Clinical dental technicians

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA 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 Dental Council publishes a scope of practice as a Notice in the New Zealand Gazette under section 11 of the HPCA Act.

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.

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA 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 Dental Council publishes a scope of practice as a Notice in the New Zealand Gazette under section 11 of the Act.

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.

The Dental Council defines competence as the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours (‘competencies’) an oral health practitioner must have to practise safely, competently, and professionally in their scope of practice.

The clinical dental technician competencies describes the minimum competencies a clinical dental technology graduate must achieve through their education and training to be registered in the scope of clinical dental technology.

The competencies prescribe the scope of practice for clinical dental technology practice.

The competencies are presented in the following domains:

• Ngaiotanga - Professionalism
• Whakawhiti kōrero - Communication
• