Dental technician training in Singapore--a survey

This postal survey was carried out in 1999 amongst dental technicians in Singapore to assess their status of training, interest towards a local dental technology course and national certification. A hundred and seven questionnaires were sent to technicians of 37 private and two institutional laboratories. Sixty technicians responded giving a response rate of 56.1%. Half of the respondents were above 40 years and more than 40% were not formally trained. Ninety-five percent (95%) agreed that there was a need for national certification. The preferred duration of a structured dental technology course was three years part-time followed by two years full-time. This study has shown that there is a need to train new and existing technicians through introduction of a local structured dental technology course and continuing education. National certification could be introduced when more technicians are formally trained.