What do Dental Lab Technicians do...?
Dental Laboratory Technicians fill prescriptions from dentists for crowns, bridges, and veneers. Dental laboratories use many different materials to manufacture these dental prosthetics. They range from gypsum based stones (like plaster) to waxes and from metals to high-tech porcelains and ceramics. Zirconium is the latest high-tech ceramic that is becoming more popular because of its strength.

It is very beneficial to know how to do all of the basic procedures in a dental lab, as one step greatly influences the next step, although most technicians end up specializing. The small lab owner has to understand and be competent at each stage of making a crown. With the proliferation of cad cam systems in the dental lab field, many dental labs outsource the beginning steps in the process of fabricating crowns. Those who work for dental labs with more than 5-8 people almost always specialize in some specific area. Most of your local dental labs would be happy to show you around to get a feel for what the "specialized areas" are. Fine Arts Academy certainly encourages any potential student to tour their facilities so they can get a good feel for what dental lab technicians do.

Where do Dental Lab Technicians work...?
Dental technicians generally work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated laboratories. They have limited contact with patients or the public. Technicians on occasion wear goggles to protect their eyes, gloves to handle hot objects, and vacuum units or mask to avoid inhaling dust. They spend a great deal of time sitting at their own work bench, which can be equipped with bunsen burners, carvers, brushes, grinding and polishing equipment, and hand-held instruments. Some dental technicians have computer-aided equipment to assist them with creating artificial teeth.

Some dental laboratory technicians work in offices of dentist. Others work for hospitals in providing dental services including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. Some work for commercial laboratories ranging from 2 to 2000 employees. Some dental technicians open their own offices or work in laboratories in their own home.

What are the skills needed to become a Dental Lab Technician...?
Dental lab technicians should have good vision and color sense. They also need manual dexterity for handling the tiny pieces of material they use in their work. Because the work demands precision, technicians should have patience and should enjoy detail work. Although an artistic aptitude for detailed and precise work is important, a skilled dental technician does not need to be an artist or overly mechanically inclined. High school students interested in becoming dental lab techs could take courses in art, metal and wood shop, drafting, and sciences. Courses in management and business may help those wishing to operate their own laboratories. A good work ethic, determination, and ability to handle pressure when deadlines must be met are also important. It is not strenuous work but does require patience and problem solving skills. Each laboratory is different; the work is diverse and interesting. Dental laboratories are generally pleasant places in which to work and often times technicians have the ability to work independently.

How much do Dental Lab Technicians earn...?
Because of the wide variety of employment settings, and wide possible range of skill levels, it is difficult to establish averages for earnings. Based on advertised salaries, a skilled technician employed in a quality-oriented laboratory presently might expect earnings anywhere from 25k a year on the low end, 40 to 60k in the mid range, and for highly skilled technicians one could earn well over 100k. Paying your dues of continuing education and training is crucial to improving earnings upon entry level pay. New materials, techniques, and equipment are regularly introduced to dental technology which makes it important to continue education and training through courses and seminars.

Persons hired at the entry level may rapidly progress to becoming productive employees, performing a limited range of laboratory procedures. In large laboratories, technicians may be able to earn more by becoming supervisors or managers. Experienced technicians may teach or take jobs with dental suppliers in such areas as product development, marketing and sales for higher pay. Still, for some technicians, opening one's own laboratory is the way toward advancement and higher earnings. The sky is truly the limit for earnings for a skilled technician who is ambitious and dedicated to his or her craft in producing a high-quality, high-quantity product.

Are experienced Dental Lab Technicians in high demand...?
Because few people know about this career, there is little competition for jobs and skilled technicians are in very high demand. The U.S. military, once the nation's largest training service, is training fewer technicians today. Dental schools are teaching less dental technology to dental students which make dentists today rely more on the knowledge and skills of a technicians, this also creates more demand. With more senior citizens retaining their teeth longer, this segment of the population and with the "baby boomer" generation adding to this population, they will require more sophisticated prosthetics for longer periods of time. This will increase the demand for experienced dental lab technicians and their services. And with cosmetic dentistry on the rise, the "Hollywood smile", television, and magazines adding to the demand, a dental lab tech who can create the perfect porcelain veneer (false front for the teeth) will be in great demand.

How do you become a Dental Lab Technicians...?
Dental lab technology is not a licensed field. A degree or license is not required to practice as a dental lab technician. There are only a handful of Universities that still offer degrees to become a dental technician. Many technicians learn their trade "on the job" by starting in the lesser skilled areas and over time find opportunities to learn more. Others learn in small school-type settings away from a working dental lab, and finally, there are those who learn in settings like Fine Arts Academy, offering training in a working laboratory with many skilled people around to learn from.

Fine Arts Academy provides graduates with a 9 month hands-on training program in a real dental lab job setting. The course stresses producing a high quality product and learning the skills to produce the quantity of work to be gainfully employed as a dental lab technician. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a certificate of completion and job placement assistance. After graduation and becoming hired under their first employer, they may undergo additional training to gain further knowledge and experience to become a successful dental lab tech in a relativity short amount of time (compared to most college degrees and professions).