NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 32

17 MARCH 2011

The following replaces the scope of practice and the prescribed qualifications for the “Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice” in the previous notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 4 March 2010, No. 25, page 592.

Orthodontic Auxiliaries

Scope of Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice

The scope of practice for orthodontic auxiliaries is set out in the documented “Detailed Scope of Practice for Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice” produced and published from time to time by the Dental Council.

Orthodontic auxiliary practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with an orthodontic auxiliary’s approved training, experience and competence.

Orthodontic auxiliaries practise to a treatment plan prepared by a dentist or orthodontist for the patient concerned. Orthodontic auxiliaries practise under the direct supervision of a dentist or orthodontist who is present on the premises at which the work is carried out. The dentist or orthodontist is responsible for the patient’s overall clinical care outcomes(^5).

Orthodontic auxiliaries assist the dentist or orthodontist in implementing orthodontic treatment through performing such orthodontic procedures as taking impressions and making study models, inserting and removing some orthodontic appliances, preparing teeth for bonding, removing bonding composite and banding cement and providing oral health education and advice on the care and maintenance of orthodontic appliances.

Detailed Scope of Practice for Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice

Orthodontic Auxiliary practice involves:

• Taking clinical photographs for records
• Taking impressions. Obtaining a record of occlusal relationships
• Tracing cephalometric radiographs
• Placing separators
• Sizing of metal bands and their cementation including loose bands during treatment
• Supragingival polishing of teeth (as part of oral hygiene, before bonding and after removal of fixed attachments)
• Preparation of teeth for the bonding of fixed attachments and fixed retainers
• Indirect bonding of brackets as set up by the orthodontist
• Providing oral hygiene instruction and advice on the care and maintenance of orthodontic appliances
• Placing archwires as formed by the orthodontist when necessary and replacing ligatures/closing self ligating brackets
• Removing archwires after removing elastomeric or wire ligatures, or opening self ligating brackets
• Removing fixed orthodontic attachments and retainers
• Removing adhesives after the removal of fixed attachments using burs in slow speed handpieces where there is minimal potential for the removal of enamel
• Trial fitting of removable appliances. This does not include activation
• Fitting of passive removable retainers
• Bonding preformed fixed retainers
• Making study models, and fabricating retainers, and undertaking other simple laboratory procedures of an orthodontic nature
• Taking intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs.

Prescribed Qualifications

• Graduate Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting, Academy of Orthodontic Assisting; possession of a dental therapy, dental hygiene or dentistry qualification and approved experience in the provision of orthodontic auxiliary services under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency(^6), and a Dental Council approved course for Intra-oral and Extra-oral radiography.

• New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, Orthodontic Auxiliary Training Programme: Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting(^7), and a Dental Council approved course for Intra-oral and Extra-oral radiography.

The following replaces the scope of practice and the prescribed qualifications for the “Scope for General Dental Therapy Practice”, “Scope for Pulpotomies in Dental Therapy Practice”, “Scope for Stainless Steel Crowns in Dental Therapy practice”, “Scope for Radiography in Dental Therapy Practice” and “Scope for Diagnostic Radiography in Dental Therapy Practice” in the previous notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 11 December 2008, No. 192, page 5099.

Dental Therapists

Scope of Dental Therapy Practice

The scope of practice for dental therapists is set out in the documented “Detailed Scope of Practice for 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.

Detailed Scope of Practice for Dental Therapy Practice

The Dental Council defines the practice of dentistry as 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.

Dental therapy practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with a dental therapist’s approved education, training and competence.