Dental technician
Also known as: maxillo-facial prosthetic technician, prosthetic technologist, maxillo-facial prosthetic technologist, orthodontic technologist, chief dental technician, dental prosthetist
About this occupation
Dental technicians manufacture dental custom-made devices like bridges, crowns, dentures and appliances under the supervision of dental practitioners following their directions and specifications.
Essential skills and knowledge
- communicate effectively in healthcare
- select materials for orthodontic appliances
- work in multidisciplinary health teams
- work in a multicultural environment in health care
- maintain laboratory dental tools
- listen actively
- manage infection control in the facility
- contribute to continuity of health care
- manufacture dental prostheses
- examine dental models and impressions
- manipulate dental material
- polish dental prostheses
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Dental Laboratory Technicians (O*NET 51-9081.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
- Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Listening
US median pay: US$49,610 a year (2025), 34,410 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.8)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignVery important (3.8)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.3)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.2)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Medical Appliance Technicians
- Dental Assistants
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Equipment Repairers
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- Furniture Finishers
- Dental Hygienists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.