If you read through comments and articles on the Internet, you will see that all their authors agree that a lot of changes have been taking place in the profession and more are yet to come. The profession of the dental technician is definitely a changing profession. The changes will be influenced by intraoral scanning in the dental surgery, impression scanners that capture the impression, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and digital workflows that include the whole range of lab work, products that are versatile, new materials for full digital products.

The changes happening in the future will most likely demand technicians that are highly educated in digital technologies, possess a deep knowledge of materials, are business savvy and have more soft (communicative) skills than in the past. The last too attributes will be critical for lab owners who might have to quit working on restorations and focus solely on building and maintaining their business. They or their employees will use their skillset to work as consultants or advisors to doctors and their patients who will not be able to fully navigate the material options available. In turn, laboratories will probably have to outsource part of their work to external milling centres. Dental technicians will then combine advantages brought by digital work with artistic skills to attain excellent results.

If Czech technicians want to stay knowledgeable, it is advisable for them to join a professional organization, such as Komora zubních techniků (The Chamber of Dental Technicians), that exists to inform them of developments in the field and to support them by offering advice and consultations.