It can be difficult to experience the stress of being a dental lab technician while staying productive. The job can be hard if you do not know the right tricks for handling it well.
Below we will give you our top tips and tools for making your life as a dental lab technician much easier.
1. Encourage True Collaboration with Dentists
Dental labs and dentists work together closely, but it is important to aim for a genuine working relationship instead of just keeping to basic communication. When you work with a dentist, you should always be personable and foster collaboration.
Encourage dentists to communicate with you early on about their needs. Plan a schedule and set deadlines together to make sure that both parties know what is going on at all times.
Great collaboration is essential if you want to have the easiest time possible when working in a dental lab.
2. Sharpen Your Organization Skills
Whether you are working on your own, with the dentist or with other lab technicians, it is always important to be as organized as possible in everything you do.
Pay attention to your schedule and make sure you consistently meet your deadlines. Also, create checklists to help you get everything done. It is a great idea to get a CPM/CRM software solution to improve your workflow and task management in the lab. If you do not already have one, consider suggesting it to your boss.
You should also keep your workspace as tidy as possible. When you are working on crowns, bridges, and other types of prosthetics, you need to have a clean area to do it in. One efficient way to do this is to go paperless with the right technician management software. You will be minimizing clutter while at the same time having the ability to manage projects anywhere, anytime.
3. Keep Up with Your Industry
One of the best ways to make your job easier is to always keep up with what is happening in your industry.
You need to stay on top of trends so make use of any trade publications (both print and online) that are available to you as well as attend industry conferences and trade shows. There are many innovations happening regularly in the dental technology field, therefore, it is crucial to stay knowledgeable on the latest news.
The more you know, the easier it will be to make the best choices in the lab. If new problems arise, you will have a better idea of how to handle them and may be able to contribute a solution that your lab has not tried before.
4. Aim for Better Communication with Your Team
In addition to communicating with dentists, you also need to work to strengthen communication with other lab technicians. Although you may often be working independently, you do need to communicate with your coworkers.
Good communication can make or break the success of your lab while poor communication can make it hard to enjoy your work. Everyone should know what is going on in the lab at all times.
Having regular meetings with other lab technicians is a good idea. Open communication will allow you to set goals among your team.
5. Take Advantage of Training Opportunities
The lab can be a stressful place to be, even more so if you are not keeping up with your training and continuous education.
Use your network in the industry and publications to keep up to date on the latest training opportunities. Work with your boss to create a schedule that will allow all your lab technicians to receive regular training throughout the year. Doing so will give you the opportunity to work with others in the industry and learn from them.
Remaining Effective as a Dental Lab Technician
Creating a robust working environment is key to improving productivity and job morale as a dental lab technician. Using the proper management tools can help immensely as will staying current on industry trends.
Are you looking for the best software solutions for the dental lab? Contact us now to learn more about what Magic Touch Software can do for you.
Magic Touch Software's products have emerged as the leading software solutions for dental laboratories worldwide. In many cases, the unique features and powerful designs have set the bar for all dental lab software. The company has experienced continued growth, expanding operations overseas, tripling its employee workforce, and continuing to release new and revolutionary products every year.