Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Dental Lab Technician
What dental lab technicians actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a dental lab technician?
Review new cases. From there, the day usually includes read prescriptions from dentists, pour and trim models, and design restorations with CAD software. Most work full-time weekday hours, sometimes with deadline overtime.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a dental lab technician working full time.
- Review new cases.
- Design crowns in CAD software.
- Load the milling machine.
- Stain and glaze zirconia crowns.
- Set denture teeth in wax.
- Process dentures.
- Quality-check and ship cases.
Where dental lab technicians work
Technicians work in dental labs, dental offices and some manufacturing facilities.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time weekday hours, sometimes with deadline overtime.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Read prescriptions from dentists
- Pour and trim models
- Design restorations with CAD software
- Mill or 3D print crowns
- Layer and stain porcelain
- Set and finish dentures
- Check fit and quality
Tools you’ll use every day
- CAD/CAM software
- Milling machines
- 3D printers
- Porcelain furnaces
- Articulators
- Dental instruments
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Artistic, technical work
- Regular hours
- Digital technology
- Little patient contact
What’s hard
- Employment projected to decline
- Deadline pressure
- Repetitive fine work
- Dust and chemicals
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like precise hand work
- I enjoy art and technology
- I prefer little patient contact
- I’m patient
- I like digital design
- I want regular hours
Not sure? Take the free Dental Lab Technician fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use dust extraction and masks
- Handle chemicals safely
- Use eye protection
- Follow infection control on incoming cases