Dental Technician

The dental technician manufactures dentures, bridges, crowns, fillings or orthodontic apparatus. The dental technician works with materials such as plaster, wax, porcelain, gold and stainless steel wire. Impressions are taken from the patient’s oral structures and an exact replica is cast in plaster for the technician to work on.

Job Characteristics

• Making precise replicas from the impression of the patient’s gums and palate.



• Making ‘wax record blocks’ (biting blocks) which fit the gums of the patient.



• Placing the ‘biting blocks’ into an ‘articulator’ so that they are held in a way corresponding to the patient’s bite.



• Placing the teeth one by one into the blocks.



• Neatly finishing off the wax form of the denture.



• Fitting the denture into the patient’s mouth, to make sure that it fits comfortably.



• Manufacturing bridges, and repairing broken dentures.



• Manufacturing orthodontic apparatus.



• Making gold fittings.

Requirements
 
Secondary Education
Possession of an outstanding HIGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with passes in Mathematics and Physical Science is required to gain admission to South Africa technikons. Students also have to undergo a personal interview and a manual dexterity test, as well as psychometric testing before they will be admitted.

Compulsory subjects
Mathematics and Physical Science (South Africa)
 
Tertiary Education
A N. Dip.: Dental Technology can be obtained at the following South Africa technikons: Natal, Pretoria, Witwatersrand and Peninsula. The duration of the course is three years (five semesters theoretical training and one semester practical training). The B. Tech. degree in Dental Technology must first be completed before students will be allowed to practice as dental technicians. Dental technicians must register with the Dental Technology Board of Namibia.

Personality
The prospective dental technician should be extremely responsible and accurate. Students must have a practical bend, good manual dexterity and sound vision. He/she should also have artistic ability which enables him/her to judge form and design.

Work Opportunities
A dental technician can be employed by a dental technician contractor (namely a dental technician who has his own laboratory and contract for one or more dentists). He/she can also work for dentists in private practice or be employed by hospitals.

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