Dental Laboratory Technicians
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
- Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
- 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.
- Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
- Mold wax over denture setups to form the full contours of artificial gums.
- Create a model of patient's mouth by pouring plaster into a dental impression and allowing plaster to set.
- Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
- Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatuses.
- Shape and solder wire and metal frames or bands for dental products, using soldering irons and hand tools.
- Prepare wax bite blocks and impression trays for use.
- Fill chipped or low spots in surfaces of devices, using acrylic resins.
- Meet with dentists or patients to discuss dental appliances.
- Order parts or materials needed to make dental appliances.
- Scan dental models to create digital files.
- Stain porcelain on dental appliances to match the color of patients' teeth.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
95%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
95%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
93%
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?
93%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
89%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
86%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
86%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
85%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
85%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
80%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
77%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
77%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
69%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
69%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
66%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
65%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
63%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
62%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
59%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
59%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
58%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
56%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
56%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
55%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
55%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
55%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
52%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
52%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
48%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
46%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
43%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
42%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
41%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
35%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
28%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
26%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
25%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
24%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
24%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
23%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
23%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
18%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
14%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
13%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
9%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
7%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
7%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
7%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
5%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
2%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
2%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
1%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
1%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
1%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary certificate
Less than high school diploma
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Work Styles
Work Values
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