English for Dental Technology

Kuo-Lung Tung / Assistant

Outline

• Introduce to Dental Technology and Technician• Equipment• Materials

Other names of technician• apprentice dental prosthesis maker• apprentice dental technician• bench moulder, dentures• CDT (certified dental technician)• ceramic caster, dentures• ceramic denture caster• ceramic denture mechanic• ceramic denture mechanic-moulder• ceramic denture moulder• ceramic moulder, dentures• certified dental technician• crown and bridge dental technician• dental ceramic caster• dental ceramic moulder

• dental ceramist• dental laboratory assistant• dental laboratory bench worker• dental laboratory technician• dental laboratory technician assistant• dental prosthesis maker• dental technician• dental technician apprentice• dental technician supervisor• dental technologist• denture bench moulder• denture finisher• denture framework finisher• denture packer• denture setter• denture set-up man/woman• denture trimmer-polisher

Other names of technician• denture wax pattern former• denture wax pattern former – metal• framework• framework finisher, dentures• metal dental technician• occlusion rim former – dentures• orthodontic band maker• orthodontic dental technician• orthodontic prosthesis maker• orthodontic technician• plaster moulder – dentures• RDT (registered dental technician)• RDT (registered dental technologist)• registered dental technician• registered dental technologist• set-up man/woman, dentures• supervisor, dental technician• technician, dental laboratory

Job Description

• Dental technicians, manufacture dental prosthetics including bridges, crowns and dentures according to specifications dentists send to them.

• They work in specialties that include orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures or ceramics. Dental technicians are also called dental laboratory technicians.

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 1. Sealants-white filling materials in a "flowable" form. Used to fill the decay-susceptible grooves of the back teeth (usually children 6-18 years) as a preventative procedure.

2. Fillings-composite (white) filling materials. Placed directly into the prepared tooth. Used where the existing fillings or areas of decay are small enough that the remaining tooth structure has not been overly weakened.

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 3. Inlays-used in similar situations as fillings except a pre-made piece of ceramic material is bonded into the tooth. This results in superior physical properties, possibly providing a lifespan of 2 to 3 times longer than a composite filling. Inlays are a top-quality alternative to the composite filling. Traditionally gold alloy has been used for inlays, but now ceramics are excellent.

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 4. Onlays-used in situations where the tooth is fractured or has been severely weakened, the onlay is similar to the inlay described above except that the ceramic covers the entire or most of the biting surface. Unlike a crown, it does not cover the entire visible tooth structure, so there is no need to grind away all sides of the tooth unless there is a specific reason (like decay.)

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 5. Crowns ("Cap")- A crown, the largest tooth restoration, sometimes cannot be avoided. It covers all sides of the tooth as well as the end. It is used when there is limited tooth structure left, when an existing crown must be replaced, or when the tooth is an "anchor" tooth for a fixed bridge. In cases where it is impossible to get proper moisture control) below the gum line or near the back of the mouth), a cemented crown may substitute for a bonded one.

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 6. Veneers-thin porcelain facings that cover the front side of teeth. Used cosmetically to change the length, color and shape of teeth.

7. Bridges-used to replace missing teeth when sufficient "anchor" teeth are available on each side of the gap. Numerous systems are available, including fiber-reinforced ceramics, Zirconium-based ceramics and porcelain fused to metal bridges.

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 8. Implants-Titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone. Implants are used to support a dental prosthesis (from single crowns to full denture) once the bone grows around the post (usually three months after placement.)

Different Types of Dental Restorations

• 9. Removable Partial Dentures-used to replace missing teeth when insufficient teeth remain to support fixed bridges or a patient does not test well for bridge materials. Partial dentures can be metal or acrylic-based. Acrylic-based partials are bulkier and do not stay in place as well as metal partials. Metal partials can be made with precision attachments that eliminate the use of unsightly metal clasps.

10. Removable Full Denture-used when no teeth remain. Caution" most, but not all, acrylic bases contain cadmium, a toxic substance, as a color stabilizer.

What is a Partial Denture?

• What is a Denture? Partial Denture? Full Denture? Removable plate? Removable bridge?

A denture is a removable option for replacing missing teeth. It can be a partial denture meaning you have some natural teeth remaining or a complete denture meaning you have no teeth in that jaw i.e. you are edentulous.

Partial dentures is an abbreviation for 'removable partial dentures' or RPD for short, (sometimes called plates instead of dentures). I guess a 'fixed partial denture' would be a dental bridge, but I can’t say I have ever heard it call that.

• I have also heard partial dentures referred to as ‘removable bridges’; perhaps as an attempt to get away from the stigma of wearing a ‘denture’ to replace your missing teeth.

The word ‘denture’ conjures up the thought of your granny and her teeth in a glass of water by the side of the bed. Whilst with complete dentures, this image is not too far from reality, partial dentures are quite different. They can replace just a single tooth or nearly every tooth and every combination in-between. They have many different applications and need to be appreciated for what they are- an economical way to give you back your smile and teeth to eat with.

• You would be surprised at the number of people who are walking around with them; including many in their twenties who have suffered tooth loss for one reason or another. Well made partial dentures are very discreet and the non- dentist in a normal social situation would most likely have no clue that they were being worn.

Main dutiesDental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants perform some or all of the following duties:

•Design, fabricate or repair dental devices including full or partial dentures, orthodontic appliances, crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, clasps and bands, and implants

•Prepare plaster models and molds from dental impressions

•Prepare wax bite-blocks and impression trays

•Cast gold or metal alloys for bridges and denture bases

•Pack plastic material in molds to form full or partial dentures

•Mold wax over denture set-up to form full contours of artificial gums

•Make orthodontic bands from gold, silver, stainless steel or other metals

•Finish metal framework of dentures and polish and buff dentures to obtain natural finish

•May consult with dentists or other specialists on problematic dental cases

•May train and supervise other dental technicians and dental laboratory assistants in fabricating dentures and other dental devices

•May perform administrative functions for the dental laboratory.