Class Code 4692
Dental Laboratories
Class Code 4692 applies to dental laboratories and the technicians who fabricate crowns, bridges, dentures, orthodontic appliances and related prosthetics. For California employers this classification carries a September 1, 2026 pure premium of $1.475 per $100 of payroll, which underpins workers' comp pricing and loss expectations.
What Class Code 4692 Covers
This classification covers commercial dental laboratory operations where workers receive dental impressions, model and mount casts, wax, invest and cast metal frameworks, process acrylics, apply porcelain and glaze, finish and polish restorations, and operate CAD/CAM mills and 3D printers used to produce prosthetic devices. It includes bench technicians, ceramists, model makers and machine operators in independent and commercial labs — whether working on-site at a dental office or in a standalone lab. Routine activities such as trimming gypsum models, grinding ceramic/zirconia restorations, processing acrylic denture bases and finishing metal alloys are core exposures under this code. Clinical chairside dental work performed by licensed dentists or dental hygienists is not included; the code is specific to laboratory fabrication and related shop processes.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial dental laboratories producing crowns, bridges, dentures and orthodontic appliances
- Dental lab technicians and ceramists who wax, cast, bake and glaze restorations
- CAD/CAM operators, 3D printing technicians and milling machine operators in dental labs
- Model makers and dental stone/trimming operators who prepare casts and dies
- Small in-office dental labs that fabricate prosthetics for the parent dental practice
Common Job Duties
- Preparing and trimming gypsum models and dies from impressions
- Waxing, investing and casting metal frameworks; cleaning and finishing castings
- Processing acrylics and polymerizing denture bases and relines
- Grinding, contouring and polishing ceramic, porcelain and zirconia restorations
- Layering and firing porcelain/ceramic in kilns and ovens (ceramic firing)
- Operating CAD/CAM milling equipment and 3D printers; post-processing printed parts
- Mixing and handling resins, solvents and bonding agents and applying glazes
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.475 Rate
The pure premium rate of $1.475 per $100 of payroll represents the WCIRB's expected cost of claims (frequency and severity) for this classification before insurer expenses and adjustments. Insurers multiply this pure premium by your payroll in hundreds of dollars, then apply your individual experience modification, policy-level adjustments (taxes, assessments, expense load), and any credits or debits to produce the final premium. Actual cost to an employer is affected by claims history (experience mod), payroll mix, safety programs, deductible selections, and participation in retrospective or large-deductible plans.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Dental labs must comply with Cal/OSHA requirements for hazard communication (8 CCR 5194) — maintain SDSs, label containers and train employees on chemical hazards used in acrylics, solvents and metal cleaners. Respiratory protection (8 CCR 5144) and the Airborne Contaminants and Permissible Exposure Limits rules, including controls for crystalline silica where applicable, require local exhaust ventilation, monitoring and written respirator programs when grinding generates respirable dust. When technicians handle appliances contaminated with blood or saliva, the Bloodborne Pathogens standard (8 CCR 5193) may apply; maintain exposure control plans and hepatitis B vaccination offers as required.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4692
A PEO like Key HR can centralize workers' comp coverage, provide targeted loss-control services (shop hazard surveys, ventilation and dust-control recommendations, respirator and PPE programs), and manage claims to speed return-to-work and limit indemnity costs. Key HR also delivers compliance templates (IIPP, hazard communication, respirator programs), California-specific training, and experience-mod reduction strategies to help lower premiums for dental labs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does class code 4692 apply if my dental office only fabricates a few temporary crowns in-house?
If fabrication is performed in a true laboratory setting or as a regular functional part of the office (bench work, casting, finishing), those payroll hours typically fall under 4692. Occasional chairside or very limited in-office adjustments performed by clinical staff may remain under clinical classifications; document tasks and separate payroll where possible to ensure correct classification.
How can a dental lab reduce workers' comp costs under this class code?
Focus on preventing the common exposures: install local exhaust ventilation for grinding stations, implement a written hazard communication program, use appropriate respirators and fit testing, provide cut-resistant gloves and eye protection, formalize a return-to-work program, and actively manage claims. These actions lower claim frequency and severity and can reduce your experience modification factor over time.
Are there special recordkeeping or medical surveillance requirements for dental lab employees?
Yes. Where employees are assigned respirators, a written respiratory protection program and medical evaluations are required. If exposures to airborne contaminants (including crystalline silica or certain metal dusts) exceed action levels, monitoring and medical surveillance may be required under Cal/OSHA. Maintain SDSs, training records, fit-test and medical evaluation documentation, and your Injury and Illness Prevention Program records.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4692
- Classification
- Dental Laboratories
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.475 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 4692?
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