Dental technician
Dental technician building porcelain dental bridge | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
Occupation type | Technician |
| Description | |
Fields of employment | Dentistry |
Related jobs | Dentist |
A dental technician is a member of the dental team who, upon prescription from a dental clinician, constructs custom-made restorative and dental appliances.[1][2]
There are four major disciplines within dental technology. These are fixed prosthesis including crowns, bridges and implants; removable prosthesis, including dentures and removable partial dentures; maxillofacial prosthesis, including ocular prosthesis and craniofacial prosthesis; and orthodontics and auxiliaries, including orthodontic appliances and mouthguards.[3]
The dentist communicates with the dental technician with prescriptions, drawings, and measurements taken from the patient. The most important aspect of this is a dental impression into which the technician flows a gypsum dental stone to create a replica of the patient's anatomy known as a dental cast. A technician can then use this cast for the construction of custom appliances.[4]
- ^ "Notice of Scopes of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications" (PDF). Dental Council of New Zealand.
- ^ "Scopes of Practice" (PDF). General Dental Council UK.
- ^ "Dental technician". NHS Careers.
- ^ "Fabricating Cast". tpub.com.