Also called: Dental Ceramist, Dental Tech
Crafts crowns, bridges, dentures, and retainers from a dentist's impressions and scans.
Works in a lab designing crowns on CAD software, milling them from ceramic, and hand-layering porcelain to match a patient's tooth shade. Master ceramists are true artists and can earn much more.
BLS May 2024.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. On-the-job training or a 2-year dental technology program; CDT certification optional.
Ways in: On-the-job training, 2-year college, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Dental Laboratory Technology.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. In-office scanners, CAD/CAM milling and 3D printers make routine crowns automatically; master ceramists doing custom aesthetic work remain.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at dental labs (ask for a model room trainee job) or through a staffing agency; new hires are trained on the job
Classes: Art or ceramics, CAD or engineering design, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-9081.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.