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Dental Technician

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Job Prospects
Openings 5 years to 2022: 6,500
Salary
Median weekly earnings: $1000 to $1299
Source
Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupation Employment Projections
Brief
Dental technicians generally work in a laboratory creating, modifying or repairing a wide range of oral devices, known as "appliances", designed to replace or repair missing teeth on the instructions of a dentist, specialist dentist or dental prosthetist.

TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for: Dental Technician

Accredited (Award)

  • Introduction

    A dental technician is an oral health professional who is an educated and trained member of the dental team and who works together with the dentist and\or prosthetists to provide dental appliances to the community.

  • Education Requirements

    TAFE SA offers a course relevant to this occupation in the Diploma of Dental Technology. Pathways include the Certificate III in Dental Assisting; Certificate III in Dental Laboratory Assisting; and the Certificate IV in Dental Technology. TAFE SA also offers the Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene).

    SA Traineeships are available in this occupation. For further information go to the Traineeship & Apprenticeship Services Website at http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/apprenticeships-traineeships or phone the freecall number 1800 673 097.

  • Career Path

    To become a dental technician you usually have to complete a VET qualification in dental technology.

    Full-time dental technicians in South Australia generally earn between $1,000 and $1,299 per week. There has been strong growth over the past 5 years and is expected to grow moderately over the next 5 years from 6,200 in 2017 to 6,500 by 2022.

  • Nature of the Job

    Working across five main areas of expertise, encompassing work on everything from crowns and bridges, dentures, implants and mouthguards to name a few, your days will be varied and could consist of the following activities:
    - creating models of the mouth and teeth from impressions taken by a dentist, specialist dentist or dental prosthetist
    - making replacement braces, retainers or dentures for a patient using plastic, metal or ceramic materials
    - crafting braces, mouthguards and plates for correcting irregular or damaged teeth
    - designing, constructing and repairing ceramic restorations such as crowns, bridges or dentures
    - polishing and finishing braces or retainers before they are placed in a patient's mouth

  • Typical Physical Working Environment

    If you are the sort of person who:
    - enjoys working with tools and equipment
    - possesses a high degree of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
    - is able to apply precise attention to detail to your work
    - possesses an artistic flair for form and design
    - is able to use your time effectively
    - has the ability to communicate well and can concentrate for long periods of time
    then you may be interested in a career as a Dental Technician.

  • Typical Occupational Example

    Dental technicians may work in a variety of settings including the public sector or commercial dental laboratories. Work can also be found in the Australian Defence Forces, public and private hospitals and public health services. You can also find employment as an educator at TAFE or university, a research working towards advances in materials or design, sales and marking for a dental company, or as an editor of an industry magazine or journal.

    For further information contact:

    Australian Dental Association (SA)
    Phone: (08) 8272 8111
    Email: admin@adasa.asn.au
    Web: www.adasa.asn.au