Notice Type
General Section
Notice Title

Notice of Replacement Scopes of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications

This notice is 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 Practice published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, page 1927.
Scope of General Dental Practice
The Scope of Practice for General Dental Practice is the practice of dentistry as set out in the documented "Detailed Scope of Practice for General Dental Practice" produced
and published from time to time by the Dental Council of New Zealand.
It involves the maintenance of health through the assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures within the scope of the practitioner's approved education, training and competence.
Prescribed Qualifications
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Otago; or
- an Australian Dental Council (ADC) accredited undergraduate dental degree from an ADC accredited dental school in Australia and a pass in the New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination; or
- a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited undergraduate dental degree from a CDA accredited dental school in the USA or Canada and a pass in the New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination; or
- a General Dental Council (GDC) accredited undergraduate dental degree from a GDC accredited dental school in the UK, or Commonwealth as listed below and a pass in the New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination:
Dental School Dates of Recognition
Western Cape Before 1 January 1998
Hong Kong Before 1 January 2001
Singapore Before 1 January 2001
Witwatersrand Before 1 January 2001
Pretoria Before 1 January 2001
Stellenbosch Before 1 January 2001
Medical University ofSouth Africa Between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000
Malaya Between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000;
or
- a five-year undergraduate dental degree; a pass in
the New Zealand Dental Registration Examinations and a pass in the New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination; or
- a five-year undergraduate dental degree; a pass in
the Australian Dental Council licensing examinations and a pass in the New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination; or
- a five-year undergraduate dental degree; a pass in
the USA licensing examinations and a pass in the
New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination.
The following scope replaces the Scope for Dental Technology Practice published in a Supplement to the
New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, page 1927.
Scope for Dental Technology Practice
Dental technology practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with a dental technician's approved education, training and competence.
It involves processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral and extra-oral appliances and prostheses prescribed by a practising dental specialist, dentist, clinical dental technician, medical practitioner or other practising health practitioner.
The working relationship between dental technicians and prescribing practising health practitioners is set out in the Dental Council Code of Practice - The Practice of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology and the working relationship within the Practice of Dentistry.
Prescribed Qualifications
- Diploma in Dental Technology (issued by a
New Zealand educational institution) and commenced prior to 18 September 2004; or
- Bachelor of Dental Technology (University of Otago); or
- an approved overseas dental technology qualification, plus a pass in the New Zealand Dental Technicians Registration Examination.
The following scope replaces the Scope for Implant Assisted Overdentures published in the New Zealand Gazette, 22 December 2005, No. 210, page 5389.
Scope for Implant 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 or commencement of at least 8 documented cases and a competency attestation from an appropriately qualified dentist or dental specialist.1
The following scope replaces the Scope for Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice published in the New Zealand Gazette,
13 July 2006, No. 80, page 2550.
Scope for Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice
The scope of practice for orthodontic auxiliaries is set out
in the documented "Detailed Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice" produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Orthodontic auxiliary practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with an orthodontic auxiliary's approved training, experience and competence.
Orthodontic auxiliaries practise to a treatment plan prepared by a dentist or orthodontist for the patient concerned. Orthodontic auxiliaries practise under the direct supervision of a dentist or orthodontist who is present on the premises at which the work is carried out.
The dentist or orthodontist is responsible for the patient's overall clinical care outcomes.
Orthodontic auxiliaries assist the dentist or orthodontist
in implementing orthodontic treatment through performing such orthodontic procedures as taking impressions and making study models, inserting and removing some orthodontic appliances, preparing teeth for bonding, removing bonding composite and banding cement and providing oral health education and advice on the care and maintenance of orthodontic appliances.
Prescribed Qualifications
Graduate Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting, Academy of Orthodontic Assisting; possession of a dental therapy, dental hygiene or dentistry qualification or registration as a
dental auxiliary and approved experience in the provision of orthodontic auxiliary services under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency.2
For applications received before 31 March 20063
- A minimum of 600 clinical hours' experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of orthodontic auxiliary practice, under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency.
The following scope replaces the Scope for Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures in Dental Hygiene Practice published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette,
20 May 2005, No. 81, page 1927.
Scope for Undertaking Orthodontic Procedures in Dental Hygiene Practice
Dental hygienists with approved training, experience and competence in orthodontic procedures assist the dentist or orthodontist in implementing orthodontic treatment plans through performing such orthodontic procedures as taking impressions and making study models, inserting, and removing some orthodontic appliances, preparing teeth for bonding, removing bonding composite and banding cement and providing oral health education and advice on the care and maintenance of orthodontic appliances.
Dental hygienists who undertake orthodontic procedures do so under the clinical guidance of a dentist or orthodontist who has prepared a treatment plan for the patient concerned and is responsible for the patient's clinical care outcomes.
The procedures involve:
- Oral hygiene instruction, care and maintenance of orthodontic appliances.
- Taking clinical photographs for records.
- Making study models including taking impressions and bite records.
- Pre banding polishing of teeth.
- Removing and placing arch wires as formed by the orthodontist.
- Removing composite/band cement following removal of fixed appliances.
- Removing O rings.
- De-bonding and de-banding fixed appliances.
- Replacing loose bands.
Prescribed Qualifications
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago, conferred from 2002 and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene, University of Otago, conferred from 2002 and registration in the Scope
of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Graduate Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting, Academy of Orthodontic Assisting and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice.
For applications received before 19 September 2004
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene, University of Otago, conferred before 2002; registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice and a minimum of 150 clinical hours' experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of Orthodontic Procedures in Dental Hygiene Practice, under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency; or
- Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic of New Zealand; registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice and a minimum of 150 clinical hours' experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of Orthodontic Procedures in Dental Hygiene Practice, under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency; or
- New Zealand Defence Force training programme in Dental Hygiene; registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice and a minimum of 150 clinical hours' experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of Orthodontic Procedures in Dental Hygiene Practice, under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency.
Key to Annotations
1The prescribed qualification above will be available until 1 July 2007. Thereafter the prescribed qualification for registration in the additional scope of implant overdentures will be successful completion of a Dental Council of New Zealand approved implant overdenture course or a pass
in the Dental Council of New Zealand implant overdenture registration examination.
2The Dental Council of New Zealand approved this prescribed qualification on 10 July 2006.
3Given that it was not illegal for unregistered persons to undertake orthodontic auxiliary duties prior to the establishment of the Restricted Activities List on 1 August 2005, any orthodontic assistants who did not apply for registration prior to 18 September 2004 but had the requisite clinical experience could apply for registration under amnesty provisions until 31 March 2006.