Dental Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Oral Anatomy and Tooth Morphology

Covers tooth numbering systems, crown and root anatomy, and arch relationships. Provides the anatomical reference framework used throughout all fabrication tasks.

Lesson 2 • Dental Laboratory Safety and Regulations

Addresses hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and infection control protocols. Ensures compliance with occupational health standards before any bench work begins.

Lesson 3 • Laboratory Equipment and Instrumentation

Identifies and demonstrates proper use of hand instruments, rotary tools, and bench equipment. Builds safe operating habits essential for all subsequent fabrication chapters.

Lesson 4 • Professional Communication and Case Documentation

Teaches prescription reading, case record management, and technician-dentist communication. Accurate documentation prevents errors and supports regulatory compliance throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Pouring and Boxing Impressions

Demonstrates vibration pouring, boxing, and beading techniques to produce bubble-free casts. Proper technique ensures complete anatomical reproduction of the impression.

Lesson 2 • Die Preparation and Ditching

Teaches die separation, ditching, and hardener application for individual tooth dies. Precise die preparation is the foundation for accurate wax pattern and restoration fabrication.

Lesson 3 • Impression Materials and Tray Selection

Reviews alginate, polyvinyl siloxane, and polyether impression materials and their clinical properties. Correct tray and material selection directly affects cast accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Model Trimming and Finishing

Covers model trimmer operation, geometric trimming angles, and surface finishing for diagnostic and working casts. Accurate trimming supports correct articulator mounting.

Lesson 1 • Bite Registration and Mandibular Mounting

Covers wax, polyvinyl siloxane, and zinc oxide bite registration materials and mandibular cast mounting. Correct mounting enables accurate occlusal adjustment of all restorations.

Lesson 2 • Face-Bow Transfer and Mounting

Explains face-bow recording, transfer to the articulator, and maxillary cast mounting. Accurate face-bow transfer replicates the patient's hinge axis in the lab.

Lesson 3 • Articulators: Types and Selection

Compares non-adjustable, semi-adjustable, and fully adjustable articulators and their clinical indications. Selecting the correct articulator ensures accurate occlusal reproduction.

Lesson 4 • Occlusal Analysis and Adjustment

Teaches articulating paper marking, shimstock testing, and selective occlusal adjustment on mounted casts. Students identify and correct premature contacts before restoration delivery.

Lesson 1 • Wax Addition and Buildup Techniques

Demonstrates dipping, brushing, and layering methods to build wax patterns on prepared dies. Controlled addition ensures uniform thickness and avoids internal voids.

Lesson 2 • Margin Adaptation and Finishing

Teaches precise wax adaptation to preparation margins and surface smoothing techniques. Accurate margins are critical to restoration fit and long-term clinical success.

Lesson 3 • Spruing and Pattern Assembly

Explains sprue placement, reservoir design, and multi-unit pattern assembly for casting. Correct spruing controls metal flow and minimizes casting defects.

Lesson 4 • Wax Types and Properties

Distinguishes inlay, casting, and baseplate waxes by melting range, flow, and thermal expansion. Correct wax selection prevents distortion during pattern fabrication and investing.

Lesson 1 • Casting Retrieval and Finishing

Teaches devesting, sandblasting, sprue removal, and initial finishing of cast restorations. Systematic finishing prepares castings for fit verification and subsequent surface treatment.

Lesson 2 • Burnout and Mold Preparation

Details wax elimination schedules, furnace temperature ramps, and mold inspection before casting. Complete burnout prevents carbon contamination and casting porosity.

Lesson 3 • Dental Alloy Classification

Compares high-noble, noble, and base metal alloys by composition, melting range, and clinical application. Alloy selection affects biocompatibility, strength, and ceramic bonding.

Lesson 4 • Investing Materials and Procedures

Explains gypsum-bonded and phosphate-bonded investments, mixing ratios, and setting expansion. Proper investing technique controls casting expansion and marginal accuracy.

Lesson 1 • Porcelain Firing and Glazing

Explains furnace calibration, firing cycles, and glaze application for final surface finish. Correct firing parameters prevent under-firing, over-firing, and surface defects.

Lesson 2 • Ceramic Material Science

Explains feldspathic, leucite-reinforced, lithium disilicate, and zirconia ceramics by microstructure and strength. Material knowledge guides selection for anterior esthetics vs. posterior function.

Lesson 3 • Shade Matching and Characterization

Teaches shade guide use, custom shade mapping, and stain application for individualized esthetic results. Accurate shade matching is the primary esthetic quality metric for ceramic restorations.

Lesson 4 • Porcelain Buildup and Contouring

Demonstrates dentin, enamel, and incisal porcelain layering to achieve natural tooth form and translucency. Layering sequence controls final shade depth and optical effects.

Lesson 1 • Acrylic Saddle and Tooth Setup

Demonstrates tooth selection, arrangement, and acrylic processing for RPD saddle areas. Proper tooth setup restores esthetics and occlusal function within the prescribed design.

Lesson 2 • Framework Finishing and Polishing

Teaches sequential finishing, sandblasting, and polishing of cast frameworks to achieve smooth, biocompatible surfaces. Polished connectors reduce plaque accumulation and tissue irritation.

Lesson 3 • Framework Wax Pattern and Casting

Covers preformed wax component placement, connector waxing, and framework casting on the refractory cast. Accurate wax patterns produce frameworks that seat passively on the master cast.

Lesson 4 • RPD Design Principles

Covers surveying, path of insertion, and component selection including rests, clasps, and major connectors. Sound design prevents tissue damage and ensures long-term prosthesis stability.

Lesson 1 • Record Base and Occlusal Rim Fabrication

Covers shellac and light-cured resin record base construction and wax occlusal rim shaping. Accurate record bases transfer jaw relationship records reliably to the articulator.

Lesson 2 • Denture Tooth Selection and Arrangement

Teaches anterior tooth selection by size, shape, and shade, and posterior tooth arrangement for balanced occlusion. Tooth arrangement directly affects esthetics, phonetics, and masticatory efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Jaw Relation Records for Edentulous Patients

Explains vertical dimension of occlusion, centric relation recording, and face-bow transfer for edentulous patients. Correct jaw records are the single most critical factor in denture success.

Lesson 4 • Flasking, Processing, and Finishing

Demonstrates flasking, packing heat-cured acrylic, processing cycles, and deflasking for complete dentures. Controlled processing minimizes dimensional change and ensures accurate fit.