title: Dental technician training in Singapore--a survey.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Prosthodontic Unit, Department of Restorative Dentistry, National Dental Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002568:Certification; D003800:Dental Technicians / Q000193:education*; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000193:education*