Dental Technician / Prosthetist

Constructs and repairs dentures and other dental devices.

Skill Level:
The entry requirement for this occupation is an AQF Diploma or higher qualification or at least 3 years relevant experience. In some instances relevant experience is required in addition to the formal qualification. Registration or licensing is required.

Dental technicians may perform the following tasks:

• receives and interprets written orders from dentists
• fabricates full and partial dentures
• constructs metal clasps, inlays, bridgework and other aids
• repairs, makes additions or relines denture bases
• constructs maxillofacial appliances
• may fit dentures

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 development abnormality; and
• Implantology - 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.

• Good communication skills
• Manual dexterity and ability to do precise and detailed work
• Able to judge form and design
• Able to concentrate

• Dental Assistant
• Dental Hygienist
• Dentist
• Dental Therapist

Education and training
Information relating to education and training, employment opportunities and additional information is specific to each State/Territory. To see the relevant information, select the state:

NSW/ACT   NT   QLD   SA   TAS   VIC   WA

Employment opportunities
Dental technicians may work in hospitals or dental laboratories or for dental group practices. Advanced dental technicians work independently in private practice or in partnership with other dental technicians.
Demand for dental technicians who work with dentures appears to be diminishing as the incidence of tooth decay declines. However, demand is growing for dental technicians working in specialised areas, such as crown and bridge, and work associated with the increasing occurrence of cosmetic dental surgery.