What is a Dental Technician?

A Dental Technician makes dental devices including dentures, crowns and bridges and orthodontic appliances to prescription from a Dentist and dentures to prescription from a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT).

Dental Technicians:

review cases coming into the laboratory to decide how they should be progressed
work with the Dentist or CDT on treatment planning and outline design
design, plan and manufacture a range of custom-made dental devices according to a prescription
repair and modify dental devices
undertake shade taking
carry out infection control procedures to prevent physical, chemical and microbiological contamination in the laboratory
keep full and accurate laboratory records
verify and take responsibility for the quality and safety of devices leaving a laboratory
make appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals

Dental Technicians DO NOT:

work independently in the clinic
perform clinical procedures related to providing removable dental appliances or dentures
undertake independent clinical examinations
identify abnormal oral mucosa and related underlying structures