✨ Dental Practice Regulations
2908
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 120
15 SEPTEMBER 2004
Scope of Practice for Special Needs Dentistry Specialists
Special Needs Dentistry Specialists practise in the branch of dentistry that is concerned with the oral health care of people adversely affected by intellectual disability, medical, physical or psychiatric issues.
(NB special needs specialists who wish to identify their particular expertise in hospital dentistry can apply to the Council to use the specialist title “Special Needs Dentistry (Hospital)”).
Specialist Special Needs Dentistry is undertaken by a dental practitioner who possesses additional postgraduate qualifications, training and experience recognised by the Council as appropriate for registration.
Prescribed Qualifications
- MDS (Special Needs) University of Otago; or
- Two years or more of full time equivalent postgraduate training in the specialty at a recognised tertiary academic institution or equivalent; evidence of research activity; a pass in the New Zealand Special Needs Dentistry Specialist Examination and a pass in the New Zealand Conditions of Practice Examination.
Dental Therapists
Scope of General Dental Therapy Practice
The scope of practice for dental therapists is set out in the documented “Detailed Scope of General Dental Therapy Practice” produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council.
Dental therapy practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with a dental therapist’s approved education, training and competence.
Dental therapists provide oral health assessment, treatment, management and prevention services for children and adolescents up to age 18. Disease prevention and oral health promotion and maintenance are core activities.
Dental therapists and dentists have a consultative working relationship, which is documented in an agreement between the parties.
Prescribed Qualifications
- Certificate in Dental Therapy (issued by the Department of Health or a New Zealand educational institution) and approved experience in the provision of dental therapy services within the scope of dental therapy practice; or
- Diploma in Dental Therapy (issued by a New Zealand educational institution); or
- Bachelor of Health Sciences (Endorsement in Dental Therapy), University of Otago; or
- Bachelor of Health Sciences (Dental Therapy), AUT; or
- Undergraduate dental therapy degree or diploma from an Australian Dental Council accredited educational programme; or
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Online Sources for this page:
VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 2004, No 120
Gazette.govt.nz —
NZ Gazette 2004, No 120
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Dental Council Scopes of Practice and Related Qualifications
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🏥 Health & Social WelfareDental Council, Scopes of Practice, Qualifications, Special Needs Dentistry, Dental Therapists, Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003