12 JULY 2012

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 84

2297

Dental Technology practice is a subset of the practice of
dentistry, and is commensurate with a Dental Technician’s
approved education, training and competence.

It involves processes and procedures associated with the
design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral
and extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed by a
practising dental specialist, dentist, clinical dental technician,
medical practitioner or other practising health practitioner.

The working relationship between dental technicians and
prescribing practising health practitioners is set out in the
Dental Council Code of Practice – The Practice of Dental
Technology and Clinical Dental Technology and the
working relationship within the Practice of Dentistry.

Detailed Scope for Dental Technology Practice

The Dental Council defines the practice of Dental
Technology as processes and procedures associated with
the design, manufacture and repair of fixed and removable
oral and extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed by a
practising dental specialist, dentist, clinical dental technician,
medical practitioner or other practising health practitioner.

This involves:

• selection of appropriate dental materials for the design,
  manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral
  and extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed by
  a practising dental specialist, dentist, clinical dental
  technician, medical practitioner or other practising health
  practitioner.

• processes and procedures associated with the design,
  manufacture and repair of:

  • complete removable dentures and overdentures.
  • removable partial dentures including precision
    attachments.
  • fixed and removable orthodontic appliances.
  • crowns and bridges including precision attachments
    on natural teeth and implants.
  • implant overdentures and implant supported dentures.
  • tissue and implant supported maxillofacial, ocular and
    auricular appliances and prostheses, and other
    appliances and prostheses involved in the overall
    prosthetic rehabilitation of patients.
  • specialist treatment appliances such as, but not
    limited to:
    diagnostic stents and radiographic stents,
    appliances for the treatment of temporomandibular
    disorders, appliances for the treatment of
    speech disorders, appliances for the treatment
    of sleep disorders and appliances for the
    treatment of audio disorders.

• undertake shade taking and shade checking, which may
  include the removal of a pre-loosened temporary
  restoration and try-in of the permanent restoration,
  without removal or placement of an abutment, as
  prescribed by and prior to the final fitting¹ by a dentist or
  dental specialist.

Practice in this context goes wider than dental technology
to include teaching, research, and management, given that
such roles influence clinical and technical practice and
public safety. Areas of dental technology practice that
were not included in a practitioner’s training should not
be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed
appropriate training and practices to the standard required
by the relevant Code of Practice.

The following scope of practice replaces the Scope for
Clinical Dental Technology Practice published in the
New Zealand Gazette, 21 October 2010, No. 143, page
3602.

Clinical Dental Technicians

Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice

The Scope of Practice for Clinical Dental Technicians is set
out in the documented “Detailed Scope for Clinical Dental
Technology Practice” produced and published from time to
time by the Dental Council.

Clinical Dental Technology practice is a subset of the
practice of dentistry, and is commensurate with a Clinical
Dental Technician’s approved education, training and
competence.

It involves the scope of practice for Dental Technology, plus
the fitting of complete removable dentures and the fitting
of some other types of removable dentures and oral and
extraoral appliances under specific conditions – as set out in
the detailed scope of practice.

The working relationship between clinical dental technicians
and prescribing practising health practitioners is set out in
the Dental Council Code of Practice – The Practice of
Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology and the
working relationship within the Practice of Dentistry.

Detailed Scope for Clinical Dental Technology Practice

The Dental Council defines the practice of clinical dental
technology as:

• processes and procedures associated with the design,
  manufacture and repair of fixed and removable oral and
  extraoral appliances and prostheses prescribed by a
  practising dentist, dental specialist, medical practitioner
  or other authorised health practitioner as set out in the
  detailed scope for dental technology practice.

• taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive
  clinical procedures involved in the fitting of removable
  complete dentures and the fitting of some other types of
  removable dentures and oral and extraoral appliances
  under specific conditions as set out below and as
  described below.

• taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive
  clinical procedures involved in the trial fitting and repair
  of removable complete and partial implant overdentures
  prescribed and the final fitting² by a dentist or dental
  specialist.

As well as the activities delineated in the detailed scope for
dental technology practice, clinical dental technology
practice involves:

• taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive
  clinical procedures involved in the fitting and relining of
  removable complete dentures when there are no natural
  teeth remaining and there is no diseased or unhealed
  hard or soft tissue.

• taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive
  clinical procedures involved in the fitting and relining of
  removable partial dentures subject to the patient having
  obtained an oral health certificate from a dentist or
  dental specialist.

• taking impressions and undertaking other non-invasive
  clinical procedures involved in the construction of
  removable complete and partial immediate dentures
  on the prescription of, and prior to the fitting by a dentist
  or dental specialist.

• taking impressions, relining and undertaking other
  non-invasive clinical procedures involved in the
  construction of removable complete and partial