Model Designer (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm)

Glidewell Dental; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Glidewell Dental in Irvine is seeking a skilled dental technician to fabricate and repair dentures and other prosthetic devices. You will read prescriptions, follow doctors’ orders, and craft restorations with a variety of materials, including metals, porcelain, and ceramics.

Ideal candidates have basic dental training, strong hand dexterity, and experience with CAD/CAM workflows. This full-time on-site role offers hands-on creation, model building, and close collaboration with clinicians and QA

Qualifications

• Basic dental training is required.
• Prior dental experience is a plus.
• Experience with hand dexterity and precision tasks is preferred.
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Fabricates and repairs dental prostheses according to doctors' orders.
• Reads prescriptions and constructs prostheses.
• Uses a wide range of materials including metals and ceramics.
• Replaces dentures and restores natural teeth.
• Makes models from impressions and builds wax replicas.
• Polishes and finishes appliances for fit.
• Keeps logs and documentation of work.
• Works with quality control to meet standards.
• Operates CAD/CAM equipment and other tools.

Skills

Hand dexterity

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Mechanical aptitude

Education

Basic dental training

Tools

CAD/CAM techniques

Dental hand tools

Lathes and furnaces

Job description

Essential Functions:

• Fabricates and repairs dental prosthesis/dental appliances such as dentures, partials, crown and bridge, inlay/onlay, veneers and implant restorations.
• Reads prescription included with case; constructs prostheses by following doctors’ written orders and instructions.
• Communicates with colleagues and managers in a prompt articulate manner.
• Uses a wide range of materials, such as metal (precious, non-precious, gold) or non-metal materials (porcelain, composite, acrylic, polyurethane, co-polyester, thermo plastic).
• Replaces partial or total loss of natural teeth by constructing partial or full dentures (metal and non-metal).
• Restores natural teeth and corrects dental irregularities by manufacturing fixed or removable appliances.
• Makes models of mouth and teeth from impressions taken by dentist.
• Builds-up wax replicas of part or all of mouth and/or teeth on model.
• Encases wax in mould material and melts away wax; replaces wax with plastic, metal, or ceramic materials to make replacement appliance.
• Builds-up ceramic restoration by continuously applying layers of porcelain.
• Polishes and finishes appliance to ensure smoothness and fit.
• Applies stains and glazes to restorations to create natural look.
• Utilizes and conserves supplies and equipment by completing plaster casting, metal casting, die trimming, metal polishing, wax modeling, wire bending, sandblasting, electroplating, electro-spot welding and CAD/CAM techniques.
• Uses different kinds of hand tools and equipment (electric drills, presses, lathes, high-heat furnaces, sandblasters, paint brushes, carvers, etc).
• Documents actions by completing forms, logs and reports.
• Works closely with quality control specialists and addresses all issues regarding quality standards.
• Follows quality standard protocol.
• Recognizes and reports problem cases or cases that need additional prep work.
• Prepares equipment and materials (fills mixing bins, empties equipment receptacles, etc).
• Relies on technical knowledge to make decisions and accomplish departmental goals.
• Performs other related duties and projects as business needs require at direction of management.

Education and Experience:

• Basic dental training.
• Prior dental experience or background, a plus.
• Previous experience working in positions that require hand and finger dexterity, a plus.

Pay Range: $18.00/hr