technicians craft crowns, bridges, dentures, and other devices for teeth.
Did You Know?
- Few people know about this career, so there’s little competition for jobs.
Are You Ready To...?
- Use small, hand-held tools
- Work with wax, metal, and other materials
- Grind and polish to perfection
- Follow highly detailed instructions
- Work behind the scenes with no patient contact
It Helps to Be...
A perfectionist who is good at working with his hands, especially on small objects. Patience and precision are also key.
Make High School Count
- Sign up for shop, where you’ll get some valuable experience in working with your hands and following detailed instructions.
- Sign up for art where you’ll develop a keen eye for shadings and shapes, which will help as you work on crowns, dentures, and other dental appliances.
- Sit up in science: it’s the basis of dentistry.
Did You Know?
- Some dental laboratory technicians work in dentists’ offices, while others work in labs. A large lab is a good choice for those who want to specialize in orthodontics, crowns, or some other area.
Outlook
Slower-than-average job growth is expected for dental lab technicians compared to job growth in other careers through 2016, according to government economists. But getting your foot in the door should be easy, since there’s little competition for entry-level jobs, which pay poorly.
Compensation
Dental laboratory technicians earned an average yearly salary of $36,990 in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
