Denturists must be creative and artistic as well as detail-oriented.
Denturists are licensed professionals who create, fit and repair complete and partial dentures. They do this using gypsum, porcelains, waxes, chemical solutions and other materials. These professionals can work for employers or operate their own denture clinics. An average denturist salary in the United States as of 2011 is $57,000. Denturist schools prepare students to enter this promising field through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training.
Degrees and Certificates
Individuals who are interested in becoming denturists can complete certificate or associate's degree programs in this field. Certificate programs last less than one year, while associate's degree programs typically last two years. Denture laboratory technology programs that prepare students to become denturists are available at community colleges and technical schools. Denturist schools are available in Canada and in some parts of the United States, including Washington, Maine, Montana and Oregon.
Admission
To get into a denturist school, students must have a high school diploma or GED. In addition, they generally must submit transcripts and complete a college placement test that indicates their readiness to begin general education courses. Students at schools such as Bates Technical College in Washington also have to complete aptitude tests that measure their dexterity and ability to picture three-dimensional forms. They additionally have to complete admissions interviews. Schools such as George Brown College in Canada, which actually features a three-year denturist program, require students to submit proof of immunity to diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B and tetanus as well.
Classes
Courses at a denturist school cover topics such as ethics, microbiology, head anatomy/physiology and dental office management. Students also learn about clinical/lab techniques and medical emergencies. In addition, they study infection control, periodontology, tooth selection, dental materials and baseplates/occlusion rims. Complete denture fabrication, partial dental casts, dental impressions procedures, polish methods and oral pathology also are covered in denturist school classes.
Accreditation/Licensure
Colleges in the United States that prepare students to become denturists, such as Portland Community College in Oregon, are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Meanwhile, denturist schools in Canada are accredited by the Curriculum Advisory Committee of the Denturist Association of Canada. Accreditation proves that a particular school meets an established standard of education. Denturists also typically must be licensed, which involves completing a two- to three-year training program, passing a written and practical examination and possibly completing field experience.
Related posts
Denturists work with partial and complete dentures.Denturists are those that work with jaw impressions, dentures and aligning the teeth. Denturists typically work in Canada and some parts of the U...
Dentures soaking in a glassDenturists, also known as clinical dental technicians, create oral prosthesis, including dentures and partial dentures. In addition, they can provide dental examinations...
Educational and training opportunities in dental laboratory technology.Dental laboratory technicians are responsible for creating dental prosthetics from an impression of a patient's mouth and tee...
The United States Gypsum Co. developed the product we now call drywall in 1916, as a cheap alternative to plaster walls. It was gypsum plaster compressed between two sheets of heavy paper. It beca...
Melamine dishesMelamine, a nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen compound, was invented by a German scientist in the 1830s. When combined with formaldehyde and heated to a high temperature, a material for...
