Tell me about it
Working to individual prescriptions written by a dentist or a doctor, dental technicians make dental appliances such as braces, bridges, crowns and dentures. Each appliance produced must fit the patient perfectly and, given that it may be designed to improve the patient's appearance, speech or ability to chew, absolute precision is essential. Some dental technicians produce a range of appliances, while others choose to specialise in just one type.

The materials used to make dental appliances include gold, porcelain and plastic, and technicians employ techniques such as casting, carving, moulding, grinding and polishing. The work does not usually involve direct contact with patients, as the completed appliances are returned for fitting to the person issuing the prescription.

Dental technicians usually spend their working day in a laboratory, seated at a workbench for much of the time. They may work alone or as part of a team.

Entry level
Since autumn 2004, all dental technicians must register with the General Dental Council before they are allowed to practise. To qualify for registration, you will need to obtain a qualification in dental technology such as a BTEC National Diploma, SQA Higher National Certificate, foundation degree or degree. In the latter case, there are accredited degrees offered by Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

You would need at least two A levels/AH grades/three H grades or equivalent, including science or technology, to obtain entry to a degree course. You should also aim for a GCSE/S grade (A-C/1-3) in art or craft design & technology.

For the BTEC/SQA and foundation degree courses, you should normally offer at least four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) or equivalent, including English language, maths and science (some dental hospitals ask for physics and biology).

If you do not have any of these qualifications, you may still be able to gain admission to some colleges by passing a skills test.

Making the grade
You could work towards registration by starting in a commercial laboratory as a trainee and studying for the BTEC/SQA qualification on day release for up to five years. Alternatively, you could take a three-year full-time course before starting work, or look for a four-year sandwich programme, where you would split your time between college and the laboratory. It is also possible to train as a dental technician with the armed forces.

Whichever route you follow, you would have to study dental anatomy, dental materials, basic laboratory techniques, denture prosthetics, orthodontic appliances and dental bridge fabrication.

You would then need two years' laboratory experience (including any time you have already gained on work placement as part of a course) before you can become a fully qualified dental technician. It is a condition of registration that you keep your skills and knowledge up to date through continuing professional development.

Personal qualities
To succeed as a dental technician, you should have a high level of technical skill, with excellent manual dexterity to produce very precise and accurate work. You must be able to concentrate for long periods of time and pay attention to detail while following complicated, technical instructions. Good eyesight and colour vision are essential. You would also need a certain level of artistic skill to make dentures, crowns and other appliances look as natural as possible.

Looking ahead
There are currently about 8,000 dental technicians working in the UK, mostly based in commercial dental laboratories and producing work for a number of different general dental practitioners. Commercial laboratories range in size from sole trader businesses to large companies with several branches. There are also opportunities in hospitals, the Community Dental Service and the armed forces.

With the right experience and suitable additional qualifications, you could progress to become a senior or chief technician. In larger commercial laboratories there may also be opportunities in quality control, management or sales. Alternatively, you might seek to become self-employed and set up your own laboratory, or you could look for opportunities overseas.

Alternative suggestions
If you like the idea of working with teeth, you might also consider training as a dental nurse or dental hygienist. If you are interested in making surgical appliances, you could look at opportunities to become an orthotist or prosthetist. Other options in a healthcare environment include biomedical scientist, laboratory technician, medical physicist or medical technical officer.

Take-home pay
There are no national pay scales for dental technicians but the suggested minimum salary for trainees ranges from around £7,000 to £11,500, depending on experience. This should rise to at least £16,000 once you are fully qualified, and could exceed £25,000 with additional qualifications and experience.

Dental technicians in the NHS generally earn less than those in commercial laboratories.

Effects
In the NHS, you would normally expect to work a 37-hour week, although in some hospital departments you might need to be on call to cover emergencies in the evenings, at weekends and during public holidays.

Hours in commercial laboratories could be slightly longer. There might be the opportunity to work overtime, and part-time work may be available.

Sources of information
British Dental Association, Armed Forces Group: www.bda-dentistry.org.uk/advice/docs/armedforces.doc
Dental Education Resources on the Web: www.derweb.co.uk/career/career.html
Dental Laboratories Association: www.dla.org.uk
Dental Technicians Association: www.dta-uk.org
General Dental Council: www.gdc-uk.org

CRCI: JC