Crown and Bridge Technician
As specialized dental technicians, crown and bridge technicians work exclusively on creating prosthesis to cap teeth or span an area where teeth are missing. Crown and bridge technicians are generally formally trained and licensed in their area of specialty. A career in a specialization allows technicians to work largely without supervision and offers a great amount of independence.
Crown and bridge technicians usually work in small labs of five or less people. Some technicians run their own one-person labs or employ entry-level technicians as assistants. Technicians often work long hours to finish projects and must be meticulous in their work. Dentists will often return prosthetics repeatedly if the fit or appearance is incorrect.
Interaction with dentists, orthodontists and other dental health care professionals is fairly regular, but dental technicians rarely meet with patients. Since interaction with patients is limited and work is solitary, interpersonal skills are not as important for technicians as they are for dental hygienists and dental assistants. However, technicians hoping to own their own lab will need to develop management and communication skills.
Crown and bridge technicians are generally responsible for waxing, casting, and finishing prosthetics, as well as porcelain grinding. Technicians must remain organized in order to multi-task and complete cases in a timely manner. Also, many technicians are responsible for researching and keeping abreast of advancements in their field. New methods of forming prosthetics have been developed, and many labs now use computer technology to aid in construction. CAD/CAM dentistry, or Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing, and electroforming are two advancements that are becoming useful in the production of dental prosthetics.
Dental technicians are both lab trained and formally trained. Most dental technician programs offer specialization in crown and bridge work. Quality dental technician programs are accredited by the American Dental Association. Graduates of programs that are ADA accredited are eligible for certification through a National Board of Certification examination. The NBC examination is a written exam that qualifies passing dental technicians for state licensure.
Specialization in crown and bridge prosthetics gives dental technicians a niche and allows them to be rewarded for their expertise. Crown and bridge technicians who produce quality end products are extremely marketable, and successful technicians are often able to start prosthetic labs of their own.