As a dental technician, you'll work in dental laboratories on your own or in work groups of differing sizes. As a member of your team, you'll work closely with dentists and dental prosthetists to assist them meet patients’ needs. You may also work with dental specialists in different fields.
You'll work in hospital, teaching or community facilities where there is the opportunity for you to hone your skills and craftsmanship and work with cutting-edge technology. You can also work in management and policy development roles.
Working as a dental technician, you may need to make and repair the following using a range of materials and techniques:
- dentures
- crowns and bridges
- maxillofacial prosthetic appliances
- splints
- mouthguards.
The materials and techniques may include:
- plaster casting
- electrospot welding
- metal casting
- metal polishing
- wax modelling
- ceramics
- wire bending
- electroplating and sandblasting
- the use of computer-aided design and technology.