Dental technician
Design and make crowns, bridges, dentures and braces to a dentist's prescription in a dental lab. A registered, precise, hands-on health career.
- Salary£32,000 – £48,000
- Hours39 to 42 hours a week, usually between 8am and 6pm
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible
What the job is like
Dental technicians make the custom devices that help people eat, speak and smile with confidence. Every piece is made for one patient, so the work calls for steady hands, an eye for tiny details and an interest in both materials and digital design.
It is a registered profession: you need to register with the General Dental Council (GDC). Routes include GDC-approved college diplomas, foundation degrees and degrees, and a Level 5 Dental Technician apprenticeship.
What you'll do
- Design and make custom dental devices from a dentist's prescription
- Work with materials such as gold, porcelain and plastic
- Make crowns and bridges that are cemented in place
- Make dentures, and braces and other devices that straighten teeth
- Use precision tools, and computer-aided design and digital printing in modern labs
- Modify and repair existing appliances
- Check each piece carefully for fit and quality
Where you'll work
- Indoors
- Workshop or studio
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a dental technician
Apprenticeship
Dental Technician Level 5 apprenticeship (typically about 36 months), or Clinical Dental Technician Level 5 for experienced technicians
College
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Dental Technology approved by the General Dental Council; usually 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English, maths and science
University
GDC-approved foundation degree or degree in dental technology
Direct application
Start as a trainee dental technician and study part-time; the National Careers Service says this can take up to 5 years depending on the qualification
Qualifications, licences and cards
- Registration with the General Dental Council
Where it can lead
- Clinical dental technician, working directly with patients
- Healthcare scientist through the NHS Scientist Training Programme, specialising in reconstructive science
- Senior or chief dental technician, or your own laboratory
- Quality control, sales, management, teaching or research
Good to know
- You might specialise in dentures, crown and bridge work, or orthodontics
- NHS Health Careers says NHS dental technicians typically start at Agenda for Change band 5
Courses and training
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Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
-
Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Dental technician nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/dental-technician
- Skills England apprenticeship: Dental technician (Level 5) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1432-v2-0
- Skills England apprenticeship: Clinical dental technician (Level 5) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1433-v2-0
- NHS Health Careers: dental technician healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-techniciandental-technologist
- General Dental Council: registration gdc-uk.org/registration