Anyone work in a dental lab?

[rose786]

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I have a year between now and when I will be starting my post-bac. I'm looking for some kind of job related to dentistry to pass my time.

I was wondering how one goes about getting a job in a dental lab as a technician. I have zero experience in the area, so I'm wondering how I would go about getting hired. Do you just walk in and fill out an application? Do they train you on the job or do you have to take some sort of class? I'm wondering if they'll even want to take the time to train me since I can only work there a year. Should I just not tell them this?

Anyone want to weigh in with their experience?

 

[haemil]

From what I know...

some community colleges do have 2 yr. programs for dental tech. and there's a national board exam thingy for CDT. but education, certificate, or degree are not required to work in a lab, it's really up to the owner. this dental lab that my friend's parents own, they'll hire anyone - high school drop-outs, non-english speakers - and train them. there are simple tasks that can be done without any skills. if you want to do a part that actually helps your resume/application and manual dexterity, you would have to have some experience or education. I would say it'll be better not to tell them you're quitting in a year tho...

 

[SHC1984]

My friend works at a dental lab (model and die dept.) and he got accepted into UNC this year, so I called his workplace and they said I can have his job when he leaves!! 🙂 yeah they will train you. Just ask around and you will be able to find something.

I have a year between now and when I will be starting my post-bac. I'm looking for some kind of job related to dentistry to pass my time.

I was wondering how one goes about getting a job in a dental lab as a technician. I have zero experience in the area, so I'm wondering how I would go about getting hired. Do you just walk in and fill out an application? Do they train you on the job or do you have to take some sort of class? I'm wondering if they'll even want to take the time to train me since I can only work there a year. Should I just not tell them this?

Anyone want to weigh in with their experience?

 

[dddoch]

My friend works at a dental lab (model and die dept.) and he got accepted into UNC this year, so I called his workplace and they said I can have his job when he leaves!! 🙂 yeah they will train you. Just ask around and you will be able to find something.

wow, I can't believe you are back after all that humiliation =)

 

[rose786]

I've contacted a few labs in the area, and they have offered to train me. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether or not to mention that I'll be applying to dental school eventually and my time constraints.

 

[IcemanDDS]

I worked at a dental lab for 6 mos last year. Some labs are big, some are small. I worked at a large one and was easier to just walk in and get a job. They trained me to work in the model department, but with little pay. I wouldnt tell them you only want to work for a year.

 

[littlemissy]

Dental labs are a great place to work for dental experience. I am an executive admin at a dental lab so if any one needs some advice on attaining work or labs i could recommend for employment feel free to pm.

 

[rose786]

Dental labs are a great place to work for dental experience. I am an executive admin at a dental lab so if any one needs some advice on attaining work or labs i could recommend for employment feel free to pm.

Thats cool. Where are you located?

 

[xdianaax]

I would love to work in a dental lab, but in south florida all the ones i have seen want you to already have experience 🙁

 

[littlemissy]

Thats cool. Where are you located?

google oral arts dental labs

 

[rose786]

google oral arts dental labs

Hmm Atlanta. Darn. Oh well, there's plenty of labs here for me to check out.

 

[rimmies]

I work at a dental lab....started yesterday. I'm doing a combo of tech work and sales....I knew the owner, and the job was part of the reason for moving to this area after my first 2 years of school.

 

[rose786]

I work at a dental lab....started yesterday. I'm doing a combo of tech work and sales....I knew the owner, and the job was part of the reason for moving to this area after my first 2 years of school.

If you don't mind my asking, how much was your starting salary? I'm trying to figure out if I'm being fairly compensated.

 

[rimmies]

If you don't mind my asking, how much was your starting salary? I'm trying to figure out if I'm being fairly compensated.

I make a base salary of about 1000 a month for 20 hours a week and then I get a commission on top of that.

 

[littlemissy]

at oral arts in huntsville, al we start people out at 7 an hr and i believe the highest paid tech makes 30 an hr. so any predent that comes in wanting a job usually get 7.

 

[xdianaax]

anyone know of any in Florida?

 

[littlemissy]

i am not sure of many in south florida i know of some dentists that actually send us their cases from down there. Try to talk to some of the local dental labs (use a phonebook) often times they will be willing to help a predent. You may just end up pouring stone or doing a menial task but its better than nothing. Also larger labs like dentsply, oral arts, glidewell, national dentech, etc. all have training programs and will train in house. so it doesn't matter if you have experience. They won't pay you that much but if you are doing it for experience it doesn't matter.