A perfectly fitting, and aesthetically natural looking tooth replacement means that the dental technicians did an outstanding job. They are usually the unsung heroes of every dental treatment, that’s why we decided to put them under the spotlight.
It is a common misconception that dentists and dental technicians are the same. While they depend on each other, they do completely different lines of work. As a patient, one might think its the dentist who’s responsible for dealing with every tooth related issue. However, replacing a missing tooth or crown, creating a denture, and many other things are done by the dental technicians.
From planning to manufacturing
Another misconception about dental technicians is that they are only involved in creating tooth restorations. Sure, this is what they do most of the times, but they are also responsible for various other treatment steps. They make drilling templates for guided implantations, whitening trays, and nightguards that reduces snoring. Most of the times their work starts at the planning phase.
„No matter what kind of tooth restoration we’re talking about. It is our job to meet the expectations of both the patient and the dentist. The idea is to make both parties happy with the results. The dentists involve us in the planning phase, as we see every case from a different aspect.” says István Francsovics, head of the dental laboratory at VitalEurope. The dentist takes an analog or digital impression of the teeth, and discusses the possible treatments and materials with the technician. The patient is involved in the final decision making, to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the results.
50 shades of white
A lot has changed in dentistry in the last 2-3 decades. Mainly because of the technological advancements and the appearance of digitalization. Dental laboratories can now work faster, manufacturing more precise replacements. Another important factor is the aesthetic of the work, which became more and more important in the last few years. Previously, the sole purpose of dental restorations was functionality. Restoring biting and chewing functions, as well as speech. For example, crowns made out of zirconium-dioxide grant a more natural and aesthetic look compared to their porcelain fused to metal counterparts. The latest technologies include the use of specialized 3D-printers. These can recreate the exact color of existing teeth, meaning the replacement will be unnoticeable. „You did a good restorations, if other technicians cannot tell your work from the original teeth at a glance.” says the -expert.
You never do the same job twice
Keeping up with all the changing requirements, technological advancements, and patient requests is no easy job. And by all means, it is not boring. There is no such thing as everyday routine, because there are no two identical cases. Every single restoration is a unique, one time creation. This is the main motivation for many technicians, and this is why Istvan Francsovics decided to became a dental technician. „I’ve tried myself in several roles, but nothing gave me such a freedom of creativity as this. Creating something new as a dental technician is what defines accomplishment for me. Helping people in the process, and making their lives better is also a welcome bonus that comes with the job.”
