Dental technician jobs

Dentures, crowns, bridges, and dental braces are all examples of the work that dental technicians (also known as dental technologists) provide for patients in order to enhance their look as well as their ability to speak and chew food.

a day at the office

You will be working to the prescriptions of dentists or physicians, and you will utilize a broad variety of materials, such as gold, porcelain, and plastic, to design and create equipment to fulfill the requirements of each individual patient.

A significant portion of your job will consist of doing tasks manually in order to bring each component up to the required standards. In the laboratory, you will also get experience working with specialized equipment. Because no two patients are the same, it is necessary to customize every component of the device to ensure that it is both pleasant and functional. This requires the utmost level of accuracy.

When designing and building appliances, you will work in one of four specialized areas, choosing from a broad variety of materials to work with.

Dentures are fabricated by prosthodontic technicians who design them.

Work on crowns and bridges is the primary focus of conservation technicians.

orthodontic technicians fabricate orthodontic braces in order to realign patients' teeth.

The work of maxillofacial technicians is mostly performed in hospital units specializing in oral surgery, ophthalmology, cancer treatment, and burn care. They assist in the reconstruction of patients' faces that have been harmed as a result of an accident or sickness.

A dental technician may also work directly with patients in a clinic with a dentist or a clinical dental technician. This kind of employment may take place in a patient-facing capacity.

Prerequisites for entry and required training

You are need to be registered with the General Dental Council in order to be able to work as a dental technician or dental technologist (GDC). Courses that are recognized by the GDC may lead to credentials such as:

in order to qualify for the BTEC National Diploma in Dental Technology, you will typically require at least four GCSEs, with grades ranging from 4-7 or A-C.

a foundation degree, during which time you will often be required to work in the capacity as a trainee dental technician.

a Bachelor of Science with Honors degree in Dental Technology, where A-levels or other credentials of a similar standard are often needed

You have the option of enrolling in a BTEC National Diploma or foundation degree programme on a full-time basis, or you may get a job as a trainee dental technician and complete the requirements for the degree on a part-time basis. The Bachelor of Science with Honors degree is often earned via full-time study at a university or dentistry school.

Must have talents

In order to create dental appliances, you will need to have a great grasp of dental and face anatomy, in addition to having knowledge of the characteristics of the materials that are required. Because of the nature of the job that you are doing, it's possible that you also have some creative skill.

Career development

Clinical dental technicians

Clinical dental technicians are dental technicians that have completed specialized clinical training in order to be able to design, produce, build, alter, and install removable dental appliances for patients. Clinical dental technicians are also known as dental laboratory technicians. You will be able to deliver complete dentures to patients who have lost all of their natural teeth, as well as partial dentures to individuals who still have some natural teeth. For dental technicians who want to work in an environment where they may interact directly with patients, this is an intriguing career choice to consider. Checking up on the patient's oral health in general is a significant component of the job responsibilities.

Additionally, those who are interested may specialize in orthodontic therapy if they so want. Through the NHS Scientist Training Programme, dental technicians have the opportunity to pursue further education and become healthcare scientists who specialize in reconstructive sciences (STP).

Benefits and remuneration

When you first begin working for the NHS, you will most likely begin in pay band 5 of the Agenda for Change pay scales and work 37.5 hours per week. In addition, you will get 27 days of yearly vacation in addition to the bank holidays, as well as savings on health services and participation in our comprehensive pension plan.

If you find a job outside of the NHS, the company you work for will determine your income and benefits package.