Vacancy description:
Dental Laboratory Apprentice – Level 3 Dental Technician
Job Title: Dental Laboratory Apprentice – Level 3 Dental Technician
Department: Dental Laboratory
Reports to: Laboratory Manager / Clinical Dental Technician / Senior Dental Technician
Apprenticeship: Level 3 Dental Technician
Employment Type: Apprenticeship / Full-time
Job Purpose
To undertake structured workplace training and education towards qualification as a Level 3 Dental Technician, developing the knowledge, practical skills and professional behaviours required to work safely and effectively within a dental laboratory.
The Apprentice Dental Technician will learn to receive, assess, design, manufacture, finish, quality-check and dispatch dental appliances and laboratory work under appropriate supervision. The role will provide practical experience across fixed and removable prosthodontics, dental materials, digital dentistry and CAD/CAM, quality assurance, infection prevention and control, health and safety, professional conduct and communication.
The apprentice will work progressively towards the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for GDC registration as a Dental Technician through the approved education and training programme.
Regulatory and Professional Framework
The apprentice will be expected to work in accordance with:
- General Dental Council (GDC) Standards for the Dental Team.
- GDC guidance relating to trainee/student dental technicians.
- GDC requirements for education and training leading to registration.
- The laboratory's policies, procedures and quality management system.
- Relevant legislation relating to health and safety, medical devices, confidentiality, data protection and infection prevention and control.
- The requirements of the approved Level 3 Dental Technology qualification and training provider.
The GDC confirms that trainee dental technicians may be employed while undertaking a recognised programme leading to GDC registration, but they must receive appropriate training and supervision. A named GDC registrant must take responsibility for their supervision until registration is achieved.
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Key Responsibilities
1. Dental Laboratory Practice and Appliance Production
The apprentice will develop competence in the complete laboratory workflow, including:
- Receiving and registering dental laboratory prescriptions and work.
- Checking prescriptions, impressions, models, scans and accompanying information.
- Identifying incomplete, unclear or potentially unsafe prescriptions and escalating concerns appropriately.
- Preparing and organising laboratory work according to the prescription and laboratory workflow.
- Developing practical skills in model and appliance production.
- Assisting with the manufacture, finishing, polishing and preparation of dental appliances.
- Developing appropriate hand skills and laboratory techniques.
- Carrying out work within the limits of competence and level of training.
- Completing laboratory records and maintaining traceability.
- Preparing completed work for quality control and dispatch.
- Learning to manage workflow, priorities and deadlines.
2. Dental Materials Science and Processing
The apprentice will develop knowledge and practical understanding of dental materials, including:
- Gypsum products and model materials.
- Acrylic and polymer-based materials.
- Dental waxes.
- Metals and metal alloys where applicable.
- Ceramics and related materials.
- Impression and duplicating materials.
- CAD/CAM materials.
- Finishing and polishing materials.
- Material handling, storage and processing requirements.
The apprentice will learn to:
- Select materials appropriate to the prescribed appliance and laboratory process.
- Follow manufacturers' instructions.
- Use materials safely and correctly.
- Recognise common processing defects.
- Investigate and report faults.
- Minimise waste and material contamination.
- Maintain appropriate storage and stock-control procedures.
3. Digital Dental Technology and CAD/CAM
The apprentice will develop practical skills in modern digital dental workflows, including:
- Understanding digital prescriptions and laboratory records.
- Receiving and managing intraoral scan data.
- Basic digital model handling.
- Introduction to CAD software.
- Designing dental appliances under supervision.
- Understanding digital occlusion.
- Preparing files for manufacturing.
- Introduction to milling, printing and other digital manufacturing processes.
- Understanding the relationship between digital design and physical manufacture.
- Maintaining digital records and file traceability.
- Following laboratory procedures for data security and confidentiality.
4. Oral Anatomy, Occlusion and Biomechanics
The apprentice will develop knowledge of:
- Basic oral and dental anatomy.
- Tooth morphology.
- Dental terminology.
