Dental Technician

Non-Commissioned Member | Full Time, Part Time

As a member of the military, Dental Technicians assist and support Dental Officers in delivering dental services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and, occasionally, their families and dependants.

This occupation is currently offering a Signing Bonus to applicants joining the Regular Force (Full-Time) who have completed recognized training. Conditions apply.

Accelerated Pay Increment

Upon the enrolment and successful completion of Regular Force Basic Training (Basic Military qualification (BMQ)), you will be eligible for an accelerated pay increment if you enrol in one of the designated occupations.

A Dental Technician has the following primary duties:

• Providing clinical assistance;
• Providing clinical support procedures to include user maintenance and first line repair of dental equipment and disinfection/sterilization procedures;
• Providing laboratory procedures to include fabrication of casts, custom trays, mouthguards and minor repairs to acrylic appliances;
• Providing preventive dentistry measures to include selective rubber cup polishing of coronal tooth surfaces, OHI, and application of anticariogenic and desensitizing agents;
• Making impressions for study models;
• Applying rubber dam;
• Placing cavity liners;
• Placing temporary restorations;
• Temporarily cementing crowns and bridges;
• Applying topical anesthetic;
• Exposing and developing radiographs;
• Responding to patient medical emergencies;
• Applying and removing matrices and wedges;
• Performing pulp vitality testing;
• Applying acid etch and cavity bonding;
• Preparing simple bite registrations;
• Selecting moulds and shades;
• Depending on their location, they may be called upon to maintain the Mobile Dental Clinic and Air Transportable Dental System.

Work environment

Dental Technicians normally work in a military dental clinic. When in the field with an Army unit, they may work in a Mobile Dental Clinic or an Air Transportable Dental System. They may also work onboard a ship. Dental Technicians may be posted to a base within Canada or deployed on operations around the world.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Dental Technicians are highly skilled oral health professionals that assist and support dentists in providing dental care to members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

After completing their occupational training, Dental Technicians are posted to a military dental clinic here in Canada where they will work alongside military dental officers and specialists, as well as civilian dentists and dental assistants. This allows them to continue developing their dental assisting skills while gaining exposure to military exercises and operations. Technicians have regular Monday-to-Friday work hours, with regular on-call duty evenings and weekends to treat dental emergencies.

As their career progresses, Dental Technicians have many opportunities for career advancement. They can become an administrator at a dental detachment. And there is also an option to become a registered dental hygienist with additional training and education.

Training

The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification course, or Basic Training, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades. A goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding.

As they progress in their career, Dental Technicians who demonstrate the required ability and potential will be offered advanced training. Available courses include:

Non-commissioned Member Subsidized Training and Education Plan (NCM STEP)

Because this position requires specialty training, the CAF will pay successful recruits to attend the diploma program at an approved Canadian college. NCM STEP students attend basic training and on-the-job training during the summer months. They receive a full-time salary including medical and dental care, as well as vacation time with full-pay in exchange for working with the CAF for a period of time. If you choose to apply to this program, you must apply both to the CAF and be accepted at the appropriate accredited College.

Part time options

For the most part, Dental Technicians serve in the Regular Force. There are limited opportunities for serving in the Reserve Force as a Dental Technician.

As a Dental Technician in the Reserve Force, you must have a Level II Dental Assisting Diploma from an accredited college and hold a current unrestricted dental assistant license by a Canadian provincial regulatory authority. You must have the ability to maintain clinical currency within your civilian workplace.