15 SEPTEMBER 2004

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 120

Dental hygienists practise in a team situation with clinical guidance provided by a practising dentist or dental specialist.⁴

Prescribed Qualifications

• Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; or

• New Zealand Defence Force training programme in Dental Hygiene and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice; or

• New Zealand Dental Association Operating Auxiliaries Course and hold a prescribed qualification for the Scope of General Dental Therapy and a minimum of 600 clinical hours’ experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice⁵; or

• Diploma in Dental Hygiene issued by a New Zealand educational institution; or

• Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago; or

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Otago and a minimum of 600 clinical hours experience subsequent to 1 July 2001 in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice ⁶; or

• Undergraduate dental hygiene degree or diploma from an Australian Dental Council accredited educational institution; or

• A pass in the DCNZ Dental Hygiene Registration Examination.

Scope of Dental Auxiliary Practice

The scope of practice for dental auxiliaries is set out in the documented “Detailed Scope of Dental Auxiliary Practice” produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council. Dental auxiliary practice is a subset of the practice of dental hygiene and is commensurate with the dental auxiliary’s approved training, experience and competence.

Dental auxiliary practice involves prevention of oral health disease through the application of non-prescription preventive agents to the teeth; oral health education and promotion; and treatment of oral health disease through the removal of plaque and calculus.

Dental auxiliaries practise under the direct clinical supervision of a dentist who is present on the premises at which the work is carried out and who has completed an initial periodontal

⁴ Clinical guidance means the professional support and assistance provided to a dental hygienist by a practising dentist or dental specialist as part of the provision of overall integrated care to the patient group. Dental hygienists 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 patient group. Dental hygienists are responsible and accountable for their own clinical practice within their scope of practice but the dentist or dental specialist is responsible and accountable for the clinical guidance provided. Further detail on the working relationship between dental hygienists and dentists will be set out in the relevant Dental Council Code of Practice.

⁵ This prescribed qualification will be withdrawn as at 19 September 2004

⁶ This prescribed qualification will be withdrawn as at 19 September 2004