Dental Prosthetics

WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

Occupation description and WSOS

The name of the skill competition is

Dental Prosthetics

Description of the associated work role(s) or occupation(s)

A Dental Prosthetics technician is an associate professional typically working in and/or across dental practices, dental laboratories in hospitals, and dental manufacturers. They are experts in their specialist field, which is rapidly growing aided by need and demand, digitalisation, and material sciences.

Under the instructions and guidance of a fully qualified dentist or physician, the Dental Prosthetics technician’s role is, in summary:

To examine and evaluate patients’ specific and broader needs for prosthetic interventions and to formulate specifications
To interpret specifications to determine the type of prosthetic interventions required
To design and make prosthetic devices
To fit, test, and evaluate the function and quality of the devices
To instruct patients in the care and use of the prosthetic devices
To repair, modify, and maintain prosthetic devices as needs arise.

To fulfil their roles, the Dental Prosthetics technicians can design, produce, and repair a range of dental devices and instruments. This includes both digital equipment used by practices, hospitals, and manufacturers. They perform precise measurements, simulations, and fabrications based on patients’ oral conditions and broader needs, and physicians’ instructions to provide high quality dental prosthetic solutions. They work closely with dental practitioners and their teams to deliver personalized oral restoration services to patients.

The Dental Prosthetics technician’s role relates directly to patients’ oral health. The dental devices and instruments they create and repair help to restore chewing function, improve oral aesthetics, and enhance quality of life. Their training and development include deep and wide knowledge of human anatomy, material science, and dental technology, as well as procedural and contingent knowledge, and interpersonal and communication skills. They must master the techniques of fabricating and repairing dental devices. Practical experience in dental laboratories is essential for building experience of operational procedures and varying patient conditions, thus enabling the provision of better personalized oral restoration services, and minimising risk. Continuous professional development and guidance enables them to build and sustain their professional expertise in this fast-moving field.

The link between oral diseases and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes has become increasingly recognized, with advancements in technology and social development highlighting the connection between oral health and overall health. This recognition has driven rapid growth in the dental prosthetics industry. As awareness of oral health and restoration grows, along with rising demand for treatment across the world, the need and demand for highly aware and skilled dental prosthetics technicians will rapidly expand.

The WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

General notes on the WSOS

The WSOS specifies the knowledge, understanding, skills, and capabilities that underpin international best practice in technical and vocational performance. These are both specific to an occupational role and also transversal. Together they should reflect a shared global understanding of what the associated work role(s) or occupation(s) represent for industry and business (www.worldskills.org/WSOS).

The skill competition is intended to reflect international best practice as described by the WSOS, to the extent that it can. The Standard is therefore a guide to the required training and preparation for the skill competition.

In the skill competition the assessment of knowledge and understanding will take place through the assessment of performance. There will only be separate tests of knowledge and understanding where there is an overwhelming reason for these.

The Standard is divided into distinct sections with headings and reference numbers added.

Each section is assigned a percentage of the total marks to indicate its relative importance within the Standards. This is often referred to as the “weighting”. The sum of all the percentage marks is 100. The weightings determine the distribution of marks within the Marking Scheme.

Through the Test Project, the Marking Scheme will assess only those skills and capabilities that are set out in the WorldSkills Occupational Standards. They will reflect the Standards as comprehensively as possible within the constraints of the skill competition.

The Marking Scheme will follow the allocation of marks within the Standards to the extent practically possible. A variation of up to five percent is allowed, if this does not distort the weightings assigned by the Standards.

