Dental Laboratory Technicians

High school students with an interest in dental laboratory technology can seek out shop courses and activities that allow exploration of ceramics, metal casting and soldering, molding, and the related skills practiced by dental laboratory technicians. In addition, a local dentist or school counselor may be able to recommend a technician or laboratory in the area that the student might visit in order to get a firsthand idea of the work involved.

Check out What's in Your Mouth? (http://dentallabs.org), a helpful Web site from the National Association of Dental Laboratories that provides information on careers and dental laboratories, including videos of lab technicians at work.

Part-time or summer jobs as laboratory helpers may be available to high school students. Such positions usually consist of picking up and delivering work to dentists' offices, but they may also provide a chance for the student to observe and assist practicing dental laboratory technicians. Students in dental laboratory technology training programs often have part-time jobs that develop into full-time technician positions upon graduation.

Interested students may also call their state dental laboratory association or a local commercial laboratory to find out when seminars and lectures are held. By attending such events, a student can learn more about dental laboratory issues and techniques, and can also talk with laboratory technicians.

Although it is by no means a requirement, prospective dental laboratory technicians will profit from experience building model airplanes or cars, and other such work that involves mixing and molding various materials.