Navy NEC · Medical
L36A Dental Laboratory Technician (Basic)
A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.
Overview
A basic dental laboratory technician performs basic and intermediate prosthetic laboratory procedures to fabricate and finish complete dentures, removable partial dentures, and other prescribed intraoral appliances. The technician repairs, reconstructs, and relines dental prostheses and conducts routine and prescribed equipment maintenance.
Minimum clearance: Secret
Core Skills
- denture fabrication
- removable partial denture construction
- dental prosthesis repair
- denture relining
- dental model and cast work
- prosthetic materials handling
- dental lab equipment maintenance
- intraoral appliance fabrication
- laboratory quality control
Civilian Software & Tools
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Bookkeeping software
Civilian Career Paths
- Dental
- Clinical Technician
- Surgical Technology
Training & Development
Getting Started
- National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology Complete Dentures Certification
Career Growth
- Certified Dental Technician (CDT)
- Certified Dental Technician - Orthodontics (CDT-O)
Also Common
- Certified Dental Technician (CDT), Partial Dentures Specialty
- National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology Orthodontic Appliances Certification
What the Work Involves
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
Related Occupations
- Medical Appliance Technicians
- Dental Assistants
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Equipment Repairers
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: a high school diploma and some on-the-job training.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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