Chair

Professor Anthony Sena
Academic Building, room A-601
Phone: 718-260-5137

Description

What Do Dental Laboratory Technicians Do?

Dental Laboratory Technology is a unique profession combining

• the arts, such as drawing, sculpting, etc.,

• with science, such as chemistry, biomechanics, metallurgy, computer science, etc.,

• and technology like CAD-CAM (Computer Aided Design–Computer Aided Manufacturing).

In the field of dentistry, the role of the dental laboratory technician is vital in applying the latest advances in dental materials and dental technologies to design and manufacture of dental prostheses. Furthermore, dental laboratory technicians provide dentists with valuable knowledge base related to laboratory procedures and dental materials utilized for fabrication of dental appliances.

Since dental patients’ needs vary greatly, the work of the technician is complex and different in every case. Dental technicians work directly with dentists by following detailed written prescription and patient's records to create:

• Crowns/laminates for the patients who are missing part/parts of the natural tooth/teeth

• Removable partial dentures for the patients who are missing some, but not all their teeth

• Full dentures for the patients who are missing all their teeth

• Implant-supported prostheses for the patients who are missing all or some of their teeth

• Maxillofacial prostheses/appliances for the patients who are missing portions of their face and/or oral cavity

• Orthodontic appliances to help in correcting mal alignments of the teeth

Mission

The Department of Restorative Dentistry is committed to the dental care delivery system and providing students with the necessary learning experience, knowledge, and skills to become ethical and competent dental technicians, who as part of the dental health team apply current scientific knowledge and skills in dental laboratory procedures. It meets the needs of the cities culturally diverse population for technical and career education with curricula that integrates liberal and technical education.

Degree Program

The associate in applied science in program prepares graduates for allied dental careers specialized in fabrication of dental prostheses. Graduates of the program attain knowledge of each of the specialties recognized by the National Board for Certification in Dental Technology: dentures, partial dentures, crown and bridge, ceramics, orthodontics, implants, and digital workflow. During the summer following the first year of the program there is a mandatory externship program which entails 24 hours of clinical experience in a commercial laboratory or dental office.

Accreditation

The Dental Laboratory Technology program at City Tech is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements." The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission's web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda. CODA Complaints Policy is available here: https://coda.ada.org/policies-and-guidelines/file-a-complaint

Advisory Commission