This notice is issued by the Dental Council pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
This notice shall come into effect on 1 April 2010.
The following scope replaces the "Scope of General Dental Hygiene Practice" in the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 22 December 2005, No. 210, page 5389.
Dental Hygiene1
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 specialist.2
The following prescribed qualifications replace the prescribed qualifications for the "Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice" in the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 11 December 2008, No. 192, page 5099.
Prescribed Qualifications
- 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.3
- New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, Orthodontic Auxiliary Training Programme: Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting.4
The following scope replaces the "Additional Scopes of Dental Hygiene and Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice" in the notice published in the Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 19 May 2005, No. 81, page 1942.
Additional Scopes of Practice for Dental Hygiene and Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice
Scope for Administering Local Anaesthetic in Dental Hygiene Practice
Administration of local anaesthetic using dentoalveolar infiltration and inferior dental nerve block techniques under the direct clinical supervision of a dentist or specialist who is present on the premises at which the work is carried out.
Prescribed Qualifications
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- approved experience in the provision of local anaesthetic within the general dental therapy or general dental scope of practice and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- completion of the Auckland University of Technology Local Anaesthesia Course for Dental Hygienists and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- an approved Local Anaesthetic training course and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice.
The following scope replaces the "Scope for undertaking orthodontic procedures in dental hygiene practice" in the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 11 June 2009, No. 84, page 1937.
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 practise:
- under the clinical guidance of a dentist or orthodontist who is responsible for the patient’s clinical care outcomes; and
- to a treatment plan prepared by a dentist or orthodontist for the patient concerned.
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
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago 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.
The following scope replaces the "Scope of Intra Oral Radiography in Dental Hygiene, Dental Auxiliary and Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice" in the notice published in the Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 19 May 2005, No. 81, at page 1944.
Scope for Intraoral Radiography in Dental Hygiene and Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice
Taking periapical and bitewing radiographs for the purpose of recognising disease of the periodontium.5
Prescribed Qualifications
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene conferred by a New Zealand educational institution and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of intraoral radiography and registration in 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 intraoral radiography and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma from an Australian Dental Council accredited educational institution and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- an exemption certificate for intraoral radiography issued by the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB) current as at 18 September 2004 and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice or Scope of Dental Auxiliary Practice or the Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice; or
- an approved intraoral radiography training course and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice or the Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice.
The following scope replaces the "Scope of Extra Oral Radiography Practice in Dental Hygiene, Dental Auxiliary and Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice" in the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, at page 1944.
Scope for Extraoral Radiography Practice in Dental Hygiene and Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice
Taking extraoral radiographs.6
Prescribed Qualifications
- An exemption certificate for extraoral radiography issued by the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board current as at 18 September 2004 and registration in 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 extraoral radiography and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice; or
- an approved extraoral radiography training course and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice or Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice.
Key to Annotations
1The Scope of Dental Auxiliary Practice was closed on 19 September 2009.
2Clinical 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.
3The Dental Council approved this prescribed qualification on 10 July 2006.
4The Dental Council approved this prescribed qualification on 15 February 2010.
5The Radiation Protection Act 1965 requires non-licensed persons who take x-rays to do so under the supervision or instructions of a person who holds a licence under that Act.
6The Radiation Protection Act 1965 requires non-licensed persons who take x-rays to do so under the supervision or instructions of a person who holds a license under that Act.