Difference Between Dental Technician and Dental Prosthetist
If you’re thinking about getting dentures or own a pair already, you have heard the terms dental technician and dental prosthetist is thrown around quite a bit. Though the two professions have a lot of similarities, there are a few instances where a dental prosthetists skill might be more appropriate for a job and vice versa. We take a look at the difference between dental technician and dental prosthetist and some of the common dental appliances they work on.
Difference Between Dental Technician and Dental Prosthetist
What does a dental technician do?
A dental technician is someone who constructs and repairs dentures and dental appliances such as mouthguards, crowns and more. They tend to work in a laboratory, where they can specialise in partial and full dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, implants, or ceramics.
A Day in a Dental Technician’s Life
Wondering what does a dental technician typically do in a day? Duties a dental technician may perform include:
- Creating porcelain veneers and crowns.
- Creating plaster models of dentures.
- Building and polishing teeth on dentures.
- Maintaining laboratory records and preparing reports.
- Fabricating maxillo-facial prostheses.
What does a dental prosthetist do?
Dental prosthetists are originally trained as dental technicians but have completed more training so they can work as an independent contractor. Dental prosthetists typically provide diagnostic, preventive, and fabrication services to create and repair dentures and make mouthguards.
A Day in a Dental Prosthetist’s Life
Wondering what does a dental prosthetist do in a day? In addition to the above duties, a dental prosthetist may perform the following tasks:
- Assessment, treatment and provision of removable dentures and dental appliances.
- Managing a laboratory and dental technicians.
- Constructing and repairing partial or full dentures.
- Creating mouthguards from dental impressions.
Some common dental appliances a dental technician might create:
Dental crowns, bridges and implants
A dental technician works alongside a dentist to create a dental crown that perfectly suits a patient’s teeth. A dentist will make an impression using a putty like material that’s to be placed inside a patient’s mouth. They will then send the impression to a laboratory, where a dental technician will begin constructing a crown by mixing appropriate materials and shaping the crown to exact measurements. Using fine artistry, a dental technician will then paint the crown to match the patient’s tooth colour and size and shape of surrounding teeth. The process is similar for dental bridges and implants, with the latter involving an adding in a special titanium screw.
Full or partial dentures
Using a special tray, a dental prosthetist will make an impression of a patient’s mouth and conduct a bite check. At this stage, a dental prosthetist will discuss with you the size, shape, and colour of your new teeth, before sending that information to a laboratory. A dental technician will then create a plaster model from the impressions and place it in an articulator (a device that mimics the movement of a jaw). This makes it easier for a dental technician to attach teeth to the model and shape the gums. Once the acrylic has cured, a dental technician will clean and trim the gums and teeth before sending it to the dentist.
Orthodontics
Dental technicians that specialise in orthodontic appliances work alongside an orthodontist to create metal braces and retainers. The type of artistry needed for orthodontics is different from crowns and bridges, as close care needs to be taken to ensure the appliances fit precisely over a patient’s teeth.
Denture clinic Brisbane
We hope our article has given you an idea of the difference between dental technician and dental prosthetist. If you have any questions about dental appliances, get in touch with Denture Health Clinic today by calling us on 1300 304 092 or booking an appointment online.
Related Posts
Custom Mouthguards for Sports
We’ve all seen or heard of serious injuries that have occurred out on a sporting field. While these incidents are often unavoidable due to the competitive nature of contact sport, there are ways we can better protect ourselves. Custom mouthguards for sports are an effective and reliable way to give your teeth, mouth, and jaw maximum protection whenever you or your children are engaged in physical activity.
Swimming with Dentures – Our Best Ideas
When living with dentures for the first time, it often takes a while to become truly comfortable partaking in the same activities you enjoyed before. While eating and speaking are usually the two main topics people consider, swimming with dentures is another consideration people should have in mind when making the switch.
Mouthguards for MMA and Boxing
Finding mouthguards for MMA sparring and fights that fit properly, provide excellent protection, and are comfortable can be difficult. It is important that you know the different types of mouthguards that are available to you and how effective they are. We will take it further by examining and highlighting the benefits of custom mouthguards for boxing.
Mouthguards for MMA and Boxing
If you’re new to the world of dentures and you’re an avid runner, or running is something you’re interested in picking up, but you’re worried about the impact it may have on your dentures, we’re here to help. Running with dentures is definitely something to consider, and it’s important to put a plan in place that ensures the longevity as well as durability of your dentures. Here is a guide to prepping for a run while you have your dentures in, and what you can do to ensure their security.
Playing with Dentures – A Guide for Musicians
Playing with Dentures – A Guide for Musicians Whether you are a seasoned musician or looking to learn a new instrument, playing with dentures presents some unique challenges. Dentures that shift around your mouth or being unable to achieve the right sound are some of the issues you may encounter while playing music with dentures,
Benefits of Mouthguards: Understanding Their Advantages
Benefits of Mouthguards: Understanding Their Advantages Anyone who has played contact sport before has been told about the importance of wearing a mouthguard. No matter how old you are, or what sport you play, the advantages of mouthguards give you the protection and the peace of mind that you are safer if an incident does
We do whatever it takes to bring you peace of mind
1300 304 092
Call us today