Dental Laboratory Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Ann Arbor, MI

18d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is within the Dental Service at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Dental Laboratory Technician performs technical work fabricating and repairing dental prosthetic appliances prescribed by a dentist. The work requires technical knowledge of dental anatomy and skill in using dental laboratory materials and equipment. This is not a virtual position; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location.

The technician collaborates with oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and other dentists to design and fabricate complex dental and intraoral maxillofacial appliances. The role independently performs the steps needed to fabricate dental and other intraoral prosthodontic appliances, monitors cases through laboratory fabrication stages, and may handle shipping and receiving of prostheses. The technician also provides instruction to dental assistants, dental residents, and staff dentists on laboratory procedures, capabilities, and requirements, and conducts research and material testing to assess new equipment and replacement materials.

The position applies knowledge of tooth morphology, normal and abnormal oral anatomy, and occlusion to meet the functional and esthetic requirements of prosthodontic products. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet GS-9 qualification requirements through one of the following: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-8; two full years of directly related graduate education or a directly related master's degree; or an equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education beyond the first year and specialized experience.
• Specialized experience must include use of dental laboratory materials such as impression materials, plasters, stones, hydrocolloids, waxes, metals, acrylics, and porcelain; laboratory equipment such as hand tools, dental lathes, engines, handpieces, furnaces, casting machines, presses, and flasks; precision instruments such as articulators, surveyors, and microanalyzers; and construction of dental prosthetic appliances.
• Qualifying specialized experience at this grade includes constructing complicated porcelain or acrylic fixed or semi-fixed bridge restorations, full or removable partial dentures, orthodontic appliances, dental splints, or obturators, and applying technical knowledge of normal and abnormal oral anatomy and dentition to prosthesis design, fabrication, function, and esthetics.
• Experience must be fully documented on the resume with job title, duties, start and end month and year, and hours worked per week.
• Submit transcripts if education is used to meet any qualification requirement; education credit requires documentation and must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Complete a background/security investigation and the online onboarding process; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• Meet the physical demands of extended sitting, stooping, bending, constant detail vision under bright illumination, regular lifting of heavy supplies, and above-average dexterity and grip strength; short-duration work near high dry heat, hot steam, and/or unpleasant odors is also required.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in removable fabrication, including dentures, partials, and relines.
• Experience with scanning, 3D printing, and CEREC crown fabrication.
• Licensed professional dentists may qualify at any grade level if they have, in aggregate, the required experience in dental laboratory procedures.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and other dentists to develop designs for complex dental and intraoral maxillofacial appliances, fabricate or oversee their fabrication, and resolve fabrication problems.
• Perform laboratory procedures including pouring and trimming impressions; fabricating custom trays, bite rims, night guards, bite splints, provisional prostheses, fluoride trays, stents, and transitional partials; mounting casts on articulators; setting teeth for trial dentures and partials; investing, flasking, blocking out, processing, and finishing dentures and partials.
• Repair broken prostheses and add teeth to existing prostheses.
• Pour, pin, and section dies for crown and bridgework; manage implant fabrication for fixed and removable appliances; fabricate wrought wire clasps and reinforcement wires or bars; and fabricate crown and bridgework.
• Perform waxing, investing, casting, soldering, stacking, porcelain contouring and staining, and finishing and polishing metal, acrylic, and porcelain appliances.
• Track and monitor laboratory cases through fabrication steps, including shipping and receiving fixed or removable prostheses when needed.
• Independently perform all necessary steps to fabricate dental and other intraoral prosthodontic appliances.
• Educate, train, and instruct dental assistants, dental residents, and staff dentists using teaching models and oral presentations about laboratory procedures, capabilities, and requirements.
• Conduct research and material testing to assess the efficiency and usefulness of new equipment and replacement materials.
• Apply knowledge of tooth morphology, normal and abnormal oral anatomy, and occlusion to appliance design and functional and esthetic requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior