Name: Daniel G. Cook

Age: 52

Occupation: Dental lab owner and technician, Looking Glass Ceramics 1001 Arboretum Drive, Waunakee

Number of years on the job: 25

When you need a dental crown or a bridge, your dentist takes an impression of your mouth. The dentist then sends the impressions to a dental lab along with a prescription for the work to be done. As a dental technician, I make crowns and bridges and have more than 25 years of experience in crown and bridge fabrication.

There are many steps involved in creating a crown or bridge. First is to study the dentist's prescription to ensure that I am following the correct specifications. I use the impression of the patient's mouth to create a plaster reproduction. I pay particular attention to margins, correct occlusion and contour. I note the size and shape of the adjacent teeth. I create a wax mold of a single tooth or set of teeth when making a bridge. The wax mold is used to create a metal framework for the crown. The wax is burned out of the mold.

I cast the gold, which goes under the porcelain. I mix and blend porcelain powders with distilled water and fuse the porcelain directly to the gold. I form an accurate reproduction of the tooth over the metal frame. I fire the porcelain in a high-temperature vacuum furnace, then I apply the final glaze.

This is a very exacting job as what I make has to function correctly and comfortably in the patient's mouth. I have to ensure that upper and lower bridges fit together and that crowns are trimmed to fit. I've always had artistic abilities to construct, form, design, paint, draw and sculpt. I enjoy paying attention to minute detail and precision work requiring accuracy.

I started working in a large dental lab as a polisher, polishing crowns, collars and fullcasts. I received on-the-job training and mentoring as a dental lab technician. I worked in several dental labs to perfect my craft. Because of my knowledge and ability to teach, I also trained others how to do ceramic work.

My brother Jimi and I opened our own dental laboratory in May 2007 and we provide service to dentists in Madison and surrounding areas. I enjoy experiencing the satisfaction that I can provide a valued health care service that positively affects a patient's oral health and self-image, providing a beautiful smile for the patient.

What I Do invites people to tell in their own words what they do to earn a living. The column runs every Tuesday. To suggest someone to feature, contact Jill Carlson at jillcarlson1957@gmail.com.

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