Navy NEC · Medical
L37A Dental Laboratory Technician (Advanced)
A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.
Overview
An advanced dental laboratory technician performs and supervises the construction of complex and precision dental prostheses, including fixed partial dentures, porcelain fused to metal systems, ceramic work, and precision attachment prostheses. The technician arranges artificial teeth for aesthetic, phonetic, and functional requirements and coordinates technical and clinical applications and dental technology training.
Minimum clearance: Secret
Core Skills
- fixed partial denture fabrication
- porcelain fused to metal work
- dental ceramic processing
- precision attachment prostheses
- occlusion and tooth arrangement
- dental cad cam workflows
- prosthetic case coordination
- dental technology training
- advanced lab 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
Training & Development
Career Growth
- Certified Dental Technician (CDT)
Also Common
- Certified Dental Technician (CDT), Crown and Bridge
- National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology Ceramics Certification
- National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology Complete Dentures Certification
- Certified Dental Technician (CDT), Partial Dentures Specialty
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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