If you have dentures or are thinking about getting some, you will have heard the terms dentist, dental technician, or dental prosthetist, and wondered whether they are different terms for the same profession or completely different job roles.
Although they are all within the Dental Industry, they each hold their own set of skills.
That said they often work closely with each other to ensure that their patients receive the best possible dental care and treatment.
Here at Total Denture Care we are highly experienced and trained in the provision of Dentures and other dental appliances such as Mouthguards. We have a very skilled Dental Prosthetist on our team.
Total Denture Cares Dental Prosthetist, Steven Anthony, started his training as a Dental Technician. Steven has over 34 years combined experience in the dental industry.
Dentists:
Dentists train to enable them to identify and treat a large range of dental problems as well as offering ongoing maintenance of oral hygiene.
To become a dentist, one must typically complete a four-year undergraduate degree in a related field, followed by four years of dental school.
Typical Dentist Duties (include but are not limited to):
- Dental Examinations
- Teeth Cleanings
- Crowns and Bridges
- Extractions
- Fillings
- Root Canals
- Preventative Dental Treatments
Dental Technicians:
Dental technicians are professionals that can create, alter, and repair your dentures. Usually, these modifications and repairs are crafted using impressions or designs that have been provided by dental prosthetists.
The average dental technician will work in a dental lab but they can also work in dental clinics if the clinic has its own on-site lab facility.
All dental technicians are expected to have completed and passed a two-year Diploma of Dental Technology qualification at a minimum. However, they don’t have to be registered with the Dental Board of Australia.
Typical Dental Technician Duties (include but are not limited to):
- Manufacturing Dental Bridges
- Manufacturing Dentures
- Manufacturing Mouthguards
- Manufacturing Braces and Retainers
- Manufacturing Plaster Models of Dentures
- Maintaining Lab Records
- Manufacturing Implant-Retained Overdentures
Dental Prosthetists:
Dental prosthetists begin their career as dental technicians. To achieve the dental prosthetist title they must complete additional training such as an Advanced Diploma or Masters and be registered with the Dental Board of Australia. This registration means they are certified to consult with patients directly or receive referrals from other dentists.
Dental prosthetists are also able to work as freelance contractors, as well as work directly with a dental clinic.
They can complete all of the same duties as a dental technician but they also have extra skills which mean they have duties and abilities that a technician doesn’t.
Typical Dental Prosthetist Duties (include but are not limited to):
- Consultations / Creating Dental Treatment plans
- Designing and Constructing Dental Prostheses
- Taking impressions
- Recording and Adjusting Bite Registration
- Tryin of Teeth and Adjusting Design to suit individual
- Adjusting and Repairing Dentures
- Fitting and Inserting Dentures
- Managing Dental lab and Dental technicians
Dental Prosthetist in Perth
If you are considering Dentures (Full Dentures or Partial Dentures) or need your existing Dentures Repaired, get in contact with our professional dental prosthetist at Total Denture Care.
Feel comfortable and safe knowing you are being looked after as part of the Total Denture Care family.