- Maxillary and mandibular relationships.
- Occlusion and articulation.
- Jaw movements.
- Basic biomechanics.
- The relationship between appliance design and function.
This knowledge will be applied to the design and manufacture of dental appliances under appropriate supervision.
5. Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics
The apprentice will develop foundational practical skills in:
- Study and working models.
- Model preparation.
- Denture-related laboratory procedures.
- Partial and complete removable appliances.
- Occlusal rims and related laboratory stages.
- Acrylic appliance construction.
- Finishing and polishing.
- Basic fixed prosthodontic laboratory procedures.
- Crowns and bridges where included within the learner's programme and scope of training.
- Appliance repair and modification.
- Quality checking completed work.
The apprentice will only undertake procedures for which they have received appropriate training and supervision.
6. Health, Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
The apprentice will:
- Complete the laboratory's formal induction before undertaking laboratory duties.
- Follow all health and safety procedures.
- Follow infection prevention and control procedures.
- Correctly use PPE.
- Handle contaminated laboratory items according to established procedures.
- Maintain clean and safe work areas.
- Use laboratory equipment safely.
- Follow COSHH and chemical safety procedures where applicable.
- Report accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards.
- Understand emergency procedures and evacuation arrangements.
- Participate in relevant emergency preparedness training.
- Follow procedures for the safe disposal of laboratory waste.
The GDC specifically expects induction for trainee dental technicians to cover patient safety and confidentiality, infection control, safeguarding and medical emergencies.
7. Communication and Teamwork
The apprentice will:
- Communicate professionally with dental technicians, dentists, clinical dental technicians and other members of the dental team.
- Follow written and digital laboratory prescriptions.
- Seek clarification where instructions are unclear.
- Report problems promptly.
- Participate effectively in team meetings and laboratory discussions.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality.
- Communicate professionally with colleagues, clinicians and suppliers.
- Maintain accurate laboratory records.
- Develop professional workplace behaviours.
8. Ethics, Law and Professional Practice
The apprentice will develop an understanding of:
- The role and responsibilities of a Dental Technician.
- GDC standards and professional expectations.
- Scope of practice.
- Patient confidentiality.
- Data protection.
- Consent and prescription requirements.
- Professional boundaries.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Safeguarding.
- Duty of candour and professional accountability.
- The importance of working within competence.
- The responsibilities associated with GDC registration.
The apprentice must not undertake work beyond their training, competence or level of supervision.
9. Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
The apprentice will contribute to the laboratory's quality management system by:
- Following documented laboratory procedures.
- Checking work against prescriptions and specifications.
- Carrying out appropriate quality-control checks.
- Recording errors, defects and corrective actions.
- Maintaining traceability of materials and laboratory work.
- Participating in audits where appropriate.
- Supporting continuous improvement.
- Reporting non-conformities.
- Maintaining accurate records.
- Understanding the importance of medical-device and laboratory compliance.
- Ensuring completed work is only released in accordance with laboratory procedures.
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Learning and Development
The apprentice will be supported to achieve the required knowledge, skills and professional behaviours through a combination of:
- Structured workplace training.
- Off-the-job learning.
- Practical laboratory experience.
- College/training-provider education.
- Workplace observations.
- Portfolio/logbook development.
- Practical assessments.
- Knowledge assessments.
- Regular reviews with the training provider and employer.
- Supervised progression through laboratory departments.
The apprentice will maintain an appropriate record/log of training and development, with progress reviewed and signed off by the designated supervisor as required.
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Core Learning Areas
The apprenticeship will cover the following core areas:
1. Dental Laboratory Practice and Appliance Production Workflow
2. Dental Materials Science and Processing Techniques
3. Digital Dental Technology and CAD/CAM Workflows
4. Oral Anatomy, Occlusion and Biomechanics
5. Health, Safety, Infection Control and Emergency Preparedness
6. Communication and Teamwork in Dental Practice
7. Ethics, Law and Professional Practice
8. Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
9. Core Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics
