Dentists send to the technicians a specification of the item (that is, crown, bridge, prosthesis, etc) to be made, along with an impression (mould) of the patient's mouth or teeth. Dental technicians then create a model of the patient's mouth by using the denture injection system to pour plaster into the impression and allowing it to set.
The next step is to place the model on an apparatus that mimics the bite and movement of the patient's jaw. The model serves as the basis of the prosthetic device. Technicians examine the model, and on these observations and the dentist's specifications, build and shape a wax model, using small hand instruments called wax carvers. They use this wax model to cast the metal framework for the missing tooth or teeth.
Dental technicians then prepare the metal surface to allow the alloy and porcelain to bond, by using small hand‐held tools and dental lab sandblaster. They then apply porcelain in layers, to achieve the desired shape and colour of a tooth.
Technicians place the tooth in a porcelain furnace to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework, and then adjust the shape and colour, with subsequent grinding and addition of porcelain to achieve a sealed finish. The final product is a nearly exact replica of the lost tooth or teeth.
Orthodontic appliances are made of methacrylate polymer and steel wire. Removable dentures, such as partial and complete dentures, are made of methacrylate and pre‐manufactured, fabric teeth.
In some laboratories, technicians perform all stages of the work, whereas in others each technician does only a few. Dental technicians may be specialised in one of five areas: orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, or ceramics.
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