Denture Technician

Do you like the idea of building models of teeth? Can you follow detailed directions in order to create a three-dimensional object? Denture technicians manufacture, alter, and repair dentures and other related dental devices. They fill dentists' and denturists' prescriptions and create full and partial dentures.

People often confuse denture technicians with denturists, who work directly with patients. Denture technicians do not actually work with patients, unless they are qualified as both denturists and technicians. A denturist orders the specific appliance from a technician. Following the denturist's orders, technicians make the proper dentures.

Accompanying the prescription from a denturist usually comes a mould of a patient's mouth or teeth. The mould is imperative for the technician in order to create the proper fitting component. Since we all have differently shaped and sized teeth, it is imperative that the technician has the proper mould.

Once the technician receives the mould, they create a model of the patients mouth by pouring plaster into the impression and allowing it to set. Next, they set the model on an apparatus that mimics the bite and movement of a persons jaw. The model serves as the basis of the prosthetic device. Technicians then examine the model, noting the size and shape of the adjacent teeth, as well as gaps within the gumline. Based upon these observations and the denturists specifications, technicians build and shape a wax model, using small hand instruments called wax spatulas and wax carvers. They use this wax model to cast the metal framework for the prosthetic device.

After they form the wax teeth, technicians pour the cast to form the metal using small hand-held tools. This prepares the surface to allow the metal and acrylic or porcelain to bond. Next, they apply acrylic or porcelain in layers, to arrive at the precise shape and colour of a tooth. It is important to match the color, for if the patient has yellow teeth and technician is producing a pearly white cast, then when installed, the patient might look a bit strange. The final product is nearly an exact replica of the teeth.

Depending on the size and type of laboratory for which a technician works, some perform all stages of the work, whereas in larger labs, each technician performs only a few steps in the creation process.



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