Under the Legislation Act 2019, notice is given of the making of the following secondary legislation:

This secondary legislation can be accessed at: https://dcnz.org.nz/resources-and-publications/resources/gazette-notices/.

The following replaces the prescribed qualifications for the scope of practice for oral surgery specialists as published in the New Zealand Gazette, 19 January 2023, Notice No. 2023-sl79. The scope of practice and competencies for oral surgery specialists as published in the New Zealand Gazette, 19 January 2023, Notice No. 2023-sl79 remain unchanged.

Prescribed Qualifications for the Scope of Practice for Oral Surgery Specialists

New Zealand Accredited Programme

• DClinDent (Oral Surgery) University of Otago¹.

Competent Authority – Qualification

Australia

• An Australian educational institution specialist qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of specialist registration in oral surgery in Australia².

Examination

• Two years or more of full-time equivalent postgraduate oral surgery specialist qualification, evidence of research activity and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Specialist Registration Examination.

Competent Authority – Registration³ (from 1 November 2026)

• Current full/unrestricted/unconditional registration appropriate for practice as an oral surgery specialist with a competent authority(s) recognised by the Dental Council⁴; and
• Clinical practice⁵ in specialist oral surgery in the recognised competent authority(s) for at least 24 months (working 20 hours or more per week) in the past five years, including 12 months within the last 18 months immediately prior to application.

Dated at Wellington this 31st day of March 2026.

MARIE MACKAY, Chief Executive, Dental Council.

Endnotes

1. Conferred from 2016.

2. From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.

3. Upon commencement of practice in New Zealand, practitioners registered under the competent authority registration pathway will practise under the oversight of a Dental Council approved practitioner for a period of at least six months under the terms of the oversight protocol.

4. United Kingdom (General Dental Council), Republic of Ireland (Dental Council of Ireland), Australia (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) for oral surgery specialist practice.

5. Clinical practice means 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.