Dental Technology Understanding the six Dental Technology specialisms

Lockdown is in full swing, people are finding new hobbies, and for those who are starting to build a future, deciding which career to embark upon is the next stage. For those who are interested in the dental sector, researching is essential to understanding what role is right for you, whether this is through readings blogs or attending one of the Open Days at the University of Bolton.

In this blog, you can discover the six specialisms that dental technicians work in so you can gain an insight into what a future career could look like.

Ceramics

This type of specialism deals with using porcelain to fabricate teeth. Not all patients who are recommended dental prosthetics will be advised to have ceramics; however, they are a popular choice for their aesthetic style and durability. They're great for younger patients who are looking for a veneer style tooth and for it to last a long time.

Crowns and bridges

This type of specialism is the most popular for patients and dentists to choose, and all Dental Technology students will be taught in this area. Crowns are essential to help severely decayed teeth and help bind the tooth to prevent more damage from being done. Bridges are similar in terms of their popularity, but help to bridge the gap between adjacent teeth, filling any holes from teeth that are missing.

Complete dentures

There are many reasons that people need dentures, tooth decay, removal and even in cases of extreme injury. Those who choose a career in creating complete dentures need to be able to create more than just one or two types of teeth; they need to master an entire set. Not only does the prosthetic have to look right, it has to fit perfectly and comfortably for the user, and also, be durable for continual usage.

Orthodontics

Those who work in an orthodontic specialism work closely with orthodontists, as opposed to dentists, as most technicians do. Those who work in this specialism help create appliances that help move and align a patient's teeth; this often involves creating braces. Braces can come in multiple forms but are always prescribed by the orthodontist, meaning a dental technicians skill set must be diverse.

Implants

Often, those who specialise in implants also have extensive knowledge of working with crowns and bridges as they also help replace missing or damaged teeth. However, one key difference with implants is that they do not fix onto adjacent or other teeth; they are surgically implanted like an anchor to the jawbone. This means technicians must create a tooth that suits the patient's mouth but also one that fits within the jaw.

Partial dentures

This specialism is similar to complete dentures, except partial dentures are removable as they only replace a few teeth. Due to their temporary status, partial dentures are often used instead of bridges or implants, especially in younger patients whose jaws have not yet fully grown.

Now you know the various specialisms that dental technicians work in, do you think any of these fascinating roles are for you? More importantly, do you feel like you know enough information about the area? Be sure to book onto a Virtual Open Day to ask our lecturers any further questions you may have or leave a comment below.