Pursuant to section 11 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, 21 October 2010, No. 143, page 3602.
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.
- removable partial dentures including precision attachments.
- fixed and removable orthodontic appliances.
- crowns and bridges including precision attachments on natural teeth and implants.
- implant overdentures and implant supported dentures.
- tissue and implant supported maxillofacial, ocular and auricular appliances and prostheses, and other appliances and prostheses involved in the overall prosthetic rehabilitation of patients.
- 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 restoration and try-in of the permanent restoration, without removal or placement of an abutment, as prescribed by and prior to the final fitting1 by a dentist or dental specialist.
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.
The following scope of practice replaces the Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice published in the
New Zealand Gazette, 21 October 2010, No. 143, page 3602.
Clinical Dental Technicians
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 Technology, 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.
- taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in 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.
- taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the trial fitting and repair of removable complete and partial implant overdentures prescribed and the final fitting2 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:
- taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the fitting and relining of removable complete dentures when there are no natural teeth remaining and there is no diseased or unhealed hard or soft tissue.
- taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the fitting and relining of 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 removable complete and partial immediate dentures
on the prescription of, and prior to the 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 fitting2 by a dentist or dental specialist.
- processes and procedures associated with extraoral maxillofacial prostheses, for those with formal training or if they can demonstrate that they have the requisite knowledge and training to undertake this work3:
- Taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the fitting, construction and repair of extraoral maxillofacial prostheses, that are not in direct communication
with the naso- or the orophayngeal airway under the prescription of a dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner, who remains responsible for the clinical outcomes of the patient.
- Taking impressions of maxillofacial defects that are
in direct communication with the naso- or the orophayngeal airway, for those clinical dental technicians with formal training or if they can demonstrate that they have the requisite knowledge and training to undertake this work, and only under the direct clinical supervision of a dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner qualified to manage an airway emergency, who remains responsible for the clinical outcomes of the patient.
- 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 fitting2 by a dentist or dental specialist. This does not include removal or placement of abutments such as healing, temporary or permanent, or fixture level/subgingival impression copings.
- repairing and/or relining of removable complete
and partial implant overdentures on the prescription
of and prior to the final fit2 by a dentist or dental specialist and appropriate referral when indicated.
- designing, constructing, repairing and supplying appliances for the treatment of sleep disorders only on the prescription of a registered dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner.
- taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive procedures involved in the construction of an
anti-snoring device, however, only a dentist, dental specialist or medical practitioner, who retains responsibility for the clinical care outcomes, can perform the final fit2 of the appliance.
- 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.
The following scope of practice replaces the Scope for Scope for Implant Overdentures published in the
New Zealand Gazette, 21 October 2010, No. 143, page 3602.
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 fitting4 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 specialist4.
Key to Annotations
1Final fitting for dental technicians means ensuring the patient returns to the prescribing dentist/dental specialist as soon as possible on the same day for the refitting of the temporary or permanent restoration.
2Final fitting for clinical dental technicians means ensuring the patient is referred back to the prescribing dentist/dental specialist for the subsequent management and ongoing monitoring of that patient’s oral health.
3Practitioners should demonstrate that they have the requisite knowledge and training to undertake extraoral maxillofacial prostheses work in accordance with the Council’s Policy on Advanced and New Areas of Practice.
4Final fitting for clinical dental technicians means ensuring the patient is referred back to the prescribing dentist/dental specialist for the subsequent management and ongoing monitoring of that patient’s oral health.