Orthopaedic technician

Medical and dental prosthetic technicians design, fit, service and repair medical and dental devices and appliances according to prescriptions and instructions from health professionals. They may service a wide range of aids to correct physical, medical and dental problems, such as protective and orthopaedic splints, artificial limbs, hearing aids, orthopaedic insoles, dentures, crowns and bridges.

• examining, interviewing and measuring patients to determine their needs for various medical and dental devices and appliances;
• consulting with physicians and dentists to determine specific and prescribed devices and appliances;
• reading prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of products or devices and the materials and tools needed to make them;
• making or obtaining casts or impressions of limbs, mouths or teeth needed to make production moulds;
• designing and hand-making orthotic and prosthetic devices using thermoplastic materials, metal alloys, leather and other materials;
• fitting devices and appliances to patients, and carrying out testing, evaluation and adjustments for fit, function and comfort;
• repairing, modifying and maintaining medical and dental prostheses and similar aids in accordance with specifications;
• bending, forming and shaping materials to prescribed shapes and contours to make appliances and devices;
• making full and partial dentures and building crowns, metal clasps, bridges and other dental aids;
• instructing patients on the use and care of prostheses and other orthopaedic devices.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Dental technician
• Orthopaedic technician
• Mechanic, artificial limbs
• Maker, orthopaedic appliances
• Maker, artificial limbs (prostheses)