Dental lab technicians make crowns, bridges and dentures for dental patients. They work with moulds of a patient's mouth and use a variety of techniques to construct these dental devices (or "prosthetics") so they fit exactly. This is highly skilled work, and your dental lab technician education will offer you the training you require to work in this field. Dental lab technician education can vary in both the length and depth of the program. A two-year program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation will lead to an associate degree. Your program will combine classroom study and clinical experience with live patients. Courses will include the anatomy of the mouth, the science of dental materials, and techniques of building prosthetics. Your dental lab technician education will enhance both your theoretical knowledge, and your practical manual skills. After completing your associate degree you will require further practical experience, and you may go on to obtain certification. Four year bachelor's programs are also offered, which will give you a stronger base of expertise to launch your career from. Dental lab technicians are not a large profession, with around 50,000 technicians employed in 2004. Employers often have difficulty in recruiting technicians, however, so your outlook should be favorable. You will find employment opportunities in dentists' offices and in hospitals that offer dental treatment. You may also wish to consider setting up your own office, or working from home.