Dental Lab Technician

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See Available Dental Lab Technician Schools

Also called Orthodontic Technician.

Dental Lab Technicians design, construct, and rework orthodontic appliances, such as braces and retainers, bands, and petitioners. They may also construct and repair dental appliances such as crowns, bridges, and dentures, following instructions written by the dentist and using models or impressions of the patient’s teeth or mouth. They usually perform a variety of tasks, including mixing ingredients, filling dental appliance molds, sculpting and building forms, and grinding and polishing the finished product.

Dental Lab Technicians work in dental laboratories, which may range in size from one or two people to a large assembly line type of company. They usually work a regular 40 hour work week, and the work is not strenuous, and can be performed when seated. Their salaries vary according to their employer and experience, with some earning minimum wage, and others earning $10 to $20 an hour. Most jobs also offer benefits, such as health insurance, paid vacations, and holidays.

It takes at least three to five years to become a fully skilled dental laboratory technician. Some Dental Lab Technicians are trained on the job, but more employers are looking for employees who have completed a two-year training course in dental laboratory technology. Employers also prefer to hire those who have been certified by the National Board for Certification in Dental Technology.

The employment outlook for this occupation is good, though expected to grow much slower than the average for all occupations. The expansion of employer-sponsored dental care may increase growth, but as more advances in technology are made, there could be less need for technicians.

Dental Lab Technician Schools:

Arizona Schools
The Bryman School* (Phoenix) - Dental Assistant, Hospital Unit Coordinator, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Technologist in Radiology, Surgical Technologist, Massage Therapy

California Schools
Academy of Professional Careers * (Indio) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy, Optical Technician
Everest College* (Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Hayward, Los Angeles - Wilshire, Ontario, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose North, West Los Angeles, Wilshire)- Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Phlebotomist, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Office Management, X-Ray Technician, Surgical Technologist, Medical Clinical Assistant
Clarita Career College (Canyon Country, Lancaster) - Medical Assistant, Administrative Medical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Heald College* (Concord, Hayward, Stockton) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Health Information Technology
High-Tech Institute (Sacramento) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Keller Graduate School of Management* (Pomona, Irvine, Long Beach, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Downtown, West Hills) - Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management
Maric College* (Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Coding/Billing, Nursing, Healthcare & Rehab Technician, X-Ray Tech, Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Ultrasound, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy Tech, Respiratory Therapy, Massage Therapy and MORE
San Joaquin Valley College* (Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia) - Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Health Care Insurance Specialist, Pharmacy Technology, Surgical Technology, Veterinary Technology, Health Care Administration, Respiratory Care Practice
Santa Barbara Business College* (Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura) - Medical Assisting, Medical/Dental Office Systems, Pharmacy Technician

United Education Institute (Ontario, Van Nuys, Huntington Park, San Diego) - Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing & Coding
West Coast College (Victorville, Citrus Heights, Pleasant Hil, Sacramento, San Leandro) - Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapist

Connecticut Schools
Porter and Chester Institute* (Enfield, Stratford, Watertown, Weathersfield) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting

Florida Schools
ACT - Jacksonville (Jacksonville) - Dental Assisting
Angley College (DeLand) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Dental Assisting, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Therapeutic Massage
ATI College of Health (Miami) - Dental Assisting, Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician, Medical Assisting Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapist
Central Florida Institute* (Orlando, Tampa Bay) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant/Basic X-ray, Noninvasive Cardio Technician, Advanced Cardiovascular Technologist - ECHO, Surgical Technologist - Operating Room Scrub
Florida Education Center (Lauderhill) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
High-Tech Institute (Orlando) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, X-ray Technician
Sanford-Brown Institute* (Tampa, Ft Lauderdale) - Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Surgical Technology, Advanced Massage Therapy

Georgia Schools
ACT: Advanced Career Training (Atlanta, Riverdale) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Insurance Coding
Everest Institute* (Jonesboro, Norcross) - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Patient Care Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Surgical Technologist

Hawaii Schools
Heald College (Honolulu) - Dental Assisting, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration

Idaho Schools
Academy of Professional Careers (Boise) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Illinois Schools
Careers in Dental Assisting (River Forest) - Dental Assisting, Dental Office Administration

Indiana Schools
Everest College (Merrillville) - Dental Assisting
Professional Careers Institute (Indianapolis) - Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting/Administration, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy/Medical Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Assisting/Administration, Medical/Dental Administration

