Dental Laboratory Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs•Washington, DC

65d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Dental Clinic at the Washington DC VA Medical Center (DC VAMC). The Dental clinic provides General Dentistry as well as specialty care in Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics and Oral Surgery for eligible outpatient, inpatient, community living center (CLC) and homeless Veterans. Duties include but not limited to: Production 40% Independently accomplish all aspects of fabrication for a wide range of complex dental prostheses supporting dental laboratory operations. For assignments at this level, dental laboratory technicians must have developed and demonstrated a degree of expertness in all aspects of the dental laboratory work and will be relied upon to carry out all aspects of their fabrication independently or with minimum supervision. The technician receives lab cases and prescriptions from dental staff and residents, confers with the treating doctor regarding design and fabrication, labels the cases, and determines the urgency of the work so that cases with the highest urgency are completed first, while creating a work plan to get the remaining cases done in a timely manner. The dental laboratory technician directly collaborates with Restorative Dentists, Prosthodontists, or Oral Surgeons to design and fabricate complex dental or intra-oral maxillofacial appliances. This involves (1) receiving and interpreting dental laboratory prescriptions, (2) working with these specialists in developing the design of the appliance, (3) confers with the treating specialist to determine a work flow that will ensure prioritization of cases with highest urgency, (4) personally fabricating, or overseeing the fabrication of the appliance, and (5) resolving problems in its fabrication. The technician is involved in complex removable and fixed oral-maxillofacial appliance including fixed, semi-fixed, or removable implant cases, partial and complete dentures when the severe nature of the dental abnormalities to be overcome require working to unusually close tolerances, resolving particularly difficult problems of esthetics, retention, balance, reducing tension on natural teeth and tissue, and similar problems. The technician must be skilled in prosthesis design, which may involve novel design elements to accommodate the patient's functional needs and unique anatomy. Functions include pouring primary and final impressions; fabricating custom trays; fabricating bite rims; mounting casts on articulators; setting teeth for trial dentures/partials; investing, packing, processing and finishing dentures/partials; polishing prosthesis following adjustment; fabricating night guards; fabricating provisional prostheses; repairing broken prostheses; adding teeth to prostheses; pouring and pinning final crown and bridge impressions; sectioning dies; fabricating fluoride trays; fabricating stints; fabricating transitional partials, fabricating wrought wire clasps, and fabricating fixed prostheses including metal and ceramic restorations. Fabricates complex crowns and fixed partial dentures, removable partial denture frameworks, acrylic partial and complete dentures. Provide consultation to Oral Surgeons, Prosthodontists, and other dental, and laboratory specialists in the design and fabrication of difficult intraoral maxillofacial appliances and restorations. This involves (1) working with dental specialists in developing the design of the appliance, (2) personally fabricating the appliance, and/or (3) resolving problems in its fabrication. Laboratory Maintenance 30% The technician is responsible for maintaining the laboratory at the main hospital and at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). These duties include, but are not limited to: ordering and maintaining laboratory supplies and equipment, researching new techniques and equipment, inventory and shipment of laboratory cases, act as facilitator between CDL North Texas, VAMC DC and dental community based clinics, maintenance of the infection control protocol within the laboratory, oversight of laboratory cleanliness and orderliness, etc. Teaching/Instruction 20% The Dental Laboratory Technician provides education, training and instruction to other clinic personnel. Responsible for initial and on-going dental laboratory orientation and for year-round one-on-one and group instruction of dental residents. Teaching responsibilities include lab machine safety, equipment maintenance, use of caustic, acidic and flammable chemicals, and laboratory technique. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Responsibilities

Independently accomplish all aspects of fabrication for a wide range of complex dental prostheses supporting dental laboratory operations.
Receive lab cases and prescriptions from dental staff and residents, confers with the treating doctor regarding design and fabrication, labels the cases, and determines the urgency of the work.
Collaborate with Restorative Dentists, Prosthodontists, or Oral Surgeons to design and fabricate complex dental or intra-oral maxillofacial appliances.
Fabricate complex crowns and fixed partial dentures, removable partial denture frameworks, acrylic partial and complete dentures.
Maintain the laboratory at the main hospital and at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
Provide education, training and instruction to other clinic personnel.
Responsible for initial and on-going dental laboratory orientation and for year-round one-on-one and group instruction of dental residents.

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