Description
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Interests
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Conventional
Work Values
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Initiative
- Integrity
- Achievement/Effort
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.
- Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Processing Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Detailed Work Activities
- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Technology Skills
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Accounting software
Abilities
- Finger Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
- Visualization
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Time Management
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Operations Monitoring
Knowledge
- Administration and Management
- Design
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Production and Processing
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Dental Assisting RadiographyCertifying Organization
American Medical Technologists
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Dental Technician - Crown and BridgeCertifying Organization
National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Dental Technician - CeramicsCertifying Organization
National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology
Type
Core
Certificate name
Recognized GraduateCertifying Organization
National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Dental TechnicianCertifying Organization
National Board for Certification - National Association of Dental Laboratories
Type
Core
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $36,402 |
| Median (50%) | $47,530 |
| High (90%) | $61,759 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $46,738 |
| Mid Level | $61,540 |
| Senior Level | $65,147 |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 35,100 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 33,700 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -4%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of -4%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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