Pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, this notice is issued by the Dental Council.
The following scope of practice replaces the Scope for Dental Technology Practice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 7 December 2006, No. 167, page 4856.
Dental Technicians
Scope for Dental Technology Practice
The Scope of Practice for Dental Technicians is set out in the documented "Detailed Scope for Dental Technology Practice" produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council.
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 extraoral 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.
Detailed Scope for Dental Technology Practice
The Dental Council defines the practice of Dental Technology as processes and procedures associated with
the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral and extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed
by a practising dental specialist, dentist, clinical dental technician, medical practitioner or other practising health practitioner.
This involves:
- selection of appropriate dental materials for the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral
and extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed by
a practising dental specialist, dentist, clinical dental technician, medical practitioner or other practising health practitioner.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of complete removable dentures and overdentures.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of removable partial dentures including precision attachments.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable orthodontic appliances.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of crowns and bridges including precision attachments on natural teeth and implants.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of implant overdentures and implant supported dentures.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of tissue and implant supported maxillofacial, ocular and auricular appliances and prostheses, and other appliances and prostheses involved in the overall prosthetic rehabilitation of patients.
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of specialist treatment appliances such as, but not limited to: diagnostic stents and radiographic stents, appliances for the treatment
of temporomandibular disorders, appliances for the treatment of speech disorders, appliances for
the treatment of sleep disorders and appliances for the treatment of audio disorders.
- undertake shade taking and shade checking, which may include the removal of a pre-loosened temporary crown and try-in of the permanent crown, without removal or placement of an abutment, as prescribed by dentists
or dental specialists under specific conditions as set out below and as described below.
- the removal of a pre-loosened temporary crown and try-in or a permanent crown under the prescription of, and prior to the final fitting by, a dentist or dental specialist including clear, written procedures provided by the referring dentist or dental specialist which the technician must follow.
Practice in this context goes wider than dental technology to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical and technical practice and public safety. Areas of dental technology practice that were
not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practices to the standard required by the relevant Code of Practice.
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 of practice replaces the Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice published in the
New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, page 1927.
Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice
The Scope of Practice for Clinical Dental Technicians is set out in the documented "Detailed Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice" produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council.
Clinical Dental Technology practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with a Clinical Dental Technician’s approved education, training and competence.
It involves the scope of practice for Dental Technicians, plus the fitting of complete removable dentures and the fitting of some other types of removable dentures and oral and extraoral appliances under specific conditions - as set out in the detailed scope of practice.
The working relationship between clinical 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.
Detailed Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice
The Dental Council defines the practice of clinical dental technology as:
- processes and procedures associated with the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral
and extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed by
a practising dentist, dental specialist, medical practitioner or other authorised health practitioner as set out in the detailed scope for dental technology practice.
- the fitting of removable complete dentures and the fitting of some other types of removable dentures and oral and extraoral appliances under specific conditions as set out below and as described below.
- the trial fitting and repair of removable complete and partial implant overdentures prescribed and fitted by, a dentist or dental specialist.
As well as the activities delineated in the detailed scope for dental technology practice, clinical dental technology practice involves:
- fitting and relining of removable complete overdentures when there are no natural teeth remaining and there is no diseased or unhealed hard or soft tissue.
- fitting and relining removable partial dentures subject to the patient having obtained an oral health certificate from a dentist or dental specialist.
- taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the construction of complete and partial immediate dentures on the prescription of, and prior to the final fitting by, a dentist or dental specialist.
- taking impressions, relining and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the construction of removable complete and partial root/tooth overdentures subject to the patient having obtained an oral health certificate from and on the prescription of
a dentist or dental specialist, and prior to the final fitting by a dentist or dental specialist.
- fitting and repair of extraoral maxillofacial prostheses under the prescription of a dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner.
- taking impressions and undertaking other non invasive clinical procedures involved in the construction of removable complete and partial implant overdentures on the prescription of, and prior to the final fitting by,
a dentist or dental specialist. This does not include removal or placement of abutments such as healing, temporary or permanent, or impression copings.
- repairing removable, complete and partial implant overdentures prescribed and fitted by a dentist or dental specialist and appropriate referral when indicated.
- relining removable complete and partial implant overdentures on the prescription of, and prior to the final fitting by, a dentist or dental specialist.
- carrying out the clinical procedures associated with implant overdentures only if they have established
a formal professional relationship with a dental team which may include a dentist or dental specialist.
- in relation to the above activities:
- Obtaining medical and dental histories and consulting with other health practitioners as appropriate.
- Examination of the oral tissues to ensure that the patient’s mouth is fit for purpose and free of disease, disorder or abnormality.
- Referral of patients to a dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner when any disease, disorder
or abnormality is detected.
- Referral of patients to a dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner for a prescription for an oral health certificate and treatment plan where required.
- Preparation of a treatment plan (in association with
a prescription if required) and communicating this to the patient.
- Oral health education and promotion.
Practice in this context goes wider than clinical dental technology to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical and technical practice and public safety.
Areas of clinical dental technology practice which were
not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practises to the standard required by the Dental Council Policy on Advanced Areas of Practice and the Code of Practice on The Practice of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology and the working relationship within the Practice of Dentistry.
Prescribed Qualifications
- Registration in the dental technology scope of practice and a postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology (University of Otago).
The following scope of practice replaces the Scope for Implant Overdentures published in the New Zealand Gazette, 7 December 2006, No. 167, page 4856.
Additional Scopes of Practice for Clinical Dental Technology Practice
Scope for Implant Overdentures
The Scope for Implant Overdentures in Clinical Dental Technology Practice is set out in the documented "Detailed Scope for Implant Overdentures" produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council.
The scope involves 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.
Detailed Scope for Implant Overdentures
As well as the activities delineated in the detailed scopes for dental technology and clinical dental technology practice, the additional scope for implant overdenture practice includes:
- taking impressions and undertaking other non invasive clinical procedures involved in the construction of removable complete and partial implant overdentures on the prescription of, and prior to the final fitting by,
a dentist or dental specialist.
- repairing removable complete and partial implant overdentures prescribed and fitted by a dentist or dental specialist and appropriate referral when indicated.
- relining removable complete and partial implant overdentures on the prescription of, and prior to the final fitting by, a dentist or dental specialist.1
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.2
Key to Annotations
1Final fitting means ensuring the patient is referred back to the prescribing dentist for the ongoing monitoring and management of that patient’s oral health.
2The prescribed qualification above was available until 1 July 2007. Thereafter the prescribed qualification for registration in the additional Scope of Implant Overdentures will be the successful completion of
a DCNZ approved implant overdenture course or a pass in the DCNZ implant overdenture registration examination.