It is a fact that people want to have the perfect smile, one like the stars of Hollywood have. And it is not unusual to desire having the perfect teeth because they add to a person’s physical beauty, and they also enhance one’s confidence while they communicate, smile or take a picture. Therefore, if a person does not have the perfect teeth, has cavities or needs help in enhancing their beauty, then dental technology can immensely help them. Dental technology is not a new phenomenon; rather it has been present since over one hundred and fifty years, and procedures like dental implants are recorded to be around since 600AD. Hence, it can be said that medicinal procedures have needed to be given a backseat to dentistry; rather people have been experimenting and practicing in order to come up with the best dental procedures that can help people with various dental problems.
Dental health is just as important as the health of any other organ or bodily system. Teeth comprise one of the most significant bones of the body which help to perform the most major tasks such as eating, talking providing a good physical look of an individual. Moreover, dental technology does not only provide solutions for young people with teeth problems rather it also helps the elderly who have lost their teeth or have missing teeth due to old age and those elderly individuals that could not eat hard foods like nuts, or have meats and cold food (Association, 2012). Today, elderly people can enjoy any kinds of food, thanks to the wonders of dental technology. As far as dental technology is concerned, it is a vast term, which employs a large number of people and workers under it (Association, 2012). Different people specialized in different fields help to make dental technology a dream occupation, which helps many people all over the world. It can be said that Dentistry is the umbrella term, and there are many occupations such as the dentist and auxiliary occupants such as dental assistants, hygienists, dental technicians and dental therapists are included (Association, 2012).
A dental technician, as mentioned above, is a person who is a part of the dental clinic team. He is also referred to as a dental laboratory technician. As per the name, it is the duty of the dental technician to design and construct custom-made invigorating dental equipment (NADL, 2016). It is a prime ambition of the dental team to provide good dental care, whereby every person involved has to play a major role in dental health care. Therefore, apart from the assigned duties of each of the members on a dental team, it is important to adhere to the ethical rules of dentistry. The system implies that every member of the team needs to cooperate and work in harmony with other members of the team in order to work in the interests of the patient (NADL, 2016). Therefore, an effective dental technician is one that works in accordance with the wishes of the dentist and listens to what he asks for, as his wishes are the requirements of what is best for the patient. All members of the team need to be treated fairly, and no one is supposed to be discriminated on the team. Everyone is an equal, and no one can cross the line of his or her assigned duties because every duty on the team is assigned according to authority and medicinal expertise. Hence, if the dental technician cannot do what the dentist can, then he must do his assigned work such as preparing the designs according to the dentist’s instructions (NADL, 2016).
Moreover, the dental technician, being part of the team, has his or her responsibilities to perform. Every other member is responsible for their actions and duties, and accountability is an important part of the team. No person can authorize prescriptions, for example, unless their medicinal learning and present occupation authorize them to do so (Association et al., 2016). Hence, an effective dental technician knows their responsibility and what actions are his to perform and what line must not be crossed in his work. Any duty that is not a part of their work is supposed to be left to the person in-charge rather than taking over work which is not a dental technician’s, in the first place (Association et al., 2016).
There are several key procedures or disciplines that are associated with dental technology. These are namely, fixed prosthesis, removable prosthesis, maxillofacial prosthesis and orthodontics and auxiliaries and crowns and bridges. The fixed prosthesis comprises of the crowns, bridges, and implants for the teeth. The removable prosthesis involves dentures and removable partial dentures. Then the maxillofacial prosthesis includes the ocular and craniofacial prosthesis. And lastly, the orthodontics and auxiliaries encompass making of orthodontic appliances and mouthguards. A dental technician might not be directly in contact with a patient unless they are directed to do so or are licensed to be in the room during a procedure, however, their work is just as important as a diagnosis, and it follows to the end result of a dental workup.
Basically, it is the job of the dental technician to make the prosthesis according to the needs of the patient. At times, the job of a dental technician is considered both science and art at the same time. This is because every person with a dental issue has a different problem with their oral cavity and it is up to the dental technician to provide the exact prosthesis which will comfortably fit any patient. Hence, this is a repetitive process in one’s career, and it is scientific skill coupled with art. The dentist, after looking at a patient, communicates with the dental technician on the team. He talks with the drawings, measurements and the prescriptions for a particular patient. The most important part of this communication between the dentist and the dental technician is when the dental impression of the oral cavity is made which the dental technologist then has to flow into a gypsum dental stone. This is used to create a duplicate impression of the patient’s oral cavity or anatomy which is technically called a dental cast. This cast is then used by the dental technologist to create any kind of custom application that is required for the patient’s dental needs.
The educational requirements of becoming a dental technician are usually through a two-year program which can be done at a community college, a technical college, vocational school or a university and also in dental school. There are several programs which also offer a four-year degree in the field of dental technology. After completion of the education plus the training, graduates are given a degree or a certificate.
The accreditation of the degree is given by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. This is associated with providing credit to all dental laboratory programs in America. Afterward, dental technicians can earn their certification by passing an examination which tests their knowledge and technical skills. The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology is the main board which administers the examination. After passing the examination, an individual becomes a Certified Dental Technician or CDT (ADANSW, n.d).
