About Dental Laboratories
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What is a dental laboratory?
A dental laboratory is a manufacturing facility for the production of dental restorations on the order of a dentist. Dental laboratories create dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, or other dental restorations such as implant crowns.
A dentist sends a specification (or prescription) of the item to be manufactured, along with an impression (mold) of the patient's mouth or teeth to the dental laboratory to be created by a dental laboratory technician.
- What is a dental technician?
Dental laboratory technicians can specialize in several areas: orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, ceramics, implants or CAD/CAM.
This link will direct you to information about what is required to become a dental laboratory technician, and what they do in their everyday jobs: http://www.nadl.org/dentallabcareer.cfm
- What is a Certified Dental Technician (CDT)?
This link will give you information about what is required to earn the Certified Dental Technician designation, as well as what is required to renew this designation every year. http://www.nbccert.org/CDT.cfm. This is the only voluntary certification program for dental laboratory technicians recognized by the American Dental Association.
You can locate a Certified Dental Technician in your area by searching the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology's (NBC) online Who's Who Directory here. According to most state laws, laboratories can only accept prescriptions from a licensed dentist, but the patient may find a laboratory that employs Certified Dental Technicians in their area, and call to request the contact information for a dentist they work with.
- What is a Certified Dental Laboratory (CDL)?
This link will give you information about the Certified Dental Laboratory program, and its requirements: http://www.nbccert.org/CDL.cfm
You can locate a Certified Dental Laboratory in your area by searching the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology's (NBC) online Who's Who Directory here. According to most state laws, laboratories can only accept prescriptions from a licensed dentist, but the patient may find a Certified Dental Laboratory in their area, and call to request the contact information for a dentist they work with.
- How else can a dental laboratory ensure quality manufacturing processes?
In addition to being a Certified Dental Laboratory, some laboratories are DAMAS certified (Dental Appliance Manufacturers Audit Scheme). To learn more about this program and how it protects patient safety, click here.
You can also locate a DAMAS certified laboratory by clicking on the link here. According to most state laws, laboratories can only accept prescriptions from a licensed dentist, but the patient may find a DAMAS certified laboratory in their area, and call to request the contact information for a dentist they work with.
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