Whether you're considering a career as a dental laboratory technician or you're a lab owner trying to stay up to date with evolving technology, finding the right training for dental lab equipment is important. If you're just entering the field, expect to spend at least two years completing an accredited program in dental lab technology. Because new technology continuously appears in the dental field, continued education is necessary.

A dental laboratory supply can include a variety of materials, including stainless steel, waxes, ceramics, porcelains and alloys. Lab technicians use tools to sculpt and mold materials into dentures, crowns, veneers and orthodontic appliances. When finding training for dental lab equipment, consider the following:

1. Read dental laboratory technology manuals, books and guides.

2. Find accredited schools that offer a dental laboratory equipment program.

3. Attend seminars to learn the latest technology in dental laboratory supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study dental lab equipment technology by reading books on the subject

Dental laboratory text books, guides and manuals are excellent learning tools for laboratory owners, dental lab technicians and those considering entering the field. When purchasing dental lab equipment guides and manuals, it's important to make sure the material is relevant to your lab. For example, one lab could use a dental lab dust collector that's five years old while another lab uses the same piece of equipment but four years newer. When ordering text books, be sure they're the latest editions.

I recommend: Purchase text books, guides and manuals pertaining to dental laboratory technology at America's Dental Bookstore. Challenge your knowledge with the "Journal of Dental Technology 2007 Articles and Quizzes," which includes quizzes submitted for scientific credit. Order the book from the National Association of Dental Laboratories.

Find a school that offers training for dental laboratory equipment

When searching for a school that offers training in dental lab supplies and equipment, make sure the program is accredited. Community colleges, technical and vocational schools offer two-year programs that allow students to earn either an associate's degree or a certificate upon graduation. Four-year baccalaureate programs in dental technology are also available.

I recommend: Read about the Fine Arts Dental Academy in Provo, Utah. The school is dedicated solely to training dental lab technicians. Many community colleges, like Portland Community College, offer dental lab technician programs. See the listings of community colleges with dental lab programs at Dental Guide USA.

Attend seminars to keep up to date with dental lab supply technology

Dental lab seminars provide an avenue for lab owners and technicians to socialize and compare notes and also learn from industry leaders who have used dental lab equipment before the technology hits the mainstream. Many seminars also feature speakers who lecture on topics such as women in dentistry and computer-aided design dentistry.

I recommend: Attend a seminar hosted by the Sundance Dental Laboratory. Read the seminars' descriptions and click on the "Brochure and Registration Form" link to secure your spot. Check the Dental Laboratories Association of California website for upcoming meetings and seminars.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Dental lab technicians are required to do intricate work with small instruments. During the course of your training, research ergonomic dental lab furniture to ease back and neck strain.

Selecting dental lab equipment requires careful planning and thought. Dental laboratories perform many functions on a daily basis, and you have to be sure that your laboratory has up-to-date and reliable equipment to successfully perform those tasks.

Begin by thinking about what kinds of functions you intend for your laboratory to perform, and then attempt to locate the dental lab supplies you will need as well as an appropriate and reliable provider.

When selecting dental lab equipment, be sure to:

1. Determine which lab equipment you will need.

2. Consider used or refurbished dental lab equipment to fill your needs.

3. Select the supplier of dental lab supplies that you will use.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the dental lab supplies you require

Dental labs perform many different tasks. Each task requires specific types of dental lab equipment. Dental laboratory supplies include everything from tiny light bulbs to expensive machines

I recommend: Canyon State Dental Supply offers dental lab equipment including casting machines, dust collectors and vacuums mixing units.Smart Practice sells a more comprehensive product list that includes latex gloves, sutures and X-ray supplies. Look at the many types of dental lab equipment available from Nowak Dental Supplies, Inc. Download a catalog of dental lab supplies available at Integral Systems, Inc.

Consider purchasing used dental lab equipment

After looking at the prices for dental equipment, you will likely realize that it can get expensive to purchase dental lab equipment. Used dental equipment can save you money and help you outfit your dental lab with high-quality products. Buy used dental equipment from one of the many sellers of used and refurbished lab supplies online.

I recommend: Consider purchasing refurbished dental lab equipment with a one-year warranty from Buy Dental Equipment. Contact Pre-Owned Dental for information about their used dental lab equipment. Fill out the online form to request information on refurbished dental lab equipment from Grady Medical Systems, Inc.

Look at warranties for your dental equipment

When you buy dental equipment, look at warranties and things you might need after the purchase.

