Dental Lab Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Redlands (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a skilled Dental Laboratory Technician to construct fixed and removable prostheses, splints, and obturators. The role requires thorough knowledge of oral anatomy and dentition to ensure esthetics and function of prostheses.

You will fabricate appliances, pour impressions, mount casts, and collaborate with prosthodontists and dentists to meet clinical requirements. Emphasis on precision, quality control, and instruction to staff is essential.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in constructing dental prostheses using various materials.
• Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements or qualify by education.
• Graduate education related to dental laboratory work acceptable for qualification.
• Preferred: ten years' crowns/bridge experience with CAD/CAM and 3D scanning familiarity.
• Proficiency in creating high-precision fixed and removable restorations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and fabricate dental prosthetic appliances with clinicians.
• Pour primary and final impressions and mount casts on articulators.
• Set teeth for trial dentures and partials; polish and finish prostheses.
• Repair broken prostheses and manage implant fabrication processes.
• Provide education and instruction to clinic personnel.
• Collaborate with specialists to design and fabricate complex appliances.

Skills

Dental materials

Dental lab equipment

Precision instruments

CAD/CAM techniques

3D scanning

Prosthetic fabrication

Impression materials

Education

Graduate education related to dental work

Tools

Dental lathes

Furnaces

Casting machines

Hyperdent software

3Shape scanning program

Job description

Summary

The Dental Laboratory Technician constructs porcelain or acrylic fixed or semi-fixed bridge restorations - full or removable partial dentures - orthodontic appliances - dental splints - and obturators when the construction of the appliance is complicated. The duties of this position require application of thorough technical knowledge of both normal and abnormal oral anatomy and dentition as these affect the design - fabrication - function - and esthetics of the dental prosthesis.

Summary

The Dental Laboratory Technician constructs porcelain or acrylic fixed or semi-fixed bridge restorations - full or removable partial dentures - orthodontic appliances - dental splints - and obturators when the construction of the appliance is complicated. The duties of this position require application of thorough technical knowledge of both normal and abnormal oral anatomy and dentition as these affect the design - fabrication - function - and esthetics of the dental prosthesis.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/02/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-8 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7 level) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Use of dental laboratory material such as impression materials - plasters - stones - hydrocolloids - waxes - metals - acrylics - porcelain - and similar materials. Use of laboratory equipment such as hand tools - dental lathes - engines - and hand pieces - furnaces - casting machines - presses - flasks - and related equipment. Use of precision instruments such as articulators - surveyors - and microanalyzers. Construction of dental prosthetic appliances. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed 1 1/2 years of graduate education directly related to the work of the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE INCLUDED IN APPLICATION PACKAGE). ***Dental Service Preferences: A minimum of ten years' experience in crowns and bridge - with five years emphasizing CAD/CAM techniques - with knowledge of the Hyperdent design software preferred. Proficiency required in creating 3D scans - with familiarity with the 3Shape scanning program desirable. Expertise in fabricating precise - high quality - fixed dental restorations by traditional methods essential. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Critical Thinking Medicine and Dentistry Technical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Long periods of standing - sitting and bending are required. It is necessary to climb onto counters in order to replenish plaster bins. The ability to lift plaster boxes weighing 30 pounds from the floor to the counter to the plaster bins is required. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Works with specialists to develop the design of the appliance - personally fabricating - or overseeing the fabrication of the appliance - and resolving problems in its fabrication
• Participates in 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 retention - balance - reducing tension on natural teeth and tissue - and similar problems
• Adapts existing guidelines in order to carry out duties to adapt to a variety of clinical circumstances
• Analyzes the needs and product requirements to create designs meeting established quality standards - clinical parameters and patient expectations/satisfaction
• Pours primary and final impressions
• mounts casts on articulators
• sets teeth for trial dentures/partials
• polishes prosthesis following adjustment
• repairs broken prostheses
• adds teeth to prostheses
• manages implant fabrication process
• Fabricates custom trays - bite rims - fluoride trays - stints - transitional partials - wrought wire clasps
• Performs quality assurance and inspections on prostheses fabricated by outside laboratories - including prescription compliance
• Provides education - training and instruction to other clinic personnel
• Utilizes special techniques such as re-contouring - re-glazing - and positioning teeth in unusual arrangements in order to meet function and esthetic
• Collaborates with a Fellowship Trained Prosthodontist - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and General Dentists to design and fabricate complex dental or intra-oral maxillofacial appliances
• Constructs routine full and partial dentures - dental splints and obturators - model work for fixed prostheses and other laboratory products to support the treatment needs of staff dentists
• Invests - packs - processes and finishes dentures/partials
• Applies knowledge of the alignment of the upper and lower jaw bone - and the relationship of the tongue to the gums and the roof and floor of the mouth - in waxing full and partial dentures
• Performs a variety of specialty laboratory procedures that require consideration of detailed aspects of each patient's dental anatomy
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Telework: This position is not suitable for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Dental Lab Technician/PD10698A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized