Porcelain Technician (Glazer)

Expertec Dental Laboratory; Westland (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid time off

Continuing education

Job summary

Expertec Dental Laboratory in southeast Michigan is seeking a Porcelain Technician to fabricate ceramic restorations in the Porcelain department. You will stain, glaze, and finish PFM and all-ceramic restorations, ensuring top esthetic quality, shade accuracy, and structural integrity before delivery to dental clients.

The role requires 2–3 years of hands-on experience with PFM and all-ceramic restorations; CDT with ceramics preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; completion of a dental technology program or formal training in dental ceramics preferred.
• Minimum 2–3 years hands-on experience fabricating PFM and all-ceramic restorations; CDT with ceramics specialty preferred.
• Proficiency in dental ceramic fabrication, including PFM layering, all-ceramic buildup, shade matching, characterization, and glaze finishing.

Responsibilities

• Performs the layering, staining, glazing, and finishing of ceramic and PFM restorations on assigned cases.
• Ensures assigned porcelain restorations meet prescribed shade, contour, surface texture, and occlusal specifications prior to delivery.
• Follows established protocols for ceramic layering, shade matching, characterization, and glazing, and participates in ongoing technical training.
• Meets individual productivity and turnaround expectations, working carefully to minimize remakes and maintain esthetic quality.
• Maintains a clean, organized workstation and firing equipment, and notifies the supervisor when ceramic powders, stains, glazes, and related consumables need replenishing.
• Inspects completed restorations for shade accuracy, anatomy, surface finish, and overall esthetics, making corrections before submitting cases for final review.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Dental ceramic fabrication

PFM layering

All-ceramic buildup

Shade matching

Characterization

Glaze finishing

Firing protocols

Esthetic craftsmanship

Independent work

Cross-department collaboration

Troubleshooting firing defects

Staying current with esthetics

Dependability

Ethics

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Dental technology program preferred

Certified Dental Technician (CDT) with ceramics preferred

Job description

Welcome to Expertec — we're truly glad you're here.

We are a family owned and operated business in southeast Michigan, and we've built this lab the same way since we opened our doors in 2000: one case at a time, with real care behind every piece that leaves our benches. When you join Expertec, you join that family.

The work we do here is craftsmanship. Every crown, denture, implant restoration, and appliance we make is handmade for one specific patient — our team brings together more than 300 years of combined dental laboratory experience. We are known for anterior esthetics, implants, and complex cases, but it is our people who make the difference.

To those of you who have been with us for years: thank you. Your steady hands and your pride in your work are the reason dentists trust us with their most difficult cases, and the reason many of our clients have been with us since the very beginning.

Our hope is that you find genuine satisfaction in what you build here, and that you feel at home while you do it.

Part time or Full-Time Position

Summary:

This position is responsible for fabricating ceramic restorations within the Porcelain department at Expertec Dental Laboratory. The Porcelain Technician stains, glazes, and finishes porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), all-ceramic, and other esthetic ceramic restorations on assigned cases. This role ensures all ceramic work produced meets the highest standards of esthetics, shade accuracy, and structural integrity before delivery to dental clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performs the layering, staining, glazing, and finishing of ceramic and PFM restorations on assigned cases.
• Ensures assigned porcelain restorations meet prescribed shade, contour, surface texture, and occlusal specifications prior to delivery.
• Follows established protocols for ceramic layering, shade matching, characterization, and glazing, and participates in ongoing technical training.
• Meets individual productivity and turnaround expectations, working carefully to minimize remakes and maintain esthetic quality.
• Maintains a clean, organized workstation and firing equipment, and notifies the supervisor when ceramic powders, stains, glazes, and related consumables need replenishing.
• Inspects completed restorations for shade accuracy, anatomy, surface finish, and overall esthetics, making corrections before submitting cases for final review.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities. The Porcelain Technician reports to the Porcelain Department Manager.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; completion of a dental technology program or formal training in dental ceramics preferred.
• Minimum 2–3 years of hands‑on experience fabricating PFM and all-ceramic restorations in a dental laboratory. Certified Dental Technician (CDT) with a ceramics specialty preferred.
• Other skills required:
  • oProficiency in dental ceramic fabrication, including PFM layering, all-ceramic buildup, shade matching, characterization, and glaze finishing.
  • oDeep understanding of ceramic materials science, firing protocols, and the esthetic properties of different porcelain systems.
  • oAbility to work independently on assigned cases while accepting direction and constructive feedback from the department manager.
  • oExceptional eye for esthetics, shade, and surface texture with a strong commitment to delivering lifelike, natural‑looking restorations.
  • oEffective communicator with the ability to collaborate cross‑departmentally and relay technical and esthetic requirements clearly.
  • oAbility to troubleshoot firing defects, shade discrepancies, and surface issues quickly to minimize remakes and delays.
  • oPassion for dental ceramics and a commitment to staying current with evolving materials, techniques, and esthetic standards.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision‑making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Competitive salary (based on experience)
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunities for continuing education and professional development

Join Our Team:

We are always looking to connect with qualified, career‑minded dental technicians. If you take pride in your craftsmanship and want to build a future with a family owned lab that values its people, we would like to hear from you.