Job Description of A Dental Technician

When a dental career is talked about, most people pay attention to dentists as this is the most common practitioner in the dental field, but the dentist cannot function alone. Similar to how a doctor is backed by a team consisting of a nurse, pharmacists, phycologist, and more, the dentists likewise are backed by a team of specialists in the dental field.

Amongst these specialists are dental technicians. These specialists function more like medical technicians to the doctor. They are tasked with constructing and providing all the technical apparatus that the dentist will need. These specialists are viewed as the powerhouse of the dental field. This article best explains who dental technicians are? Qualities of dental technicians, becoming a dental technician, and other essential things you should know about the profession. Read on to discover more exciting information. 

Who is A Dental Technician?

Dental technician provides denture services which includes to design, construct, and model aesthetics, apparatus, and gadgets that the dentists will use. They are also tasked with repairing dental equipment and ensuring they are in good working condition. Dental technicians’ works include designing crowns, designing orthodontic treatment appliances,  constructing veneers, producing fake teeth, and more. These professionals are sometimes called dental research technicians or denturists.

How to Become A Dental Technician

The nature of the job does not demand much theoretical knowledge in contrast to its counterparts in the dental field. Picking a career in the dental field, especially dental technician demands high practical knowledge. This is why individuals aspiring to become dental technicians are taught practical knowledge for five years from a six-year curriculum; the last year is when the individual will be taught theoretical knowledge regarding other dental fields. After the six-year curriculum, the dental technician is assigned as an intern under an experienced dental technician until they are tested and licensed to become practicing dental technicians.

Qualities of Dental Technicians

Several qualities describe dental technicians highlighting why it is so unique from other career opportunities in the dental field. These qualities are:

1. Independence: Similar to how medical technicians operate independently from other career opportunities in the medical field, dental technicians also have an equal level of independence. Dentists need dental technicians more to function effectively for denture care in a dental clinic. Dental Technicians have the liberty of working outside a dental clinic provided they know what they are doing.
2. Skilled: Dental technicians are very skilled with their hands. This makes it possible for them to easily design models, construct veneers, and more for the dentists to use.
3. Scarce: This entails that dental technicians do not have direct contact with dental patients. When patients are referred to buy something for a dental session,  that item is already designed by the dental technician and made available at a pharmacy or dental store; thus, the patient buys the items from the pharmacist instead of the dental technician. Hence, they are rarely seen.

Conclusion

Dental technicians can be likened to the backbone of the dental field because almost every activity carried out in the field demands the attention of a dental technician. This article has described the nature of being a dental technician. It has also highlighted how important they are to the dental field and the top qualities that stand them out from other professions in the field. 

Varsity lakes Dentist clinic have qualified Dental Technicians, specializes in dentures, relines & repairs. Call (07) 5593 0749.