Clinical dental technician
Clinical Dental Technicians (CDT) are dental professionals who provide complete dentures direct to patients and other dental devices such as partial dentures to the prescription of a dentist.
The CDT role fits between that of a dental technician and a dentist. Like a dental technician, they are able to make dentures in a laboratory but, unlike a dental technician, they have direct contact with patients. However, they are not able to prescribe to patients who have teeth and therefore work to prescriptions from the dentist as required. The CDT examines, assesses, provides treatment, gives advice and designs, manufactures, modifies and repairs custom-made dental appliances. Working as part of the dental team, they can refer patients to a dentist if they need a treatment plan or if there are oral health concerns. Patients with natural teeth or implants must see a dentist before the CDT begins treatment. CDTs are qualified dental technician’s before they undertake this specific training.