Dental technician
Dental technicians make and repair dental appliances used to improve patients' appearance, speech or ability to eat.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a dental technician, you could:
- design, make, modify and repair custom dental devices
- use precision equipment and tools
- shape materials like gold, porcelain and plastic
You might specialise in orthodontic, crown and bridge work or prosthetics. Depending on your speciality you could:
- create plastic or metal devices, like braces to straighten teeth
- make items like crowns or bridges to cement in place
- produce plastic dentures or implants
Working environment
You could work in a laboratory.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- train to become a clinical dental technician if you want more direct contact with patients
- do further training to become a healthcare scientist through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) and specialise in reconstructive sciences
- set up your own laboratory or work abroad
- become a senior or chief dental technician
- move into quality control, sales, management, teaching or research
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- the ability to work well with your hands
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- the ability to work well with others
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could do a foundation degree or degree in dental technology approved by the General Dental Council.
It's likely you'll need a degree to do advanced dental technology work.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could do a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Technology approved by the General Dental Council.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
More Information
You may be able to apply to do a Dental Technician Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.
This can take around 3 years to complete and combines on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
You could start as a trainee dental technician with a practice and study part time.
This could take up to 5 years depending on which qualification you do.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Dental Council
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Dental Technologists Association (DTA) for professional development and training opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about how to become a dental technician from Health Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.