Introduction

The dental technologist or well known as dental technician is a craftsperson who is an essential
member of the dental health-care team. The technologist, working to the prescription of a
qualified practitioner, is responsible for the construction of dental appliances and devices used
to improve the well-being of the patient. These applications and devices include crowns,
bridges, dentures (false teeth) and orthodontic appliances used to correct damaged, lost or
irregular teeth. The person that I have interviewed is Mr. Uqbah Bin Ramlee. He is 26 years old.
Mr. Uqbah is a dental technologist in University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Entry qualification

Mr. Uqbah has enrolled Diploma in Dental Technology for 3 years whereby he was sponsored
by the University of Malaya. He was appointed as a dental technologist after 9 months of
professional training. He went through number of courses and workshops conducted by the
University of Malaya before attaining the post of a dental technologist.

Daily routine

The routine task of Mr. Uqbah starts at 8am every morning and ends at 5pm. During Saturdays
he will be going to work to finish his pending tasks. His routine starts by collecting the dentist’s
detailed written directions and molds of a patient's teeth or oral soft tissues where they have to
make full dentures, removable partial dentures, crowns, Veneer, Orthodontic appliances
according to the mold given. At first Mr. Uqbah will create a model of the patient's mouth by
pouring plaster into the impression and allowing it to set. Then, he has to examine the model
followed by build and shape a wax model. At last, prepares the metal surface to allow the alloy
and porcelain to bond, by using small hand‐held tools and sandblasting.
Salary Range

The salary ranges for a dental technologist who has enrolled diploma like Mr. Uqbah is
RM2250. While those who have enrolled degree will be earn RM2500- RM3000 a month.

Working Environment

The person like Mr.Uqbah will be working in a laboratory of hospitals. He added that dental
technologist can also be found in dental clinics and private hospitals.

Job risk

The risk of the job that being faced by Mr. Uqbah is he has to work in the place full with
chemical substances. For example exposure to dust with high silica concentrations and cobalt,
chromium, molybdenum alloys which will cause respiratory problems. Mr. Uqbah is also
exposed to heat (infrared) radiation might cause skin cancer o skin irritant. The minor risk is the
injury on the fingers and arms while working under machines

Benefits

The benefits that Mr. Uqbah will be getting as a dental technologist are medical benefits
whereby he can go for free medical checks up, KWSP and SOCSO. Moreover he has become a
member of the University of Malaya General Staff Union (KKAUM) which is the association
established for both University Malaya staffs and University Hospital staffs.

Things that he like and dislike

Things that Mr. Uqbah likes about his job are he enjoys meeting new people and the working
environment that being filled with cheerful colleague.

Things that he dislike about the job are the salary which does not satisfying him and he has
been doing the same task for past 3 years.
Conclusion

Mr. Uqbah stated his advice for those who are interested to be a dental technologist they must
be readily prepared to perform most of their work with small hand tools. To do this type of work
all day, they must be extremely detail-oriented and patient. Accuracy is a key component of the
job.