17 MARCH 2011 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 32 875

Dental therapists and dentists have a consultative working relationship, which is documented in an agreement between the parties.

In collaboration with dentists and other health care professionals, and in partnership with individuals, whānau and communities, 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 therapy practice involves:

• obtaining medical histories and consulting with other health practitioners as appropriate
• examination of oral tissues, diagnosis of dental caries and recognition of abnormalities
• preparation of an oral care plan
• informed consent procedures
• administration of local anaesthetic using dentoalveolar infiltration, inferior dental nerve block and topical local anaesthetic techniques
• preparation of cavities and restoration of primary and permanent teeth using direct placement of appropriate dental materials
• extraction of primary teeth
• pulp capping in primary and permanent teeth
• preventive dentistry including cleaning, polishing and scaling (to remove deposits in association with gingivitis), fissure sealants, and fluoride applications
• oral health education and promotion
• taking of impressions for, constructing and fitting mouthguards8
• referral as necessary to the appropriate practitioner/agency
• performing pulpotomies on primary teeth.
• taking and interpreting periapical and bitewing radiographs
• preparing teeth for, and placing stainless steel crowns on primary teeth.

Dental therapy practice includes teaching, research and management given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety.

Prescribed Qualifications

1. Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago; or
2. Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology; or
3. Certificate in Dental Therapy or Certificate in Dental Nursing (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 (including interpreting periapical and bitewing radiographs under the direction and supervision of a dentist who can attest to competency) and evidence of successful completion of Dental Council approved courses for Pulpotomies and Stainless Steel Crowns and Radiography and Diagnostic Radiography (or an exemption certificate for radiography issued by the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB) current as at 18 September 2004); or
4. Diploma in Dental Therapy (issued by a New Zealand educational institution) and approved experience in the provision of dental therapy services within the scope of dental therapy practice (including interpreting periapical and bitewing radiographs under the direction and supervision of a dentist who can attest to competency) and evidence of successful completion of Dental Council approved courses for Pulpotomies and Stainless Steel Crowns and Radiography and Diagnostic Radiography (excluding a Diploma in Dental Therapy issued by University of Otago or an exemption certificate for radiography issued by the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB) current as at 18 September 2004); or
5. Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Therapy), University of Otago; or
6. Undergraduate dental therapy degree or diploma from the Australian Dental Council or Dental Board of Australia accredited educational programme that included education in Pulpotomies, Stainless Steel Crowns, Radiography and Diagnostic Radiography and registration in Australia; or
7. Undergraduate dental therapy degree or diploma, or an undergraduate dental degree; and a pass in the Dental Council Dental Therapy Registration Examination.

Key to Annotations

1 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.

2 Direct clinical supervision means the clinical supervision provided to a dental hygienist by a practising dentist or dental specialist when the dentist is present on the premises at the time the dental hygiene work is carried out.

3 Section 15 of the Radiation Protection Act 1965 requires non-licensed persons who take x-rays to do so under the supervision or instructions of a person who holds a licence under that Act.

4 With the introduction of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme in 2010 all Australian State Licensing Boards were replaced by the Dental Board of Australia.

5 Further detail on the working relationship between orthodontic auxiliaries and dentists/orthodontists will be set out in the relevant Dental Council Code of Practice.

6 The Dental Council approved this prescribed qualification on 10 July 2006.