Dental laboratories are facilities that study, install, repair, replace, and construct dental devices. In Manhattan dental labs are charged with the responsibility of helping dentists with rendering oral health care services to the public. They do this by manufacturing and customizing various dental gadgets. People who work in such laboratories are known as technologists or technicians and their major duty is filling prescriptions from dentists. Prescriptions filled include bridges, dentures, crowns, and prosthetics among others.
The technicians must follow the instructions of the dentists to the latter in manufacturing the devices. The devices manufactured may be prosthetic such as implants and denture teeth or therapeutic such as orthodontic devices. All the products made in these labs are subject to the quality and other requirements imposed by the FDA in the US. However, they are exempted from manufacturer registration requirements in most cases.
The laboratories use a number of tools and methods to do their job. Some of the tools used include dental polishing or finishing disks, articulators, lab casting machines, lathes, and furnaces. The specifications followed when constructing prosthetic appliances and other structures are produced using computer graphics or imaging software. Current facilities make use of sophisticated techniques and tools allowing them to produce perfect products with little effort.
Plasters and impression sets are applied in producing models of the mouths of visiting patients. To produce final products, the specifications of the models have to be customized. Technologists working in big laboratories exercise some level of specialization as opposed to those in small labs who get involved in all activities of production. Most large scale facilities pursue certification by concerned federal body to raise their standards and efficiency and to earn the trust of clients.
In this field, technicians work in an environment that is clean and brightly lit. Every worker within the facility is assigned a set of apparatus and a table. The tables may contain hand equipment, a burner, and a computer among other apparatus. Most of them work for over forty hours per week. They make no contact with patients but if they do, it is for a very short time. They work on devices not relate with patients.
There are no strict academic requirements to get employment as a dental lab technician. Most lab owners employ people with at least a high school diploma because most of the skills are learned at the work place. However one can also get training in universities, community colleges, vocational institutions, the armed forces, junior colleges, or technical institutes. Some workers begin as helpers to main technicians but then learn gradually to become senior technicians themselves.
The salary a technologist earns may be dictated by the position they hold and the size of the facility. Technologists holding supervisory and management positions earn the highest amounts. In 2009, an average worker in the US used to earn an approximated amount of 18 US Dollar per hour. Every year many individuals get jobs in these labs and the salary scale keeps going up.
Working as a dental lab technologist has several advantages to the worker. The career is flexible and one can get employment in other commercial laboratories because of the skills they earn. One can also start their own facility and use their experience and knowledge to manufacture devices or give advice. Charges vary with the level of complexity of devices fabricated.
The technicians must follow the instructions of the dentists to the latter in manufacturing the devices. The devices manufactured may be prosthetic such as implants and denture teeth or therapeutic such as orthodontic devices. All the products made in these labs are subject to the quality and other requirements imposed by the FDA in the US. However, they are exempted from manufacturer registration requirements in most cases.
The laboratories use a number of tools and methods to do their job. Some of the tools used include dental polishing or finishing disks, articulators, lab casting machines, lathes, and furnaces. The specifications followed when constructing prosthetic appliances and other structures are produced using computer graphics or imaging software. Current facilities make use of sophisticated techniques and tools allowing them to produce perfect products with little effort.
Plasters and impression sets are applied in producing models of the mouths of visiting patients. To produce final products, the specifications of the models have to be customized. Technologists working in big laboratories exercise some level of specialization as opposed to those in small labs who get involved in all activities of production. Most large scale facilities pursue certification by concerned federal body to raise their standards and efficiency and to earn the trust of clients.
In this field, technicians work in an environment that is clean and brightly lit. Every worker within the facility is assigned a set of apparatus and a table. The tables may contain hand equipment, a burner, and a computer among other apparatus. Most of them work for over forty hours per week. They make no contact with patients but if they do, it is for a very short time. They work on devices not relate with patients.
There are no strict academic requirements to get employment as a dental lab technician. Most lab owners employ people with at least a high school diploma because most of the skills are learned at the work place. However one can also get training in universities, community colleges, vocational institutions, the armed forces, junior colleges, or technical institutes. Some workers begin as helpers to main technicians but then learn gradually to become senior technicians themselves.
The salary a technologist earns may be dictated by the position they hold and the size of the facility. Technologists holding supervisory and management positions earn the highest amounts. In 2009, an average worker in the US used to earn an approximated amount of 18 US Dollar per hour. Every year many individuals get jobs in these labs and the salary scale keeps going up.
Working as a dental lab technologist has several advantages to the worker. The career is flexible and one can get employment in other commercial laboratories because of the skills they earn. One can also start their own facility and use their experience and knowledge to manufacture devices or give advice. Charges vary with the level of complexity of devices fabricated.
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