Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech)

Dental technician Andrew Tseng enjoys attention to detail. Picture / Dean Purcell

The course

There are plenty of jokes about false teeth, but little is known about the specialists who create them - dental technicians. False teeth are just one of many devices created and repaired by dental technicians to help with treatment, replacement and protection of damaged, badly positioned or missing teeth.

Dental technicians, following a prescription from a dentist, make a range of appliances that include dentures, crowns and bridges, removable orthodontic appliances such as strings and retainers, and maxillofacial appliances such as artificial eyes, ears and facial prostheses.

The University of Otago offers the only qualification in dental technology in New Zealand. Study includes the design and construction of dentures, removable orthodontic appliances, and crown and bridge restorations.

Students also learn about the physical and biological properties of a wide range of bio-materials used in the construction of dental restorations. Second and third year study includes business management and marketing and professional practice.

The degree takes three years of fulltime or no more than six years part time, and includes a final exam. The first year is approximately 30 per cent practical, increasing to 70 per cent practical during the second and third years.

Students do technical work for dental students who treat patients within the School of Dentistry teaching clinics, so they are working on actual patient cases during their study and communicating regularly with future dentists.

Applicants must have NCEA, UE or the equivalent and are expected to have studied Year 13 (7th form) chemistry, and biology to at least Year 12 (6th form).

Applications close on November 1. Late applications may be considered, depending on space. This year's course fees were $3330.

Graduates with the Bachelor of Dental Technology are automatically entitled to register with the New Zealand Dental Technicians Board.

In New Zealand and Australia, dental technicians are employed by commercial dental laboratories. A significant number of clinical dental technicians become self-employed, specialising within their own laboratories. There is an international shortage of dental technicians.

What graduates think

Andrew Tseng
29 years old
Dental Technician at Oralart Dental Ceramics

I work as a dental technician at Oralart, where our focus is on making ceramic crowns and bridges.

I became interested in dental technology because I liked making models of things and was looking for something that involved people's health.

I really enjoy the challenge of the job and the attention to detail required. I also like how I have to keep on reading, researching and attending seminars to keep up with advances in new technology and new techniques.

The course encouraged us in self-learning. We had to find out information for ourselves and this helps me a lot now.

We did a lot of practical work in the laboratories in our degree. We would spend one or two hours in lectures in the morning then the rest of the day in labs. I think this is where you learn the most because you improve your techniques and speed by doing it.

The subjects I found most useful were ones about materials because I now use those materials every day. I was particularly interested in ceramics, a material I now work with a lot.

What employers think

Oralart Dental Ceramics
David de Wet

This is a very skilled industry and we need highly skilled workers to keep the industry running. We can't just take someone off the street and train them up so we rely heavily on the Otago course to provide trained employees.

It is a creative job which involves very fine work. Crowns have to be crafted so their shape fits well and looks good.

We needed a graduate with the right manual dexterity, good hands and good eyes. They also need to understand the theoretical knowledge so they can apply it to their practice, such as how a restoration will function inside the oral environment without interference.

We knew Andrew's capabilities because he did some work for us in his holidays and we could see from the way he approached his work that he had the ability and understanding.

Qualification

Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech)
University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry
Ph (03) 479 7037, fax 03 479 0673

Newly qualified registered dental technicians earn $25,000 to $30,000, experienced technicians (4 years plus) $45,000 to $55,000 in state/hospital sector and $55,000 to $85,000 in commercial laboratories.