Dental Lab Technician Program at Stillwater College is 11 months long program that offers hands on experience at local labs. The main duties of Dental lab Technician include:

• Creating a model of the patient's mouth by pouring plaster into the impression
• Examining the size and shape of the model
• Recreating the patient's teeth to look natural (size, shape and color)
• Using ceramics, plastics and metal alloys for fixed restorations (crowns and bridges)
• Determining the best materials to use against the natural movement of the teeth (retainers and braces)

Emplyment

Dental laboratory technicians held about 95,200 jobs in 2008. About 58 percent of jobs were in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, which usually are small, privately owned businesses with fewer than five employees.

In addition to manufacturing laboratories, many medical appliance technicians worked in health and personal care stores, while others worked in public and private hospitals, professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers, or consumer goods rental centers. Some were self-employed. In addition to manufacturing laboratories, many dental laboratory technicians worked in offices of dentists. Some dental laboratory technicians open their own offices.

Job Outlook

Overall employment for this occupation is expected to grow 14 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for orthotic devices, such as braces and orthopedic footwear, will increase as more people will need these support devices. In addition, advances in technology may spur demand for prostheses that allow for greater movement.

Employment of dental laboratory technicians is expected to grow 14 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. During the last few years, increased demand has arisen from an aging public that is growing increasingly interested in cosmetic prostheses. For example, many dental laboratories are filling orders for composite fillings that are the same shade of white as natural teeth to replace older, less attractive fillings. Additionally, the growing and aging population will require more dental products fabricated by dental technicians, such as bridges and crowns, since more people are retaining their original teeth. This job growth will be limited, however, by productivity gains stemming from continual technological advancements in laboratories.

Earnings

Median annual wages of wage and salary dental laboratory technicians were $34,170 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,260 and $44,790. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,740, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,140. In the two industries that employed the most dental laboratory technicians—medical equipment and supplies manufacturing and offices of dentists—median annual wages were $33,700 and $35,000, respectively.