Probably one of the best kept secrets in the world of employment is that of Dental Technicians. Like many other lines of work, it is a varied, and changing workplace due to technology. Starting out 30 years ago, the use of computers in the lab were only thought of being used for administrative functions like bookkeeping. Today, they are used for precision milling, scanning of models, and designing. The good thing is, you don't have to use any of it; the old fashioned, tried-and-true methods for crown and bridge manufacturing are still needed.

If crown and bridge are not your cup of tea, there is always dentures. Creating build ups in wax and knowing anatomy of the mouth, and how people move their mandibles to chew or even to talk is a science unto itself.

As companies and dentists are beginning to realize that sending work overseas is becoming more of a hassle than what it's worth, the schools here in the States are beginning to see numbers in enrollment increase. As per several articles in the magazine LMT have stated, many current technicians are getting closer to retirement, and are looking for others to pass on their businesses to. While there are larger firms buying up the ones from those retiring, the little guys will always be needed for "personal" cases. Such cases would include the taking of custom shades, special blending of shades (to match adjacent teeth), as well as upscale products. Products that large corporations cannot devote time or resources to. It would not be cost efficient to devote parts of the "crank out numbers machinery" for attention to one particular case.

If you are in the New York area and want some more information, the website to go to is:

http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/academics/deptsites/schoolofprofessionalstudies/degrees/dentalLab.shtml

There are other schools out there, so focus your search engine queries for your region. We hope you consider this field, and look forward to interviewing you in the future!