Notice Type
General Section
Notice Title

Notice of Scopes of Practice and

Prescribed Qualifications
Issued by the Dental Council of New Zealand, pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the following scope replaces the
Scope of General Dental Hygiene Practice published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, page 1927.
Scope of General Dental Hygiene Practice
The scope of practice for dental hygiene is set out in
the documented Detailed Scope of General Dental Hygiene Practice produced and published from time to time by
the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Dental hygiene practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with a dental hygienist’s approved education, training and competence.
A dental hygienist’s major role is in the provision of
oral health education and the prevention of oral disease
to promote healthy oral behaviours. A dental hygienist’s primary task is in prevention and non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases. A dental hygienist guides patients’ personal care to maintain sound oral tissues as an integral part of their general health.
Dental hygienists practise in a team situation with clinical guidance provided by a practising dentist or dental specialist1.
Prescribed Qualifications
? Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; or
? New Zealand Defence Force training programme in Dental Hygiene and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; or
? Diploma in Dental Hygiene issued by a New Zealand educational institution; or
? Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago; or
? undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma from an Australian Dental Council accredited educational institution; and registration with an Australian State licensing Board; or
? undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma, or undergraduate dental degree; and a pass in the DCNZ Dental Hygiene Registration Examination; or
? an undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma
or undergraduate dental degree and a pass in the
USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination or Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination and a pass in a USA or Canadian regional or state board dental hygiene clinical examination; and registration with a USA or Canadian dental authority2; or
? a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma; a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination or Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination; and registration with a USA or Canadian dental authority2; or
? a General Dental Council (GDC) accredited undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma
from the United Kingdom; and registration with the GDC2; or
? a Certificate or Diploma in Dental Hygiene conferred by the GDC; and registration with the GDC2.
For applications received before 19 September 2004:
? New Zealand Dental Association Operating Auxiliaries Course and hold a prescribed qualification for the
Scope of General Dental Therapy and a minimum of 600 clinical hours’ experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; or
? Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Otago and
a minimum of 600 clinical hours’ experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice.
The following scope is a new Scope of Practice to be added to the Dental Technicians Scopes of Practice published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, page 1927.
Scope for Implant Assisted Overdentures
Clinical procedures associated with the design, manufacture, trial fitting and repair of removable complete and partial implant overdentures prescribed and fitted by a practising dentist or dental specialist.
Prescribed Qualification
Registration as a Clinical Dental Technician plus evidence of appropriate training, completion of eight documented cases and a competency attestation from an appropriately qualified dentist or dental specialist3.
Key to Annotations
1Clinical guidance means the professional support and assistance provided to a dental hygienist by a practising dentist or dental specialist as part of the provision of overall integrated care to the patient group. Dental hygienists and dentists/specialists normally work from the same premises providing
a team approach. Clinical guidance may be provided at a distance but appropriate access must be available to ensure that the dentist or specialist is able to provide guidance and advice, when required, and maintain general oversight of the clinical care outcomes of the patient group.
Dental hygienists are responsible and accountable for their own clinical practice within their scope of practice but the dentist or dental specialist is responsible and accountable for the clinical guidance provided.
Further detail on the working relationship between dental hygienists and dentists will be set out in the relevant Dental Council Code of Practice.
2Following research and consultation, the Dental Council agreed at a meeting held on 29-30 November 2005 to prescribe this qualification.
3The prescribed qualification above will be available until 1 June 2006. Thereafter the prescribed qualification for registration in the additional scope of removable complete and partial implant overdentures on oral implants will be an accredited qualification in Implant Overdentures practice, issued by an approved New Zealand educational institution.