WorldSkills Occupational Standards

Section		Relative importance (%)
1	Work organization and management	10
	The individual needs to know and understand: Health, safety, hygiene, and oral medicine technology Environmental protection legislation, regulations, and documentation including accident reporting Regulations regarding the confidentiality and security of dental diagnosis and treatment The features of safe working environments: workspace, facilities, equipment/tools, training, and support The importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly work practices The importance of protective equipment and clothing The importance of maintaining one's own occupational health The procedures for the prevention of infectious disease The purpose, safe use, care, and storage of materials and equipment The specialist/technical terminology associated with the work role and sector The roles and requirements of related professions The value of building and maintaining productive working relationships Principles and techniques of effective teamwork The importance of managing one's own continuing professional development.
	The individual shall be able to: Follow health, safety, and hygiene standards, rules, and regulations Use personal protective equipment: gloves, masks, safety goggles, and clothing Maintain personal health to prevent occupational disease conditions due to exposure to dust, chemicals, and noise Keep up-to-date with, and follow safe working practices, including emergency procedures Take appropriate hygiene precautions to prevent infection Select, store safely, and use chemicals and materials economically to enhance sustainability in accordance with regulations Maintain safe and secure storage of equipment and tools in accordance with regulations Discard waste ecologically Plan, schedule, and prioritize/re-prioritize work to be efficient Work as part of a team and lead as appropriate Keep up to date with new practices and regulations
2	Communication and interpersonal skills	5
	The individual needs to know and understand: Principles of communication Principles of human interactivity The impact of one’s own work on others and the importance of collaboration with colleagues/other professionals The importance of inclusivity Techniques and ways to communicate with patients who have disabilities such as hearing loss and dementia The importance of swiftly resolving misunderstandings and conflicting demands.
	The individual shall be able to: Establish and maintain interpersonal relations Work and interact with others including teams Communicate using a full range of techniques for speaking, writing, active listening, and body language Use digital communication systems and tools Compile reports and complete documentation Seek, accept and, as appropriate, build on feedback and constructive criticism.
3	Consultation and design	30
	The individual needs to know and understand: The natural sciences, social sciences, and medical sciences relevant to oral medical health and treatment The relationship between oral and systemic diseases Theories underpinning the restoration of dental health and function The structure, development, physiology, and pathology of teeth Anatomical structures, functional activity patterns, and clinical applications of the oral cavity, skull, face, and neck regions The causes or origins of dental diseases and conditions The mechanisms, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment methods for dental defects, dental arch defects, and maxillofacial defects and deformities The role of artificial devices in restoring, improving, reconstructing, or correcting congenital deformities, acquired defects, or abnormalities in the oral or maxillofacial systems The role of dental prosthetics in promoting patients’ physical and mental health Concepts underpinning aesthetics and medical aesthetics Aesthetics, colour theory, and sculpting art Aesthetic parameters Dental aesthetics, their application in prosthetics, and simulation techniques The use of artificial devices to remedy defects in the oral and maxillofacial areas to rebuild physiological functions Classifications and characteristics of prosthetics such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants The applications, indications, and the contra-indications of various dental prosthetics The design process Digital technology applications The use of basic software such as email, Word, Excel, File Explorer, and image editing The operating procedures and key considerations for traditional and digital impression techniques and model production The importance of the dimensions and shape of models in matching oral impressions to provide accurate data for prosthetic design and fabrication The importance of models accurately replicating the morphology and position of the teeth and surrounding tissues that need restoration Fundamentals of 3D scanning (data alignment, registration, and matching), basic knowledge of accuracy, and precision in data scanning.
	The individual shall be able to: Work within the guidance and instructions of dentists and physicians while contributing to the optimization of treatment Engage patients as appropriate and help to them to establish productive relationships, maintain confidence, and gain a deeper and broader understanding of the need for prosthetic treatment Translate specialist and technical terminology clearly and accurately for patients/related professionals Question, interpret, and determine the specific requirements of patients, dentists, and physicians, including any budget constraints Provide advice and guidance on products and solutions for patients, dentists, and physicians Recognize the boundaries of own expertise in dealing with patients’ problems and refer to colleagues and professionals as appropriate Prepare cost estimates for patients, dentists, and physicians Examine and measure patients to determine their precise prosthetic needs and to identify factors that could affect the fit of the restoration Produce restorations in accordance with specifications and prescriptions Interpret specifications and prescriptions to determine the type of products to be fabricated, and the materials and tools required Design the shapes and sizes of prosthetics using CAD or other technology, considering factors such as anatomical structures, dental arches, and occlusal relationships, ensuring good fit with adjacent teeth and gums Make or receive casts or impressions of patients’ mouth and/or teeth for use in fabrication.
