Dental technicians are part of a larger dental team which may include a dentist/ dental specialist, oral surgeon and clinical or dental technician.
They must be registered with the New Zealand Dental Council and hold a current annual practicing certificate and produce many prosthetic appliances, which may include all types of dentures, crowns, bridges, veneers, implant supported crown and bridges and dentures, mouth guards, orthodontic appliances.
These are supplied to your dentist who will provide your clinical treatment.
They produce a range of prosthetics directly to the patient, which may include, full dentures, partial dentures, and implant supported prosthesis, sleep medicine devices and maxillo-facial prostheses.
Patients are able to go directly to the registered clinical dental technician for this treatment. However, they cannot work on patients’ natural teeth.
- They do not do fillings
- They do not do extractions
- They require an Oral Health Certificate from a dentist when making partial dentures. This lets us know their teeth are fit for wearing a partial denture
Clinical dental technicians must be registered with the New Zealand Dental Council and hold a current Practicing Certificate.
What is the difference between a CERAC Crown from a dentist and a crown made by a Dental Technician?
A ‘cerac’ is a one-appointment technique. Using a cad-cam machine, a crown is milled from a block of ceramic and then cemented in the mouth. Generally, this is neither stained nor glazed.
A ‘crown’ is made by a dental technician and requires a two-stage process. An impression is taken by the dentist and sent to the technician. A crown is fabricated on a model, where closer detail to margins and colour are available.
The crown is generally made up of many layers of different colours to replicate a natural tooth. It is then stained and glazed and returned to the dentist for fitting.
Dental technicians pride themselves on the quality of handmade prosthetic appliances made in New Zealand. Be sure to ask your dentist if what goes in your mouth is New Zealand-made.
Dental implants are a means of retaining prosthetic teeth permanently. These can be suitable for patients with some or all teeth missing.
Speak to your clinical dental technician, dental technician or dentist about implants as a treatment option.
Clinical dental technicians are specifically trained in removable prosthetics (dentures), and produce high-quality dentures direct to the public.
You are dealing directly with the person who makes your prosthetics and this makes it easier to convey your requirements.