Dental technician
Level 5 · HigherHealth and science 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
Dental technicians design and manufacture custom dental devices - including crowns, bridges, dentures, and orthodontic appliances - to restore or improve patients' teeth. You will work in a dental laboratory, using both traditional craft techniques and digital design software such as CAD/CAM. This is a skilled craft career regulated by the General Dental Council, with progression into senior technician and laboratory management roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Materials science: metals, ceramics, acrylics, and composites used in dentistry
CAD/CAM software and digital workflow for prosthetic design
Fabrication of full and partial dentures to prescription
Crown and bridge construction techniques
Colour matching and aesthetic finishing of dental restorations
Infection control and laboratory health and safety
GDC registration requirements and professional standards
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Cast and trim dental models from impressions sent by practices
Design prosthetic devices using CAD software or hand-crafting techniques
Mill or press ceramic and metal frameworks for crowns and bridges
Apply porcelain layers and shade-match restorations to natural teeth
Construct full or partial dentures on articulator models
Quality-check finished appliances against the dental prescription
Maintain laboratory equipment and record batch materials used
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 5 (Higher) - roughly Foundation-degree level. Usually needs Level 3 (A-levels, a T-Level, or an Advanced apprenticeship) or relevant experience.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 6 (Degree) apprenticeship or a senior role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
No employer videos yet for this apprenticeship. Employers offering it can add one to show young people what the role is really like.