Kentucky Schools
ATA Career Education (Louisville) - Dental Assisting, Medical Coding

Louisiana Schools
Everest College* (New Orleans) - Dental Assisting, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Pharmacy Technician

Maryland Schools
Hagerstown Business College* (Frederick) - Health Information Technology, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing/Coding, Medical Receptionist, Medical Receptionist/Transcriptionist, Medical Secretary/Assistant, Medical Transcriptionist, Phlebotomist, Dental Assistant

Massachusetts Schools
Everest Institute* (Brighton) - Dental Assisting, Masage Therapy (Modular), Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Missouri Schools
Allied College (North St. Louis/Maryland Heights, South Arnold/Fenton) - Dental Assistant
High-Tech Institute (Kansas City) - Dental Assistant
Missouri College (St. Louis) - Dental Office Administration, Dental Assistant
Sanford-Brown College (Hazelwood) - Dental Assistant
Everest College (Springfield) - Dental Assisting
Vatterott College (Springfield) - Dental Assistant

Nebraska Schools
Hamilton College* (Omaha) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, Massage Therapy
Vatterott College (Omaha) - Dental Assistant, Practical Nursing, Advanced Medical Assistant, Alcohol/Drug Abuse Counselor, Medical Assistant, Veterinay Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Office Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Psychiatric Assistant, Veterinary Technician

Nevada Schools
High-Tech Institute (Las Vegas) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist

Ohio Schools
Akron Institute (Cuyahoga Falls) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Administrator
Remington College - Cleveland West (North Olmsted) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance and Coding, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Oregon Schools
Anthem College - Portland (Beaverton) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist
Heald College (Portland) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting

Pennsylvania Schools
Academy of Medical Arts and Business (Harrisburg) - Dental Assistant Specialist
Bradford School (Pittsburgh) - Dental Assisting
Career Training Academy (New Kensington) - Dental Assistant
CHI Institute * (Broomall) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician
Sanford-Brown Institute (Formerly Ultrasound Diagnostic School) (Philadelphia) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Coding & Billing, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Non-Invasive Cardiovascular & Surgical Technology, Massage Therapy
Thompson Institute (Philadelphia) - Dental Assisting

Tennessee Schools
High-Tech Institute (Nashville) - Dental Assisting
Remington College* (Nashville) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting

Texas Schools
Milan Institute (Amarillo) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Office Administration, Pharmacy Technician
Academy of Healthcare Professions* (Austin, Houston North Loop, Houston Southwest) - Dental Assistant, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, Phlebotomy Technician, Dental Assistant, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Massage Therapy, Surgical Technologist
ATI Career Training Center* (Dallas, Hurst) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Respiratory Therapy Technology
Career Centers of Texas* (Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Dental Assistant, Insurance Processor, Patient Care Assistant Technician, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician, Medical Office Specialist, Radiologic Technologist
High-Tech Institute (Irving) - Basic Massage Therapy, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist
National Institute of Technology (Houston - Greenspoint) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Business and Clinical Specialist, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician
Pinnacle Career Center (Houston) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing
Kaplan Career Institute (San Antonio) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
San Antonio College of Medical and Dental Assistants (McAllen) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
Southeastern Career Institute* (Dallas, Midland) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
Texas Careers* (Beaumont, Lubbock) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Patient Care Assistant Technician, Nurse Aide, Vocational Nursing

Utah Schools
Eagle Gate College* (Murray) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting, Office Management
Provo College (Provo) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Therapeutic Massage Technology

Virginia Schools
ACT College* (Alexandria, Arlington) - Medical Assisting, Dental Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician
Everest Institute* (Chesepeake) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding
Medical Careers Institute* (Newport News) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing

Washington Schools
Everest College* (Everett, Tacoma, Port Orchard, Renton, Lynnwood) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist
Anthem College - Seattle (Bellevue) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist

Canadian Schools
Everest College * - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Retail Pharmacy Technician, Medical Office Assistant, Dental Assisting

• Saskatchewan: Saskatoon
  
• Ontario: Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton Mountain, Kitchener, London, Mississauga, Newmarket, North York, Ottawa East, Scarborough, Sudbury, Toronto South, Windsor
  
• British Columbia: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria Bay Centre
  
• Manitoba: Winnipeg