Why are dental technicians important?
Dental technicians are those key members of a dental team who are usually not given the credits that they deserve. The work of a technician requires a high level of manual dexterity and attention to detail and an application of applied aesthetic values.
They are those secret jewelers who are equally responsible for crafting that perfect smile, as the dentists themselves. They are an integral part of the patient care pathway. They have the ability to manipulate an assortment of ceramics by layering different shades of porcelain to create beautifully colored and contoured teeth that can enhance the beauty of a patient’s smile and overall appearance.
Each patient is unique and no two cases are the same, therefore much of the work is carefully done by hand to fine-tune each piece to the exact specification to make sure the device is comfortable and effective for the patient prior to the final fitting with the dentist. There is a wide range of materials used in dentistry. In order to design and construct appliances to precision, these technicians have knowledge about the properties and application of each of these materials.
Their scope of work is vast---
- Prosthodontic technicians specialise in designing and making removable prosthesis, which can be made of acrylic or chrome cobalt - complete dentures, implant-retained overdentures and cast partial dentures. This also includes crowns, bridges, veneers, copings, attachments and fixed implant restorations using materials like ceramics, zirconia, metals. Splints for TMDs and appliances for sleeping disorders are also made by them.
- Orthodontic technicians are specialised in designing and making removable orthodontic appliances with wires, springs, and screw, pediatric appliances like space maintainers, retainers and myo-functional appliances.
- Conservative technicians focus on inlays and onlays using a wide range of materials, including porcelain, gold or metal alloys, and bleaching trays.
- Maxillo-facial technicians or maxillofacial prosthetists/anaplastologists are in great demand in hospital with oral surgery, ophthalmic, burns and cancer units, where they help to reconstruct faces damaged by disease or accident using acrylic or silicone prosthesis, which may include magnets or implants - extra oral prosthesis like ocular, orbital, nasal, auricular prosthesis and intra-oral prosthesis like obturators and flange prosthesis.
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