22 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
View submission: Amazing how it can be life changing
I'm so curious, how did you get into that line of work? (Obvs only if you're comfortable sharing)
Comment by wekkins at 10/03/2025 at 03:50 UTC
52 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Sure! So I'll preface by saying that I was very lucky. I was working a job that I hated (Comcast call center. Barf.) and I was really desperate to get out. I found a listing for the work on Craigslist. I don't have any dental training, but having had a lot of dental work done as a kid, I had a lifelong interest in it. Looking in that sort of section was a longshot, but I thought maybe I'd qualify for an office job or something. But this listing was looking for dental technicians, and said that artsy types were encouraged to apply, since obviously fine motor skills are a huge benefit in that kind of work. I applied, had an interview with a test of my motor skills, had I think two tryouts, where they brought me in, showed me how to do something, and just had me do that skill for half an hour or so to show them how quickly I can learn, and how competently I can pick up on that stuff, and finally, weeks later, I got a call that they had a job for me. I started in removable prep (we had a "removable" half of the lab for dentures, partials, and brux guards and such, as well as a "fixed" side for things like crowns and bridges), and was quickly moved up for the finishing job I had when an opening was available.
What you want to do is look around for "dental technician" jobs. You might luck out and find a place like that, that is interested in a variety of backgrounds, but your area might have labs that require a CDT, or a Certified Dental Technician. If you pursue that route, iirc it's something like a two year program, and you actually learn all of the steps, as well as anatomy and such. I never got around to that, so I can't say for sure, but that's the sort of program you'd want to seek out if needed.