Pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, this notice is issued by the Dental Council.
The following replaces the scope of practice for the "Scope for Adult Care in Dental Therapy Practice" in the notice published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 20 May 2005, No. 81, at page 1938 and the prescribed qualifications for the "Scope for Adult Care in Dental Therapy Practice" in the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 11 December 2008, No. 192, at page 5104.
Dental Therapy
Scope for Adult Care in Dental Therapy Practice
The provision of oral health assessment, treatment, management and prevention services; within the general dental therapy scope of practice; for adult patients aged 18 years and older that, depending on the dental therapist’s qualifications, is provided in a team situation under direct clinical supervision1 or the clinical guidance2 of a practising dentist/s or dental specialist/s. Disease prevention and oral health promotion and maintenance are core activities.
Prescribed Qualifications
Prescribed qualifications for practising under clinical guidance:
- Certificate in Dental Therapy (issued by the Department of Health or a New Zealand educational institution); registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy practice and a Dental Council accredited qualification in adult dental therapy practice3; or
- Diploma in Dental Therapy (issued by a New Zealand educational institution); registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy practice and a Dental Council accredited qualification in adult dental therapy practice; or
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Therapy), University of Otago; registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy practice and a Dental Council accredited qualification in adult dental therapy practice; or
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology; registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy practice and a Dental Council accredited qualification in adult dental therapy practice; or
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago; registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy Practice and a Dental Council accredited qualification in adult dental therapy practice.
For applications received before 19 September 2004
- Certificate in Dental Therapy (issued by the Department of Health or a New Zealand educational institution); registration
in the Scope of General Dental Therapy Practice and approved experience in the provision of oral healthcare to adults under the direction and supervision of a dentist, who can attest to competency; or
- Diploma in Dental Therapy (issued by a New Zealand educational institution); registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy Practice and approved experience in the provision of oral healthcare to adults under the direction and supervision of a dentist, who can attest to competency; or
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Therapy), University of Otago; registration in the Scope of General Dental Therapy practice and approved experience in the provision of oral healthcare to adults under direction and supervision of a dentist, who can attest to competency.
Prescribed qualifications for practising under direct clinical supervision:
Currently no training programmes have been accredited.
Key to Annotations
1Direct clinical supervision means the clinical supervision provided to a dental therapist by a practising dentist or dental specialist when the dentist is present on the premises at the time the dental therapy work is carried out.
2Clinical guidance means the professional support and assistance provided to a dental therapist by a practising dentist or dental specialist as part of the provision of overall integrated care to the adult patient group. Dental therapists 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 adult patient group.
3Currently no training programmes have been accredited.