Specialties and career as a dental technician
From crowns and bridges to implants, orthodontics and digital technology
When you are trained as a dental technician you have a craft that is both classical and future-proof. The need for tooth replacements does not disappear and digitalization opens new opportunities for those who want to keep up. The trade contains several directions you can specialize in.
§Where can you work?
Most dental technicians work at dental laboratories that manufacture work for dentists and clinics. Some laboratories are small with few employees others are large and specialized. You can also find work in companies that develop and manufacture dental materials and equipment or in the digital part of the industry.
§Specialties in the trade
Many dental technicians specialise over time. Some become experts in crown and bridge work where aesthetics is paramount. Others delve into denture work into implant-supported solutions where the replacement is anchored on implants or in orthodontics — braces and appliances for teeth straightening. Each specialty requires its own expertise and its own manual skill.
- 01Crown and bridge work with focus on aesthetics.
- 02Prosthesis work in acrylic.
- 03Implant-supported replacements.
- 04Orthopaedist
§The digital specialist
One of the fastest growing fields is digital dentistry. If you master CAD design scanning and CAD/CAM manufacturing you are in demand. Many laboratories need someone who can bind the digital and the crafted together. The person who can both design on screen and understands materials has a strong future in the trade.
| Direction | What it entails |
|---|---|
| Crown and bridge technology | Natural-looking crowns and bridges in ceramic and metal. |
| Prosthetic technique | Full and partial dentures in acrylic. |
| Implant technique | Replacements attached to implants. |
| Orthodontics – correction appliances and splints. | Devices and splints for orthodontic treatment. |
| Digital technology | CAD design, scanning and CAD/CAM manufacturing. |
§What makes you skilled in the trade?
The good dental technician has patience, a good eye for shape and colour, a calm and precise hand and a strong understanding of materials. In addition, today comes the desire to learn digital tools. It is the combination of craftsmanship, aesthetics and technology that makes the trade both demanding and rewarding.
§A trade with pride
Although you rarely meet the patient you make a big difference: a well-made replacement lets a person chew speak and smile without thinking about it. It is a trade where you can see and hold the result of your work in your hand and where craft pride still means something. If you choose dental technology you choose a trade where precision and aesthetics meet.
“The best compliment a dental technician can get is that no one can see which tooth is yours.”