Tasks of a dental lab technician
Technicians work under the instruction of the dentist. Dental Lab Technicians will often be responsible for things such as performing crowns, prosthesis, bridges etc. The tasks of the technician can get quite a bit involved. In certain cases the lab technician will be responsible for creating a replica of the patents mouth through a process called prosthesis. A dental lab technician builds a model of the patient’s mouth by putting plaster into the impression. He/she then places the model on an apparatus that resembles the bite and movement of the patient’s jaw. This model is the basis of the prosthesis device. A technician in dental lab examines the model, and on the recommendation of a dentist, builds and shapes a wax model.
The next step is to prepare a metal surface that allows alloy and porcelain to be bond using small tools that can be held by hands. A dental lab technician uses the tools to apply porcelain in layers to get the desired results of color and shape of tooth.
Hazards of dental lab technician
In general, a technician in a dental lab works in a clean and well ventilated area. This might not always be the case as it depends on a specific work environment. A technician normally is supposed to have his/her own workbench with a variety of dental equipment at his or her disposal.
The work of a dental lab technician is extremely delicate and time consuming. One is supposed to work for about 40 hours a week but those who are self-employed frequently work for longer hours. A dental lab technician is supposed to poses good vision, ability to recognize very fine color shadings, and have a high degree of manual dexterity. Another important factor is aptitude for details and precise work.
Chemical hazards
A technician in dental lab is prone to various chemical hazards when building dentures. Some the chemical hazards are found in solvents, vapors, and gases given out during polymerization. Hazards often occur when maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) are exceeded especially when measurements are not done right.
Some of the dangerous chemicals a dental lab technician should handle carefully when coming in contact with include benzoyl peroxide, nitrocellulose, acetate, corundum, glutaraldehyde, boron and iron among others. Dental lab technicians should also watch against allergies, asthma and asthma associated with chemicals used in a dental laboratory.