Download Microsoft Word Conversion Template

Dental Technician
Description:

Carries out preventative dental procedures under the direction of a Dentist.
Work Tasks (may include any combination of the following):

Dental technicians work from a mould of a client’s mouth made by a dentist or a clinical
dental technician, and custom-make a wide range of appliances for the mouth, including:
removable partial dentures; crowns (covers for broken or damaged teeth); dentures;
removable orthodontic appliances (plates with wires to straighten teeth); mouthguards;
splints for broken or cracked jawbones; anti-snoring devices; teeth whitening trays.
Clinical dental technicians: assess oral tissue; recognise abnormal conditions of the
mouth; take impressions of teeth; make partial dentures, full dentures and other oral
devices; reline dentures that are ill-fitting.
Work Environment:


Works indoors usually at hospital or private dental laboratories.
Works in an adequately heated, well ventilated and lit workspaces
1
Work Function/Activity :











Light physical demand level. Frequently stands or sits at workbenches.
Also walks about the workspace to gather equipment or materials and to move from work
area to work area.
May occasionally sit when studying dental impressions prior to commencing modelling or
development process.
Stretching and/or twisting movements are not a significant feature of the job.
Light lifting, pulling or carrying is not a significant feature of the job.
Repetitive hand and arm movements are necessary for many modelling and
construction tasks.
Driving is not a significant feature of the job.
Uses a range of precision technical and specialised workshop equipment and
materials including power and hand tools, a range of precision engineering (including
small lathes, micro-welding equipment and tools), casts and moulds, metals and wire,
small furnaces, porcelain and wax and plastics to create base.
Bending over workbenches is likely to be frequent.
Squatting, crouching or kneeling is not a significant feature of the job.
Mental activities necessary include technical, model-making, problem-solving and
planning skills.
Further Comments:

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement.
Entry Requirements:


A New Zealand Register Level 5 or 6 qualification or at least three years relevant
experience. In some instances particular experience and/or on-the-job training may be
required.
Registration or licensing is required.
This document is based on ANZSCO, 2006 (code 411213). Other sources of information that may have been
consulted are industry contacts, employers, newspapers and internet-based sources. For physical demand level
definitions see Matheson, L.N. (1996). Functional Capacity Evaluation.
1