Dental Therapy Scope of Practice




20 MAY 2005

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 81

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 Science (Oral Health), Auckland University of Technology; or
  • Undergraduate dental therapy degree or diploma from an Australian Dental Council accredited educational programme; or
  • Undergraduate dental therapy degree or diploma, or a undergraduate dental degree; and a pass in the DCNZ Dental Therapy Registration Examination.

ADDITIONAL SCOPES OF PRACTICE FOR DENTAL THERAPY PRACTICE

Scope for Pulpotomies in Dental Therapy Practice

Performing pulpotomies on primary teeth.

Prescribed Qualifications

  • 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; approved experience in the provision of dental therapy services within the scope of dental therapy practice; and evidence of successful completion of the University of Otago training module in pulpotomies; or


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Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa PDF NZ Gazette 2005, No 81


Gazette.govt.nz PDF NZ Gazette 2005, No 81





✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🏥 Scope of General Dental Therapy Practice

🏥 Health & Social Welfare
20 May 2005
Dental Therapy, Oral Health, Children, Adolescents, Disease Prevention

🏥 Prescribed Qualifications for Dental Therapists

🏥 Health & Social Welfare
20 May 2005
Dental Therapy, Qualifications, Education, Training, Registration

🏥 Scope for Pulpotomies in Dental Therapy Practice

🏥 Health & Social Welfare
20 May 2005
Dental Therapy, Pulpotomies, Primary Teeth, Training Module