title: Dental technology services and industry trends in New Zealand from 2010 to 2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a snapshot of the New Zealand dental technology industry and influencing factors.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Developing an understanding of the commercial dental laboratory environment in New Zealand can provide insight into the entire dental industry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey was the primary method for data collection, with separate questionnaires used for dental laboratory owners and dental technician employees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean net income for dental laboratory owners in New Zealand was similar to that of the United Kingdom, at $40.50 per hour. Clinical dental technicians are the highest paid employees, with a mean of $33.49 per hour. The mean technical charge for complete dentures was $632.59; including clinical services, it was $1907.00. The mean charge for a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown was $290.27. Dental laboratory owners expressed fear about the possibility of losing dental clients to overseas laboratories due to the availability and cheap charge of offshore work. Only 25.4% of dental laboratories surveyed had computer-aided design (CAD) facilities, and even fewer (7.9%) had computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical dental technology appears to be prospering. The dental technology industry appears to be adapting and remains viable, despite facing many challenges.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Alameri
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aarts
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Waddell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003442:Crowns / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000191:economics; D003800:Dental Technicians / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment; D005006:Ethnicity; D005249:Fees and Charges; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007754:Laboratories, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys / Q000191:economics; D009520:New Zealand; D010067:Ownership; D020399:Practice Management / Q000191:economics; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D003776:Dental Porcelain