Dental or Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician or Medical Appliance Technician

Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians make or repair dentures, eyeglasses, prosthetics, and related products.

Duties

Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians typically do the following:

  • Read and follow detailed work orders and prescriptions
  • Bend, form, and shape material for appliances or devices
  • Polish and shape appliances and devices, using handtools or power tools
  • Adjust appliances or devices to allow for a natural look or to improve function
  • Inspect the final product for quality and accuracy
  • Repair damaged appliances and devices

Technicians’ duties vary, depending on their employer. In small offices and retail establishments, technicians may handle every phase of production. In large manufacturing and wholesale facilities, technicians may be responsible for only one phase of production, such as polishing, measuring, or testing.

Dental laboratory technicians use impressions or molds of a patient’s teeth to create crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental appliances. They work closely with dentists but have limited contact with patients.

Dental laboratory technicians work with small handtools, such as files and polishers, and with many different materials, including wax, alloy, ceramic, plastic, and porcelain. Technicians also use computer programs and three-dimensional printers to create dental appliances and restorations.

Dental laboratory technicians may specialize in one or more of the following: orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, implants, or ceramics. Technicians may have different job titles, depending on their specialty. For example, technicians who make ceramic restorations such as veneers and bridges, are called ceramists.

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians make prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They are also commonly known as optical laboratory technicians.

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically use automated equipment to make lenses. Some technicians manufacture lenses for optical instruments, such as telescopes and binoculars. Ophthalmic laboratory technicians should not be confused with dispensing opticians, who work with customers to select eyewear and may prepare work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians.

Medical appliance technicians construct and repair medical supportive devices, such as hearing aids or leg braces. They use many different types of materials, such as metal, plastic, and leather.

Medical appliance technicians who create orthoses (braces, supports, and other devices) and prostheses (replacement limbs and facial parts) are sometimes referred to as orthotic and prosthetic technicians or O&P technicians.

Medical appliance technicians should not be confused with hearing aid specialists or orthotists and prosthetists, who work directly with patients. However, technicians may work closely with these other specialists to ensure proper fit or to repair devices.

Work Environment

Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians held about 73,300 jobs in 2021. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians was distributed as follows:

Dental laboratory technicians 36,700
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians       20,200
Medical appliance technicians 16,400

The largest employers of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians were as follows:

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing 58%
Health and personal care stores 7
Offices of dentists 6
Offices of optometrists 5
Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers        4

Technicians may be exposed to health and safety hazards when handling certain materials. Workers typically wear protective equipment, such as goggles, gloves, or masks, to protect themselves from injury. They may spend a great deal of time standing or bending.

Work Schedules

Most dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians work full time, and schedules may vary.

Education and Training

To enter the occupation, dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They typically receive on-the-job training to attain competency.

Education

Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. High school students interested in becoming a dental or ophthalmic laboratory technician or medical appliance technician may benefit from taking classes in science, mathematics, and art.

Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree. Some community colleges and technical schools offer programs in dental or ophthalmic laboratory technology in which students gain experience completing specific tasks, such as surfacing and finishing prescription eyewear. Community colleges and technical schools also may offer programs in medical appliance technology fields, such as orthotics and prosthetics technology.

Most dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians learn their skills through on-the-job training. They may begin as helpers and learn more advanced skills as they gain experience. For example, dental laboratory technicians may start out making models from impressions and progress to designing and fabricating crowns and bridges.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although optional, certification may demonstrate a level of competence and professionalism that makes candidates more attractive to employers. It also may increase opportunities for advancement.

The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology offers certification as a Certified Dental Technician (CDT). Certification is available in six specialty areas: orthodontics, crown and bridge, complete dentures, partial dentures, implants, and ceramics. To qualify for the CDT, technicians must pass several exams and meet education, training, or experience requirements.

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics offers certification for orthotic and/or prosthetic technicians. Technicians are eligible for the certification exam after completing an accredited program or if they have experience as a technician under the direct supervision of a certified orthotist or prosthetist or O&P technician.

Some employers prefer that ophthalmic laboratory technicians obtain certification from the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners(ABO-NCLE) prior to hiring or after completing on-the-job training. Basic certification is earned after passing an exam.

Advancement

In large facilities, dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians may work their way up to a supervisory level and train new technicians. Some go on to own their own laboratory.

Personality and Interests

Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians typically have an interest in the Building Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.

If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a dental and ophthalmic laboratory technician and medical appliance technician, you can take a career test to measure your interests.

Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians should also possess the following specific qualities:

Analytical skills. Because dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians must construct medical devices with accuracy and precision, they need to have an in-depth knowledge of how different tools and materials work.

Detail oriented. Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians must pay attention to detail. They need to be able to recognize and correct any imperfections in the devices.

Dexterity. Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians must work well with their hands because they use precise laboratory instruments.

Interpersonal skills. Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians need to be able to get along with others because they may be part of a team of technicians working on a single project. In addition, they need good communication to ensure safety when they work with hazardous materials.

Technical skills. Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians must understand how to operate complex machinery. Some procedures are automated, so technicians must know how to operate and change the programs that run the machinery.

Pay

The median annual wage for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians was $39,090 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,230, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,730.

Median annual wages for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians in May 2021 were as follows:

Dental laboratory technicians $45,770
Medical appliance technicians 45,280
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians        37,270

In May 2021, the median annual wages for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Offices of dentists $46,640
Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing 39,730
Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers          38,050
Health and personal care stores 35,970
Offices of optometrists 31,490

Most dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians work full time, and schedules may vary.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians is projected to grow 2 percent from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations.

Despite limited employment growth, about 9,900 openings for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. 

Employment

Projected employment of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians varies by occupation (see table).

Demand for dental laboratory technicians is expected to be limited as 3D printing and other laborsaving technologies are increasingly used to produce dental parts and appliances.

The increasing number of older adults and an associated rise in age-related ailments will drive demand for medical appliance technicians. For example, these workers will be needed to produce supportive devices to help reduce pain and improve function for people with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Rising obesity rates in the general population will also translate into a greater need for orthoses. Meanwhile, the growing prevalence of diabetes, which may lead to limb loss, will spur demand for prosthetic care.

Demand for ophthalmic laboratory technicians should increase, because many people need vision correction at some point in their lives. As the population continues to increase, more people will need corrective eyewear, such as glasses and contact lenses, to address nearsightedness, astigmatism, and other eye problems.

For More Information

For information about requirements for certification of dental laboratory technicians, visit

National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology

For information about career opportunities in commercial dental laboratories, visit

National Association of Dental Laboratories

For a list of accredited programs for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, visit

International Council of Accreditation

For a list of accredited programs for medical appliance technicians, visit

American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists

National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education

For information on requirements for certification of medical appliance technicians, visit

American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics

American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners

 

 

FAQ

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The career information above is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. This excellent resource for occupational data is published by the U.S. Department of Labor every two years. Truity periodically updates our site with information from the BLS database.

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