4	Manufacture dental prosthetics	30
	The individual needs to know and understand: The range and applications of equipment: casting; porcelain, resin, and digital processing; intraoral and model scanners, 3D printers, CNC milling machines, and other auxiliary devices The characteristics of metal alloys, ceramic, and resin materials and their applications and processing methods in different prosthetics The key stages of prosthetic fabrication in traditional and digital ways: bending, forming, shaping, 3D scanning, designing, printing, or CNC milling to conform to prescribed contours The principles of manufacturing, usage, mechanical and physical properties, and biocompatibility of instruments and materials Common problems which can occur during the manufacturing process The problem-solving process.
	The individual shall be able to: Identify issues with clinical models and liaise with dentists and physicians to find solutions Use traditional and digital impression taking methods, model production, and material handling Process and handle a range of materials according to the design requirements of the prosthetic such as casting and sintering metal alloys, sintering and layering ceramic materials, and light-curing resin materials Use digital technology such as CAD design (customized prosthetic shapes, sizes, and fittings according to oral anatomy, dental arch, and occlusion) for prosthetics and the operation of digital equipment Use 3D scanners, CAD design software, and 3D printers or CNC milling machines Ensure accurate material ratios and compliance with processing requirements Follow standard procedures, maintain correct process control, and ensure stable quality of prosthetics in laboratories or other manufacturing locations Repair, modify, and maintain prosthetic and supportive devices, according to specifications Perform quality inspections, identify problems, and resolve them such as by making adjustments Ensure the prosthetics meet both biological and aesthetic criteria, including appearance Maintain prosthetic equipment to ensure optimum performance Complete documentation.
5	Fit dental prosthetics	15
	The individual needs to know and understand: The importance of checking that prosthetics meet their specifications The quality assurance process The cost of adjustment(s) The importance of feedback from patients, dentists, and physicians as part of the continuous improvement process Techniques for helping patients to use and care for their prosthetics The different reactions of patients to using prosthetics The importance of data protection for patients’ records
	The individual shall be able to: Fit appliances and devices to patient’s impressions and/or models Observe patients and quickly identify any problems that need attention or referral Test and evaluate each prosthetic, identifying any need for improvements Make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort, repeating the process as necessary Discuss any issues arising with dentists and physicians Explain and show patients how to use and care for prosthetic devices Complete documentation
6	Maintain, upgrade, and repair prosthetics	10
	The individual needs to know and understand: The normal useful life of each prosthetic solution, based on their composition and use The ways in which patients’ needs and characteristics may change, and the impact of these changes on the quality and usefulness of each prosthetic Positive ways in which prosthetics may be repaired, rebuilt, or modified The cost benefit of repairs or modifications compared with creating new prosthetic solutions
	The individual shall be able to: Review and evaluate the prosthetics of existing users proactively or according to identified need Identify when the need for prosthetics has diminished, or the patient has different needs Discuss the changing circumstances with patients, dentists, and physicians Appraise the options for repair, modification, removal, or replacement with patients, dentists, and physicians Remove prosthetics where appropriate to undertake repairs or modifications prior to refitting Effect repairs or modifications while prosthetics are in situ, where it is either necessary or appropriate Complete repairs, modifications, or replacements as soon as reasonably possible for the wellbeing of the patient
	Total	100

References for industry consultation

General notes

WorldSkills is committed to ensuring that the WorldSkills Occupational Standards fully reflect the dynamism of internationally recognized best practice in industry and business. To do this WorldSkills approaches a number of organizations across the world that can offer feedback on the draft Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards on a two-yearly cycle.

In parallel to this, WSI consults three international occupational classifications and databases:

ISCO-08: (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/isco08/)
ESCO: (https://ec.europa.eu/esco/portal/home )
O*NET OnLine (www.onetonline.org/)

References

This WSOS is classified within ISCO-08 Unit Group 3214: Medical and dental prosthetics technicians and associated professionals (p.197)

In greater detail it relates to O*NET Junior version of 29-2091: Orthotists and Prosthetists https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2091

Also to ESCO 3214: its own version of ISCO 3214 https://data.europa.eu/esco/isco/C3214 and 3214.3: prosthetist-orthotist

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