The Malta Dental Technologists Association (MDTA), in collaboration with the European Federation for Dental Lab owners and Dental Technicians (F.E.P.P.D.,), are promoting Dental Technicians Day, today, 5 June.
What is the role of the Dental Technician, or Technologist as is known locally?
The Dental Technologist forms part of the dental team, in the technical role of transforming a prescription issued by a Dental Practitioner and constructing a custom made dental device for the identified dental patient. Alternatively, the technologist also services already in use devices in repair and alteration as required.
A Dental technologist may also manufacture specialised appliances. These devices may vary from Orthodontic braces, fixed or removable meant to align proper tooth positions; to functional appliances constructed to improve occlusion and complicated jaw relationship after surgery; in addition to removable dentures in acrylic or chrome cobalt replacing partially or totally lost teeth in the oral cavity to help the dental patient regain his original mastication and speech phonetics; as well as fixed crown and bridge work, in a wide variety of materials and techniques including implantables.
These devices serve to preserve the oral tissue in the best condition possible.
The dental Technologist also has a role in maxillofacial restoration, in reconstructing faces damaged by disease or through accidents.
Education and status of the profession
The Dental Technology course held at the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the University of Malta, is a 3-year course awarding a B.Sc(Hons) in D.T. Within a scientific background, it takes a high element of manual dexterity and an eye for detail, along with IT knowledge to keep abreast of the modern technological innovations in the profession.
Regulation of the profession
Locally the profession is regulated by Maltese law through the Health Professions Act, as an Allied Health care professional, and any practicing qualified technologist is registered with the Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine (CPCM), subject to a Code of Ethics and a Code of Conduct. As manufacturers of custom made dental devices, Dental Technologists are obliged to conform by the Medical Devices Regulation, presently in transition from the Medical Devices Directive.
Scope of the Dental Technicians Day event
F.E.P.P.D. decided to launch this activity, using it as a means of awareness to expose singularly the profession of the Dental Technician in its proper status, the legal standing and the services they provide in favour of the dental patient. The scope of practice of a Dental Technologist differs from that of a Dentist/Dental Surgeon as they are laboratory based while that of the Dentist is clinically based. A Dental technologist is not a Dentist, however together they strive to produce the best possible solutions for a patient’s aesthetic and functional requirements. Communication between both practitioners is essential to allow the best possible evaluation and information for the end-users’ needs.