Dental Laboratory Technicians
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $27K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $32K
Median Salary: $42K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $54K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $67K
Demand
Core Tasks
Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatus.
Create a model of patient's mouth by pouring plaster into a dental impression and allowing plaster to set.
Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
Place tooth models on apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
Mold wax over denture setups to form the full contours of artificial gums.
Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
Prepare wax bite blocks and impression trays for use.
Shape and solder wire and metal frames or bands for dental products, using soldering irons and hand tools.
Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Production and Processing
90%
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Design
85%
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Medicine and Dentistry
84%
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Customer and Personal Service
79%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
73%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and Management
71%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Engineering and Technology
70%
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Chemistry
67%
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mechanical
65%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Education and Training
63%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Top 10 Skills
Reading Comprehension
65%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking
63%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis
63%
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management
63%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Learning
60%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
60%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
60%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring
60%
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Speaking
60%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving
58%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Top 10 Abilities
Finger Dexterity
78%
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Near Vision
75%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness
73%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision
73%
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Visualization
70%
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Information Ordering
65%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Deductive Reasoning
63%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
63%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Manual Dexterity
63%
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Oral Comprehension
63%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
86%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
77%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
76%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
76%
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
75%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Scheduling Work and Activities
74%
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
73%
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Controlling Machines and Processes
72%
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Thinking Creatively
70%
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
69%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Detailed Work Activities
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Inspect medical or dental assistive devices.
Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
Place materials into molds.
Melt metal, plastic, or other materials to prepare for production.
Cast molds of patient anatomies to create medical or dental devices.
Measure clients to ensure proper product fit.
Construct customized assistive medical or dental devices.
Repair medical or dental assistive devices.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
Prepare materials for processing.
Load items into ovens or furnaces.
Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures.
Direct operational or production activities.
Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
Solder parts or workpieces.
Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
Work Context
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Education
Interests
Realistic
91%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
72%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional
62%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Social
39%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
29%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising
24%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
98%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
88%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
88%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
86%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Cooperation
84%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Achievement/Effort
83%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Independence
83%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Self Control
83%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
83%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Initiative
81%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Work Values
Support
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
62%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions
60%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Recognition
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