I recommend: Shop at Wells Dental, Inc. to take advantage of their in-house repair shop and customer service expertise.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't forget to purchase dental lab furniture for your laboratory. Think about workstations, cabinets and seating. Look into companies who can assist you with the customization of furniture for your specific dental laboratory.
• •  Consider financing for the purchase of dental lab supplies, including dental lab equipment and dental lab furniture. Banks and other companies dedicated to dentists can assist you with your financing needs.

Dental laboratory equipment training can either open the door to a new career or boost current industry knowledge. With the changes in dental lab furniture and equipment, this training is almost mandatory to stay ahead of the learning curve. Dental lab technicians have a relatively stable employment outlook as people are always going to need work done on their teeth in any economic climate.

In order to attain the proper dental lab equipment education and training, you'll first need to understand what the job entails if you're new to the profession. Veterans in the dental lab equipment industry will want to make sure their training and knowledge is as current as possible. Dental equipment training courses and industry associations are two ways to make sure this happens. No matter what your dental lab equipment education and training needs are, there a few items you need to consider:

1. Research the details of a career working with new or used dental equipment.

2. Attend a dental lab equipment training class.

3. Contact dental lab equipment industry associations about the certification process and continuing education classes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Verify the educational requirements of a dentist equipment career

Working in this profession is more than simply handling dental lab supplies. You need to know all aspects of what the job entails before investing in dental lab equipment education and training. Therefore, obtaining an occupational outlook is an essential aspect of any dental lab equipment career.

I recommend: Check the job descriptions and economic outlook for the dental lab equipment industry at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American Dental Association also has some videos and dental lab equipment training resources available for someone interested in the field of study.

Take courses that will enable you to work with dental laboratory supplies

The most direct way to learn about dental lab equipment is through courses that allow you to get hands-on training. There are many options available for this training and there are classes available online that can help you as well.

I recommend: Contact the Fine Arts Dental Academy about the dental lab courses that they offer. Review the list of online dental schools at the Healthcare Careers website.

Use the resources available through dental lab supply associations

The dental laboratory equipment supply and equipment associations not only offer a great network for industry officials, but they can provide excellent training resources. Dental associations can guide you through the process of becoming a certified dental lab technician.

I recommend: Examine the certification information from the National Association of Dental Laboratories. Review the steps in the dental certification process at the National Board for Certification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure that when you take a dental laboratory furniture or equipment class that the company has industry certification.
• •  When taking a dental lab equipment class, it's important to work with the latest technology. Using used dental lab equipment can be a good place to start but you want to be at least somewhat familiar with the current technology.

Whether you're stocking a dental lab or you want to get into the dental business, you will need to know some of the key terms used to describe dental lab equipment. Equipment and supplies such as casting machines, vacuum mixing units, abrasive blasters, dental duplicators and milling machines are machines used in the process of cleaning and creating dental structures such as crowns, fillings and dentures. Other equipment, such as dust collectors, help keep a dental lab clean.

Action Steps
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Casting machines

Casting machines melt alloys and cast dental structures such as crowns. When selecting a casting machine, you should choose one that produces a strong centrifugal force in order to create dense castings.

I recommend: To learn more, visit Canyon State Dental Supply, which has pictures of casting machines and offers more information on them.

Dust collectors

Dust collectors are machines that keep your dental lab clean and sanitary. Choose a dust collector that has a good filter system which is capable of filtering plastic particles and dust.

I recommend: Visit the website for Handler Manufacturing to get more information about dust collectors and to see several examples.

Vacuum mixing units

Vacuum mixing units mix quick setting materials such as plaster and silicone. A good machine will produce mixes that are smooth and free of bubbles.

I recommend: Check out InterguideDental.com to view a variety of vacuum mixing units. You can click the pictures to learn more about each product's features.

Abrasive blasters

An abrasive blaster is an enclosed unit used to clean or treat the surfaces of dental castings. They include a system to capture and filter debris.

I recommend: Buydentalequimpent.com has pictures of several models of abrasive blasters. You can click each model name to learn more about the features and capabilities of abrasive blasters.

Denture duplicator

If a patient damages his or her dentures beyond repair, you can use denture duplicators to easily make a copy of a patient's dentures.

I recommend: Go to Lang Dental Manufacturing to learn more. It shows a good example of a denture duplicator, explains the benefits of the machine and describes what is in a denture duplicator kit.

Milling machine

A milling machine cuts a dental crown or other structure from a block of dental ceramic. Milling machines can cut to very exact specifications, making them ideal for creating something as small as a dental crown.

I recommend: Dental-Milling-Machines.com explains the configurations of dental milling machines.