But beyond that, the technician's great challenge is to capture and recreate both the perfection and the imperfection of natural teeth. The Necessary Skills Good candidates for careers in dental technology usually possess good eye-hand coordination and color perception, dexterity in using small instruments, the patience to attend to minute detail, and an interest in learning the underlying material sciences. Employment Outlook Because many people are completely unaware of dental technology, this career has not historically attracted large numbers of new entries into the field. But as restorative dentistry becomes more sophisticated, the dental profession is seeking more highly skilled dental technicians to provide the services and products they require to offer optimum treatment to their patients. The military services still train and employ a number of dental technicians, as do government and private hospitals and companies that manufacture dental prosthetic materials.
Schools teaching dental technology offer some teaching positions for experienced technicians.
Dental technology is also an excellent field for persons who dream of owning their own business someday. It is imperative, however, that technicians who wish to become entrepreneurs first educate themselves in sound business practices. Persons hired at the entry level may rapidly progress to being productive employees performing a limited range of laboratory procedures. Another route to a career in dental technology is by completing one of the two-year courses in dental technology offered through accredited dental technology education programs. These courses provide students with broad-based theory and an introduction to laboratory procedures across the various dental technology specialties.