Dental Lab Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Laboratory Safety and Infection Control

Addresses hazard identification, personal protective equipment, and decontamination protocols. Ensures compliance with occupational health and infection control standards.

Lesson 2 • Dental Terminology and Communication

Introduces standardized clinical and laboratory vocabulary. Enables accurate interpretation of prescriptions and effective communication with dentists.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to Dental Materials

Surveys material categories used in prosthetics, including metals, ceramics, and polymers. Builds material literacy needed for informed selection throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Lab Equipment and Instrumentation

Introduces core bench tools, rotary instruments, and finishing equipment. Students gain confidence operating and maintaining essential lab machinery safely.

Lesson 1 • Types of Impression Materials

Compares alginate, polyvinyl siloxane, polyether, and zinc oxide eugenol materials. Students select appropriate materials based on accuracy and working-time requirements.

Lesson 2 • Digital Impressions and Scan Data

Introduces intraoral scan files and digital model workflows as alternatives to physical impressions. Students understand file formats and quality checks for digital models.

Lesson 3 • Die Systems and Preparation

Introduces dowel-pin and sectional die systems for removable working dies. Students learn die trimming, hardening, and spacer application for accurate restorations.

Lesson 4 • Gypsum Products and Model Pouring

Covers plaster, stone, and die stone properties along with mixing and vibration techniques. Accurate water-to-powder ratios are practiced to achieve optimal model strength.

Lesson 1 • Occlusal Records and Verification

Teaches use of bite registration materials and verification of mounted cast accuracy. Students identify and correct mounting errors before fabrication begins.

Lesson 2 • Face-Bow Transfer and Cast Mounting

Covers face-bow recording, transfer to articulator, and maxillary cast mounting. Accurate spatial orientation of casts is essential for functional restoration design.

Lesson 3 • Fundamentals of Occlusion

Explains centric relation, centric occlusion, and excursive movements. Provides the biomechanical basis for designing restorations that function harmoniously.

Lesson 4 • Articulator Types and Selection

Compares simple hinge, semi-adjustable, and fully adjustable articulators. Students select appropriate instruments based on case complexity and clinical records.

Lesson 1 • Acrylic Saddle and Tooth Setup

Covers denture tooth selection, arrangement, and acrylic saddle processing on the framework. Students complete the RPD to functional and aesthetic specifications.

Lesson 2 • Casting and Metal Finishing

Teaches burnout, casting, and divesting procedures for cobalt-chromium alloys. Students finish and polish frameworks to prescribed fit and surface quality standards.

Lesson 3 • RPD Design Principles

Covers Kennedy classification, support, retention, and stability concepts. Design decisions are linked directly to patient anatomy and clinical prescription requirements.

Lesson 4 • Surveying and Blockout Procedures

Introduces the dental surveyor for analyzing undercuts and determining path of insertion. Blockout and relief procedures protect soft tissue and ensure passive seating.

Lesson 1 • Denture Tooth Selection and Arrangement

Covers mold, shade, and material selection followed by anterior and posterior tooth setup. Aesthetic and phonetic principles guide arrangement for natural appearance.

Lesson 2 • Record Bases and Occlusal Rims

Covers fabrication of stable record bases and wax occlusal rims for jaw relation records. Accurate rims are critical for correct vertical dimension and tooth arrangement.

Lesson 3 • Wax Try-In Evaluation

Prepares the wax denture for clinical try-in assessment of fit, occlusion, and aesthetics. Students identify and correct errors before irreversible processing.

Lesson 4 • Jaw Relation Records for Edentulous Patients

Teaches recording centric relation and vertical dimension of occlusion for edentulous arches. Precise records ensure correct mounting and functional denture occlusion.

Lesson 1 • Investing, Casting, and Metal Finishing

Covers phosphate-bonded investment, burnout, and casting of precious and base metal alloys. Students finish metal frameworks to prescribed surface quality for ceramic bonding.

Lesson 2 • Bridge Pontic and Connector Design

Introduces pontic forms, connector dimensions, and soldering versus one-piece casting. Students design bridges that balance hygiene access with structural strength.

Lesson 3 • Wax Pattern Fabrication for Crowns

Covers dipping, carving, and contouring full-contour and coping wax patterns. Proper axial contour and occlusal anatomy are developed to meet functional requirements.

Lesson 4 • Die Preparation and Margin Identification

Teaches die trimming, margin marking, and die spacer application for fixed restorations. Accurate margin identification is the foundation of well-fitting crowns and bridges.

Lesson 1 • Quality Control for Digital Restorations

Introduces fit testing, marginal gap measurement, and occlusal verification for milled restorations. Students apply systematic checks before delivery to the clinical team.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to CAD/CAM Workflow

Explains the scan-design-mill-finish digital chain and its advantages over analog methods. Students understand where each step fits within the overall lab production process.

Lesson 3 • Milling and Post-Processing

Covers material block selection, milling parameter setup, and post-milling finishing steps. Students produce milled restorations in zirconia, PMMA, and composite blocks.

Lesson 4 • CAD Software Design Principles

Teaches margin marking, restoration design tools, and occlusal adjustment within CAD software. Students design single-unit and multi-unit restorations meeting clinical parameters.

Lesson 1 • Implant-Supported Overdentures

Introduces bar and locator attachment systems for implant-retained overdentures. Students fabricate housings and process attachments into acrylic denture bases.

Lesson 2 • Custom Abutment Fabrication

Teaches wax-up and CAD/CAM design of custom abutments for optimal emergence profile. Proper abutment contour supports peri-implant tissue health and restoration aesthetics.

Lesson 3 • Implant Model and Analog Procedures

Covers placement of implant analogs in stone models and verification of analog position accuracy. Correct analog placement is essential for passive-fitting implant restorations.

Lesson 4 • Implant Crown and Bridge Fabrication

Covers screw-retained and cement-retained crown and bridge design on implant abutments. Students apply porcelain and zirconia techniques to implant-supported restorations.