Dental Technician Practical Examination Criteria

Certified Dental Technicians (CDTs) fabricate dentures, crowns, bridges and prosthetic teeth as prescribed by dentists. They specialize in one of five areas: complete dentures, partial dentures, crowns and bridges, orthodontic appliances, and ceramics (porcelain replication of lost teeth). Practical exam criteria depend on the area of specialization.

Complete Denture Criteria

• Practical exam criteria for the complete denture specialty include the correct anatomical alignment of 28 teeth in a cast and fabrication of a fracture repair, tooth replacement, maxillary tray and wax rim.

Partial Denture Criteria

• Practical exam criteria for the partial denture specialty include fabricating maxillary (upper jaw) and mandibular (lower jaw) framework including welding or soldering of parts, making wax patterns and polishing casts.

Crown & Bridge Criteria

• Practical exam criteria for the crown and bridge specialty include waxing and casting several different types of bridges and performing the required metal work for each.

Ceramics Criteria

• Practical exam criteria for the ceramics specialty include waxing and casting the framework for a bridge, fabricating a porcelain shoulder margin crown and constructing a porcelain-fused-to-metal bridge.

Orthodontic Criteria

• Practical exam criteria for the orthodontics specialty requires the fabrication of three different types of orthodontic appliances specified at the exam site.