Salary?

[karabear]

I’m a crown and bridge CDT. I left dental altogether 7 years ago because of horrible experiences with employers, dentists and even worse labs in my area, but I am considering putting my foot back in the water and have a second interview at an ortho lab. What would be a fair starting salary in the southeast, say a Charlotte market? Any other advice?

Update-saw the LMT poll so I got what I needed.

 

[Toothman19]

Id say look for a fixed dental lab. Huge shortage of quality technicians

 

[karabear]

Id say look for a fixed dental lab. Huge shortage of quality technicians

Id say look for a fixed dental lab. Huge shortage of quality technicians

Absolute is the one big lab in town and they treat people like dogs.-very toxic and abusive. I have too much trauma from the crown and bridge side. I’m used to working in corporate America where there is civility and professionalism.

 

[KingGhidorah]

That’s gonna depend hugely on cost of living area you’re in. Absolute is in Raleigh Durham area I believe? And you mentioned Charlotte too, so if you’re looking to live in a major city I’d probably lean towards the higher end of whatever numbers you saw on the lmt poll. Do your research on the specific area the lab is in, there’s some insanely pricey areas around both those cities, and some labs that are right in the heart of those insanely pricey areas.

Personally I’d take a low cost of living area any day, I’m not a fan of city living, I get stressed every time I have to drive into Charlotte.

 

[Toothman19]

If you have pictures of your work you should post them here. I'm sure someone would reach out.

 

[Doris A]

I’m a crown and bridge CDT. I left dental altogether 7 years ago because of horrible experiences with employers, dentists and even worse labs in my area, but I am considering putting my foot back in the water and have a second interview at an ortho lab. What would be a fair starting salary in the southeast, say a Charlotte market? Any other advice?

Update-saw the LMT poll so I got what I needed.

For most of the reasons you cited, my husband and I opened our own denture lab almost 14 years ago and it’s been my most enjoyable time being a technician. None of the usual backstabbing, gossip, etc that goes on in most labs. Have you considered opening your own?

 

[labdude]

Open your own Ortho lab. Easily acquire clients as PCSO and AAO exhibitor. Meetings to exhibit are expensive.
It's how I started in 1980. I know a long time ago.
Thing is, I started LA. Start in a large city, do pick-up and delivery. Use Fedex as a delivery to out of state. More dependable than UPS.
Clients I picked up during the meetings I worked for 30 plus years. ROI from the meetings was and is awesome.
You perform well, referrals will bring many new clients without exhibiting.
We moved from LA to Vida Oregon in 1992. Could have done the move sooner.
Worked for 2 years with zero Oregon clients. They found us in 1994.
Do your own. Find a used dental supply as close as possible. But new things later.
I found Epax printers excellent for printing work models, and their resin is great as well.
I still use Meshmixer to base, and 3D to label.
OSE has been my supplier for wire etc for years. JBC and Great Lakes for acrylic.
You do it, you won't regret it.

 

[labdude]

Absolute is the one big lab in town and they treat people like dogs.-very toxic and abusive. I have too much trauma from the crown and bridge side. I’m used to working in corporate America where there is civility and professionalism.

Do your own lab. If you are proficient at crown and bridge, start there

 

[grantoz]

if you dont want trauma dont be a techo

 

[RileyS]

You seem to have a lot of skills that could be used in a lot of different fields other than dental tech. You should find a sweet gig with decent pay, benefits, and paid vacation and time off. Sounds dreamy to me.

 

[scotthendricks79]

get CDT and teach

 

[Affinity]

Teach where? Ive thought about it, but who goes to school to learn this anymore? The tech programs are around 5 in the whole country last I heard. Ive seen university programs offer jobs for lab associates in the dental program, it is possible, but with a focus on the dental student or even assistants, this is the new market for teaching dental technology, IMHO. Every Dr is going to think they can do lab work at some point based on what they learned in school.

 

[Affinity]

Kara, there is a sweet position open now from VHF, tech advisor/rep setting up new systems, trade shows, 40% travel I think. I know you have a background in the computer side of things.

 

[scotthendricks79]

Teach where? Ive thought about it, but who goes to school to learn this anymore? The tech programs are around 5 in the whole country last I heard. Ive seen university programs offer jobs for lab associates in the dental program, it is possible, but with a focus on the dental student or even assistants, this is the new market for teaching dental technology, IMHO. Every Dr is going to think they can do lab work at some point based on what they learned in s

Any dental school has 1 or 2 techs working. Tech schools are dead dead dead and they should be. Most U's are state so that means benefits and retirement, plus education for dentists isnt going anywhere its recession proof.

 

[GG - J]

Any dental school has 1 or 2 techs working. Tech schools are dead dead dead and they should be. Most U's are state so that means benefits and retirement, plus education for dentists isnt going anywhere its recession proof.

why should tech schools be dead dead dead

this industry needs to become a recognized profession with a college degree to stand behind
like all other technicians ie XRAY , MRI, PHLEBOTOMY, SURGICAL all require a bachelors degree

yet me make restorations that fit one person and one person only and many techs formative training is go stand over there and watch Jim as he works

​

 

[TheLabGuy]

why should tech schools be dead dead dead

this industry needs to become a recognized profession with a college degree to stand behind
like all other technicians ie XRAY , MRI, PHLEBOTOMY, SURGICAL all require a bachelors degree

yet me make restorations that fit one person and one person only and many techs formative training is go stand over there and watch Jim as he works

​

None of those require a Bachelor degree...not even sure any of them require an associates for that matter. It's just a certificate for all of them...I'm xray certified and phlebotomy. Don't ever use it anymore really, unless you want to say determining a implant via x-ray or giving myself an IV after a long night out qualifies...lol,

 

[GG - J]

im was only relaying what i read and yes typo on my part no bachelors but associates

To become a medical technician, you need to12:

 

[scotthendricks79]

Why , well Cost #1 reason. We don't need schools for an unrecognized labor. If we all had to have licenses etc. costs would go through the roof. Doc would pass it on to Insurance companies etc. now a crown is 6k, but hey we are all certified. School was a complete waste of my time. 10 years from now at this accelerated pace we won't need techs at all except to glue some parts together and load the machines, they will figure out how to automate that then as well. Currently watching Jim is the best option. Our CDT is the fakest bullcrap around, watch a bunch of videos from 1982 and hit submit. Pay the 125 and good to go. Ridiculous, I would never recommend someone to enter this industry.

 

[doug]

Yet here you are, Scott, making a living in an industry you have no respect for. I made a damn good living as a tech, Worked hard with the state and local associations over the years and only retired because I got sick.

 

[Brett Hansen CDT]

Why , well Cost #1 reason. We don't need schools for an unrecognized labor. If we all had to have licenses etc. costs would go through the roof. Doc would pass it on to Insurance companies etc. now a crown is 6k, but hey we are all certified. School was a complete waste of my time. 10 years from now at this accelerated pace we won't need techs at all except to glue some parts together and load the machines, they will figure out how to automate that then as well. Currently watching Jim is the best option. Our CDT is the fakest bullcrap around, watch a bunch of videos from 1982 and hit submit. Pay the 125 and good to go. Ridiculous, I would never recommend someone to enter this industry.

Doctors now can't keep up with the pace of change in materials and best practices for how implant cases are being restored. Ensuring you remain a resource to a client is how you will stay valuable and employed for many years to come. Couldn't disagree more with this post.