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Dental technician
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
£21,200 + per year
As a dental technician, you would design, build, repair and adjust dental devices for people who have lost teeth or need help to correct the appearance and performance of their teeth. If you're interested in science, and you can concentrate and work accurately for long periods of time, this job could be ideal for you.
To be good at this job you will also need to have good practical skills and a steady hand. You will need to follow complicated technical instructions.
You need to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) before you can work as a dental technician. There are a number of college and university qualifications you can complete to get onto the register.
WorkDesc
The work
As a dental technician, you could specialise within one of three key areas, which are:
- orthodontics – creating plastic or metal devices, such as braces, to re-align teeth
- crown and bridge work – constructing items which can be cemented in place
- prosthetics – producing plastic dentures or implants, some of which have metal inserts to help keep them straight.
You would use a wide range of specialist techniques, equipment, instruments, and computer technology to carry out your duties.
You could work in a variety of settings, including private dental labs and the NHS. In a private dental lab, you would create devices and appliances for a number of dental practices covering a wide geographical area. In a hospital setting, you could assist in dental surgery by designing and building artificial parts for patients with facial injuries, cancer or cleft palate.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work around 40 hours a week. In a commercial laboratory you might cover slightly longer hours and overtime may be available.
You would usually be based in a lab, working alone or as part of a team. If you are working within a hospital setting, you will have direct contact with dental and oral surgeons and occasionally patients.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries can be around £21,200 a year. With experience this can rise to between £34,000 and £40,000. Dental lab managers can earn up to around £67,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You need to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) before you can work as a dental technician. To get on to the register, you need to complete one of the following qualifications in dental technology:
- a BTEC National Diploma – for this you will often need four GCSEs (A-C) in English language, maths and a science
- a foundation degree – you will usually need four GCSEs plus one A level to get on to this course
- a BSc (Hons) degree – entry usually includes five GCSEs (A-C) plus two or three A levels.
For advanced dental technology work, you are likely to need one of the degree-level qualifications.
Check with course providers for exact entry details because alternative qualifications may also be accepted. See the GDC website for a list of course providers.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Your training will vary depending on the route you choose, and could include:
- studying full-time for a BTEC National, foundation degree or BSc (Hons) in dental technology and applying for a technician post once this is completed
- applying for work as a trainee in a commercial lab or dental practice and studying part-time for an approved qualification – traineeships often take between four and five years
- applying to a hospital or health authority run scheme – this usually takes around four years and includes studying part-time for an approved qualification and registration with the GDC.
Whichever way you train, you will cover subjects such as dental anatomy, materials and basic lab techniques, complete and partial denture prosthetics, conservation and restoration, orthodontic appliances and dental bridge fabrication.
Check the GDC website and Dental Laboratories Association website for further details.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a dental technician you should have:
- good practical skills and a steady hand
- the ability to concentrate for long periods of time
- good communication skills
- accuracy and attention to detail
- the ability to understand and interpret complicated, technical instructions
- good eyesight and colour perception
- a degree of artistic flair
- an interest and ability in science
- the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line 
Tel: 08000 150850
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Tel: 020 7887 3800
www.gdc-uk.org
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You are likely to find most opportunities with commercial dental labs, but you could also work within the Community Dental Service and hospital dental services.
With experience you could go on to set up your own laboratory. There are also prospects to work abroad.
In a lab environment, you could progress to senior or chief technician (this is usually dependent on achieving further qualifications). In large commercial labs there may be opportunities within quality control, sales and management. With further training and qualifications you could also move into teaching.
Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, through Jobcentre Plus offices and journals such as The Dental Technician. You may also find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
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