Dental technician
Also known as
Work environment
- Usually work regular business hours, but may work evenings and weekends
- Usually work in dental laboratories
- Need to be organised and methodical
Salary information
Typical tasks
- Create dental appliances
- Cast moulds from patient mouth shapes
- Prepare material for making dental devices
- Place material into moulds
- Melt metal and plastic for shaping
- Place items in dental ovens
- Mix finishes to match tooth colour
- Inspect dental devices for quality
Outlook
Dental technicians help meet ongoing demand for dental care in New Zealand. An ageing population, advances in restorative dentistry and growing use of digital technologies are shaping the field. Dental laboratories increasingly use 3D scanning, computer-aided design and manufacturing to create dental appliances more efficiently. Internationally, digital workflows and customised dental solutions are becoming more common, supporting continued innovation across the industry.
What employers and industry want in graduates
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Good hand–eye coordination and practical skills
- Ability to use digital tools and specialised equipment
- Problem-solving and technical thinking
- Patience and focus on quality workmanship
- Clear communication and teamwork skills
Professional registration
Dental Council of New Zealand
04 499 4820
AUT programmes
The above is a suggestion only and a starting point. You may need to meet other criteria or take additional steps to work in this career.
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This data is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahtu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Some of the information has been modified by AUT. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this data.