Senior Dental Technician - ProstheticsNHS

Job summary

The Band 6 Senior Dental Technician will primarily work within the Prosthetics Department of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital Production Laboratories, delivering high-quality dental technology services to clinical departments across the hospital. The post holder will work autonomously to design and manufacture complex, custom-made dental appliances in accordance with clinical prescriptions, utilising both conventional and digital workflows.

Key responsibilities include supporting chairside consultations, assisting undergraduate dental students, mentoring junior technicians, and contributing to laboratory quality assurance. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain and develop their professional knowledge and technical skills through continuous professional development, adapting to advances in technology, clinical practice, and service modernisation. The role may also require providing support to other laboratory departments as directed by the line manager.

Main duties of the job

Design and manufacture a range of custom dental appliances to prescribed clinical specifications, including cobalt-chromium frameworks, splints and implant-retained prostheses.

Provide chairside technical support, working closely with clinicians and dental students to assist with treatment planning, shade selection and appliance fitting.

Use digital scanning technologies, CAD/CAM software, 3D printers and milling systems to design and produce high-quality restorations and models.

Manage laboratory workflows using digital laboratory management systems, maintaining accurate records and supporting efficient service delivery.

Support innovation, continuous improvement and the adoption of new technologies within the laboratory.

Mentor and develop junior technicians and contribute to the education and training of undergraduate dental students and trainees.

Participate in quality assurance activities, ensuring compliance with professional standards, Health and Safety requirements, Infection Prevention and Control procedures, and Trust policies.

Organise and prioritise workload effectively to deliver safe, accurate and timely dental technology services.

Provide flexible support across laboratory specialties and undertake additional duties appropriate to the role as delegated by the line manager.

Job description

• Design and fabricate complex, custom-made dental appliances in accordance with clinical prescriptions, including cobalt-chromium frameworks, dynamic splints, and implant-retained prostheses.
• Provide chairside technical support and consultation, working collaboratively with clinicians and undergraduate students to assist with treatment planning, shade matching, and appliance fitting.
• Design digital restorations and working models using advanced digital scanning systems and CAD/CAM software.
• Operate digital manufacturing technologies, including 3D printers and milling machines, to produce accurate dental restorations and models.
• Utilise digital laboratory management software and Trust systems to coordinate case workflows, maintain accurate records, and support service efficiency.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and professional development.
• Mentor and support junior dental technicians, providing training and guidance as agreed with senior staff.
• Support the education and development of undergraduate dental students and trainees within the laboratory environment.
• Contribute to laboratory quality assurance processes, ensuring compliance with professional and organisational standards.
• Manage personal workload effectively to ensure the timely delivery of safe, high-quality dental technology services.
• Maintain full compliance with Health and Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, and Trust policies and procedures.
• Provide support across laboratory departments as required and undertake other reasonable duties delegated by the line manager.

About us

NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) was formed on 1 November 2024, born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our communities.

We are one of the largest employers in region, with over 18,900 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services that extend to more than two million people in the North West.

We operate from five hospital sites:Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside, and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to several elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospitalprovide specialist services incardiothoracic surgery,cardiology and respiratory medicine, both in the hospital and out in the community.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single en-suite bedrooms and mainly focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.