Chief Orthodontic Technician

Job overview

At St George’s Hospital, we’re looking for an Orthodontic Technician to join our small Lab team team of six — taking ownership of the orthodontic service and how it runs day to day.

The work itself is hands-on and varied — from casting dental impressions, processing intra oral scans and manufacturing functional, fixed and removable appliances, to producing sleep apnoea devices and carrying out PAR scoring using both physical models and digital software.

Alongside traditional techniques, there’s a growing focus on digital workflows, including CAD design, 3D printing, and the production of working and study models, with a typical turnaround of 2–3 weeks depending on complexity.

In more complex cases — such as hypodontia or patients with additional needs — there’s real scope to work alongside clinicians, contributing technical insight to support appliance design and treatment planning.

With plans for digital transformation, lab modernisation and service development, this role offers the opportunity not just to deliver the service, but to help shape its future.

Main duties of the job

Job responsibilities

Your work will be varied, combining advanced technical skills with service coordination and collaboration.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Designing and manufacturing a wide range of orthodontic appliances, including removable, fixed and functional devices, as well as sleep apnoea appliances
• Producing study models and working with digital workflows, including CAD design and 3D printing
• Carrying out PAR scoring and supporting clinical case planning
• Managing your own workload, ensuring work is delivered to a high standard within agreed turnaround times (typically 2–3 weeks)
• Liaising with clinicians to ensure prescriptions are accurate and outcomes meet patient needs
• Advising on appliance design in more complex cases alongside the clinical team
• Maintaining accurate records of all work via the laboratory database
• Managing stock levels and ordering materials as required
• Supporting service continuity, including coordinating outsourced work during periods of high demand
• Contributing to team meetings, audits and service improvement initiatives

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Work within a team to support basic skills within the wider laboratory service specialties
• Manage own workload and work effectively and efficiently
• Be compliant with Trust policies and regulation requirements; COSHH, Health & Safety, MHRA, MDR
• Ensure own skills are up to date with current practice and be responsible for maintaining CPD within the scope of the relevant registration body.
• Support the training and education of junior or trainee staff
• Cast and trim working models and Study models.
• Trim Orthodontic study models to AOB standards
• Design and fabricate all types of removable appliances incorporating bite planes, blocks, retentive components, springs and expansion screws.
• Design and fabricate all types of fixed appliances such as palatal arches, quad helix and Nance devices
• Proficient in laboratory techniques; soldering, vacuum forming, using quick curing autopolymerising materials, heat curing polymerising materials
• Experience with CAD/CAM systems and 3D printing for production of models, kesling simulation and PAR scoring.