Dental Education in all over the world is in very low form cause that a lot of person are not aware with dental education.

Dental Technician

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Description

Dental technicians construct and repair dentures (false teeth) and other dental appliances including crowns and bridges.

Dental technicians work closely with dentists and dental prosthetists in the construction, modification and repair of dentures and
other dental appliances.

Dental technicians may perform the following tasks:

make models of the mouth and teeth from impressions of the patient's mouth (taken by the dental prosthetist (clinical
dental technician) or dentist); 
build up wax replicas of part or all of the mouth and/or teeth on the model; 
encase the wax in a mould material and melt away the wax; 
replace the wax with either plastic, metal or ceramic materials to make the replacement appliance; 
polish and finish the appliance prior to it being placed in the patient's mouth; and 
make appliances for patients with cleft palates, braces and plates for correcting irregular teeth and mouthguards. 

Dental technicians work in dental laboratories on their own or in small groups. They use a wide range of materials and
techniques in their work. Dental technicians use a high degree of technical ability, training and skills involving a diversity of
techniques. These include plaster casting, electro-spot welding, metal casting, metal polishing, wax modelling, ceramics, wire
bending, electroplating and sandblasting.

Dental technicians usually have no direct contact with patients unless they undertake further study to qualify as dental
prosthetists (known in South Australia as clinical dental technicians).

Dental technology may be divided into the following areas:

General Prostheses - the largest field in dental technology in which partial or full dentures (metal and non-metal) are
constructed to replace the partial or total loss of natural teeth; 
Crown and Bridge - used in the restoration of the natural teeth and fixed in the patient's mouth; 
Orthodontics - the manufacture of fixed or removable appliances for the correction of dental irregularities in the child
and young adult mouth; 
Maxillo-Facial - prostheses are made to replace missing facial and body tissues due to injury, disease or developmental
abnormality; and 
Implantology - in this area implants are placed directly into the patient's jawbone and prostheses are made to fit these
implants. This system can be used for single, multiple or complete restorations. 

[ Top ]DENTAL TECHNICIAN 6393

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The DENTAL TECHNICIAN manufactures dentures, partial dentures, and other prosthetic dental appliances
from acrylic plastic. Some employees in this class teach dental laboratory procedures and techniques to dental
students. 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a single classification and not currently part of a series of classes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Dental Appliance Manufacture. Typical tasks: receives patient work orders and accompanying mouth
impression containing wax mounted premanufactured artificial teeth from a dentist or dental student; mixes
plaster; places the waxed-up model into a flask and pours in plaster; seals flask to prepare it for boiling; boils
flask then separates flask to flush melted wax; mixes plastic and pours plastic into flask; reassembles flask and
allows plastic to harden; removes appliance from flask; cleans and polishes appliance; when necessary
performs finishing techniques such as festooning gum texture using a dental burr.

2. Dental Appliance Repair. Typical tasks: relines dentures by grinding or flasking and packing to modify
existing dentures to fit patient's current mouth structure; repairs or mends dental appliances using self-curing
plastic; replaces broken teeth by drilling out old teeth and securing new teeth in appliance using cold cure
adhesive.

3. Teaching. Typical tasks: demonstrates dental prosthetic laboratory techniques to dental students; teaches
investing, boilout, and packing of dentures; on a one-to-one basis, instructs students on denture setup, waxup,
finishing and polishing, repair, and adjustment.

4. Miscellaneous. Typical tasks: maintains and repairs dental laboratory machines and instruments; orders,
issues, and maintains laboratory materials, supplies, and instruments; keeps records of supplies used and work
performed; assists dentists and dental students with procedures such as setting teeth or solving unusual dental
appliance requirements.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class have daily in-person contact with dental instructors and students to receive
prescriptions and models, answer questions regarding dental lab techniques, or demonstrate lab techniques to
dental students. There is also daily contact with school support and administrative staff to discuss supplies,
paperwork, and other lab related business. Employees in this class occasionally come in contact with patients
of the dental school when assisting dentists or dental students with prosthetics and may meet with vendors of
dental supplies or equipment as necessary.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class receive general supervision from dentists or dental school administrators. Work
assignments are received from dental students or staff dentists. Methods, materials, and lab techniques are
decided independently or under the general supervision of a licensed dentist. Prescribing dental students and
dentists review work upon completion for quality, accuracy of construction, patient comfort, and conformance to
patient needs.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Positions in this class are primarily found in hospitals, clinics, or other health care facilities. They require the
willingness to work in the environmental associated with the position's location and purpose. In addition, they
require the willingness to maintain a sympathetic and understanding attitude towards mentally ill, mentally
retarded, handicapped, and physically ill patients. Some positions require the willingness to work overtime,
on-call, and/or rotating schedules.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA)

General knowledge of dental science and anatomy as they relate to the 

construction and fitting of dentures, partial dentures, and other prosthetic or orthopedic dental
appliances.

General knowledge of the instruments, materials, and equipment used to 

manufacture dental appliances.

Skill in the manufacture and repair of dentures and other prosthetic dental

appliances.

Skill in mixing plaster, acrylic resins, plastics, and adhesives. 
Skill in hand finishing techniques such as festooning gum texture in a

dental appliance.

Ability to learn State Dental Prescription Law. 
Ability to communicate orally in a professional manner with dental staff,

students, and agency support staff.

Ability to maintain and repair dental laboratory machines and instruments. 
Ability to order, issue, and maintain laboratory materials, supplies, and

instruments.

Ability to keep accurate records.

Some positions in this class may require the following:

Ability to demonstrate laboratory techniques and procedures to dental 

students.

Ability to learn department and/or security procedures, rules and 

regulations. 

NOTE: The KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS are required for initial consideration. ABILITIES may be required
for initial consideration, at any time during the selection process, or during a trial service period as a final
stage of the selection process. Some duties performed by positions in this class may require different
KSA's. No attempt is made to describe every KSA required for all positions in this class. Additional KSA
requirements will be explained on the recruiting announcement.

Adopted 7/90

Revised

Examples of work are typical of duties assigned to this class. No attempt is made to describe every duty
performed by all positions in this class.