There are many opportunities for dental technicians because there is a wide range of dental work that can be done. The basic task is to convert the two-dimensional figures of the products into three-dimensional ones, in accordance with the biological and mechanical needs of the prosthesis; moreover, they can even become specialists in whichever field they desire (ADANSW, n.d). There are several fields they can opt for such as the restorative process of natural teeth for example working on crowns, veneers, the inlays or onlays, etc. Then there are teeth replacements like the bridges, dental implants prosthesis and making full or partial dentures (ADANSW, n.d). Aesthetic reconstruction is also common where any hard or soft oral structures are repaired and reconstructed. The process of moving the teeth, retaining and protecting them comes under orthodontics such as preparing mouthguards, trays, stents, or splints (ADANSW, n.d).
Another field is jaw position alignment which is known as ‘orthognathic’ where problems like sleep apnea or TMJ are treated (ADANSW, n.d). In order to be an effective dental technician, a person needs to possess certain qualities in themselves. Firstly, it is a matter of interest and likeness of going into the field. There are many people who might get into the field without holding a nay actual interest in it. Doing so is not wise because it will make it very difficult to build a good career with disinterest in the field (McKay, 2015). Moreover, apart from holding interest, a person must have certain skills in them. These include the ability to handle tools and intricate equipment and the ability to have a proper understanding of everything that will go into the work. Also, a person must have good attention skills and possess accuracy and pay great attention to detail and precision (McKay, 2015). These are key requirements for a dental technician because the models required to be made for the teeth can be very minute and small, and they are also very complex. Hence working with such equipment and making models with the hand are only possible by a dental technician who has steady hands and a good, attentive and skillful mind (McKay, 2015). Other skills required by a dental technician include being efficient and holding good time management. Dentistry is a field which is becoming more and more popular each day as newer techniques come up, and people are craving to get the best looks for their teeth. Therefore, if there are a large number of clients, the doctor largely depends on the dental technician to keep the required models ready on time so they can be given to the clients as soon as possible (McKay, 2015). If a person cannot keep up with the pace of the clients, then they cannot cope with the busy schedule of a dental technician. Furthermore, there are several physical qualities that a dental technician must also possess. These include having good hand-eye coordination and have steady hands.
Also, this field is suitable for people who have an artistic edge and have a good idea of design, construction and innovation are best suited for this job, and they can actually go far in their career as a dental technician (McKay, 2015). Apart from their own work, dental technicians must also be familiar with how to handle their work environment, which is mostly their laboratory. An effective dental technician knows their lab and its specifics by heart, and he knows how to handle a situation if anything goes wrong. A laboratory is usually a place which seems very innovative and inspiring however it is also a place which is designed to serve complex procedures and to perform experimentations with work. Also, it is a place which has an environment very different from an average place . Hence, only a person having expertise over it must operate and handle it (McKay, 2015). Thus, it is a part of the skills of a dental technician to know how a dental lab must work. He must be well aware of all the possible risks of a dental laboratory and how to overcome any problem he may encounter in the lab. First of all, there are several types of equipment in the laboratory which can only be handled by an expert (McKay, 2015). These include the high-speed micro-motor which is a very precarious piece of equipment. Moreover, there are ovens which operate at very high temperatures, at times over a 1000 degree Celsius (McKay, 2015). Dental technicians must know how to use such ovens and how to deal with any mishap if it occurs, while using these ovens. Working safely is a major requirement of dental technology because the various dentures and appliances being made are specially made with high temperatures for setting and resetting. Hence only a dental technician must know how to operate and use the technology in a laboratory. There are some other requirements of a dental technician such as wearing goggles, gloves, a face mask all the time when working in a laboratory (McKay, 2015).
Other things in the list of skills a dental technician must possess are having a good assessment of risks and safety measures in the laboratory. Risk assessment is making an evaluation of what risks can hurt people. Therefore some of the most effective ways in which a dental technician can reduce the risks are by following a series of five steps to the problem (BLS, 2015). Firstly, they must know the hazards of all the materials that are present in the laboratory by reading the manufacturer’s instructions of how to use chemical materials because exposure to some of them can cause long-term damage to a person, such as the exposure to chemical dust (BLS, 2015). They should also take a look around at all of the materials present in the laboratory which can be hazardous. Secondly, to possess skills which are needed to prepare the equipment in a laboratory. There is an extensive use of wax, porcelain and other materials to build the teeth and they require a lot of precision (BLS, 2015) Several perks of working as a dental technologist include career advantages such as working independently and having full command over their work. Thus, working in the satisfaction of being unsupervised helps to produce good end results (BLS, 2015). Job security is also positive of the job because it is a growing field and people will need prostheses until all ages of their lives. Opportunities include being able to work for cosmetic reasons as well because it is a newer experimenting field in the present time. Also, working with private dental clinics increases the chances of a high earning potential (BLS, 2015). Conclusively, dental technology is a field of work which is quite blooming and growing in the present day. Dental technicians perform the task of making dentures and prostheses for people, working in a team with dentists and in coordination with them. Precision, accuracy and skillful management of equipment is a requirement of dental technology.
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