Dental Lab Support Specialist Technician

Dental Laboratory Support Specialist

Job Purpose

The Dental Laboratory Training & Operations Specialist provides hands-on technical training, coaching, and operational support to dental laboratory technicians across multiple locations. This role serves as a subject matter expert in dental laboratory processes, procedures, production standards, and technician development.

The position is responsible for delivering practical training to new and existing dental laboratory employees, supporting employee development initiatives, assisting with laboratory production, and providing technical expertise to established and newly opening dental laboratory centers.

This role partners closely with Regional Managers, Lead Lab Technicians, Senior Lead Lab Technicians, Practice Owners, dentists, and laboratory leadership to ensure technicians meet quality, productivity, proficiency, and performance standards.

Travel: Up to 70%

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical training and practical education to dental laboratory technicians to support quality standards, production efficiency, technical proficiency, and professional development.

• Train new hires and existing dental laboratory employees on laboratory processes, procedures, equipment, techniques, and production standards.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and consultant on dental laboratory operations, processes, procedures, and technical best practices.

• Conduct technical and non-technical assessments of current and prospective employees to identify training, development, and skill-building needs.

• Provide technical training, troubleshooting, and operational support to established dental laboratories as needed.

• Support technical training and operational readiness for new dental laboratory center openings.

• Partner with Regional Managers and Lead or Senior Lead Lab Technicians to evaluate trainee progress and determine readiness for advancement to the next level.

• Provide temporary, fill-in, and new-center-opening coverage to dental laboratories as needed to establish and maintain quality and performance standards.

• Deliver timely, accurate, and constructive feedback to trainees, employees, Lead Lab Technicians, Practice Owners, and management regarding training progress, course completion, testing, knowledge transfer, technical skills, behavior, motivation, and attendance.

• Provide verbal reports to the General Manager and, when appropriate, the Vice President of Laboratory Operations regarding laboratory concerns, issues, accomplishments, and opportunities for improvement.

• Provide technical assistance, troubleshooting, and support to affiliated dentists, operations consultants, management, and dental laboratory staff.

• Partner with Regional Managers and Lead Lab Technicians to identify special technical skills and training needs required by individual practices and Practice Owners.

• Perform dental laboratory duties and production responsibilities as assigned.

• While onsite, support client dentist satisfaction by maintaining high standards for laboratory quality, service times, personnel performance, communication, and supplies.

• Demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism when working with dental laboratory teams, dentists, practice staff, and internal leadership.

• Travel extensively, up to 70%, to support dental laboratories, training programs, and new center openings.

Education and Certification Requirements

• Certified Dental Technician (CDT) certification required.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in a dental laboratory , with progressively increasing responsibilities.

• Demonstrated experience providing technical training, coaching, mentoring, or professional development to dental laboratory technicians.

• Extensive experience in dental laboratory operations, production, quality standards, and service delivery.

• Experience supporting multiple locations, multi-site operations, hospitals, health systems, payers, healthcare organizations, or other complex customer-facing environments preferred.

• Experience managing or supporting large networks of customer-facing operations preferred.

• Healthcare experience preferred.

• Experience with Lean or Six Sigma methodologies preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Dental Laboratory Technical Expertise

• Advanced knowledge of dental laboratory processes, procedures, production workflows, and quality standards.

• Ability to provide hands-on technical instruction, troubleshooting, and coaching.

• Ability to teach and deliver both standardized and customized training curricula.

• Strong understanding of employee skill development, competency assessment, and knowledge transfer.

Training and Development

• Strong ability to train, coach, mentor, and develop dental laboratory employees.

• Experience identifying skill gaps and creating effective development plans.

• Ability to evaluate trainee performance and determine readiness for advancement.

• Knowledge of instructional systems design and adult learning principles preferred.

• Ability to provide clear, timely, accurate, and constructive feedback.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in individual and group settings.

• Strong customer-service orientation with the ability to understand and respond to the needs of internal and external customers.

• Ability to build effective cooperative relationships across teams and locations.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage differences, resolve conflicts, and build collaborative networks.

Leadership and Problem-Solving

• Strong adaptability and the ability to adjust approaches based on changing situations, individuals, and business needs.

• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.

• Ability to analyze situations, evaluate alternatives, make timely decisions, and take appropriate action.

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with laboratory and operational leadership.

• Ability to support continuous learning and the development of dental laboratory talent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience supporting multi-site dental laboratory operations.

• Healthcare operations experience.

• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

• Experience with instructional systems design and structured training program development.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an experienced Certified Dental Technician (CDT) and dental laboratory professional who combines strong technical expertise with exceptional training, coaching, communication, and leadership skills. This individual is comfortable traveling extensively, working across multiple laboratory locations, supporting new center openings, troubleshooting operational challenges, and developing the next generation of dental laboratory talent.

Benefits

We care about our employees and understand the hard work that goes into providing the best-in-class patient care. You will be provided the training needed to provide you with the support you need to do your job well. Additional benefits include , group medical and dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, flexible spending (health and dependent care), 401(k), 9 paid holidays off, 10 days of vacation, and 5 additional PTO days. We also offer ancillary benefits to include hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance options.

About Affordable Care

Founded in 1975, today Affordable Care, LLC is America’s largest dental support organization (DSO) focused on tooth replacement services, serving more than 400 dental practices across the United States. Supported practices primarily concentrate on extractions, dentures, implants, and fixed arches, with some practices housing an on-site laboratory to enable same-day dental services. Affordable Care is the DSO for several top dental brands including, but not limited to, Affordable Dentures & Implants, DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions, and Advanced Dental Implant Centers. From the Affordable Care Support Center, located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, along with field-based teams, Affordable Care provides business expertise and support services to dental practices, taking care of non-clinical duties so dentists can focus on treating patients (visit affordablecare.com ).

Job Details

Job Family Lab Jobs

Pay Type Salary

Travel Required Yes

Travel Percentage 70

Job Category Labs