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Dental Laboratory Technicians


Overview

Dental Laboratory Technicians

Introduction

Dental laboratory technicians, also called dental technicians, are skilled craftspeople who make and repair dental appliances, such as dentures, inlays, bridges, crowns, and braces, according to dentists' written prescriptions. They work with plastics, ceramics, and metals, using models made from impressions taken by the dentist of a patient's mouth or teeth. A growing number of technicians use computer programs or three-dimensional printers to create appliances. Some dental laboratory technicians, especially those who work...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$45,000

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Some Postsecondary Training
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Experience

Three to four years of experience assisting dental laboratory tec
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Skills

Drawing/Design
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Personality Traits

Hands On
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Earnings

Dental laboratory trainees earn slightly more than minimum wage. As technicians gain experience, however, their salaries increase. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that in May 2018, the median yearly income for dental laboratory technicians was $40,440. The lowest 10 percent earned $25,320 or less, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,180. Self-employed technicians and those w...

Work Environment

Most dental laboratory technicians work in well-lit, calm, and pleasant surroundings. Technicians usually have their own workbenches and equipment. Because some pieces of equipment produce high levels of noise, dental laboratory technicians may wish to have their hearing checked periodically. Some wear noise-cancelling headphones to reduce the chance of hearing loss. 

The normal workweek...

Outlook

Employment for dental laboratory technicians is expected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), or much faster than the average for all careers. Opportunities exist for new technicians because the aging (and affluent) baby boomer population is often willing to pay for more costly cosmetic restorations, such as all-ceramic crowns a...