The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act) describes a scope of practice as the health service that a practitioner registered in that scope of practice is permitted to perform, subject to any conditions for the time being imposed by the responsible authority.

The Council publishes a scope of practice as a Notice in the New Zealand Gazette under section 11 of the Act.

Scope of practice for clinical dental technology

The practice of clinical dental technology involves the processes and procedures associated with taking impressions, undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures related to the design, manufacture, repair and fitting of complete or partial removable oral and extra-oral appliances and prostheses, in accordance with a clinical dental technician’s approved education, training, experience and competence.

The scope of practice encompasses the clinical dental technology competencies.

Practice in this context goes wider than clinical dental technology practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety. Areas of clinical dental technology practice which were not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practises to the standards required by the Standards Framework for Oral Health Practitioners.

Scope of practice for implant overdentures 

The practice of implant overdentures by clinical dental technicians is the processes and procedures associated with taking impressions, undertaking other non-invasive clinical procedures related to the design, manufacture, repair and trial fitting of removable complete and partial implant overdentures, in accordance with this scope of practice and the clinical dental technician’s additional approved education, training, experience and competence.

Practice in this context goes wider than clinical dental technology practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety. Areas of implant overdentures practice which were not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practises to the standards required by the Standards Framework for Oral Health Practitioners.

Prescribed qualifications for the clinical dental technology scope of practice.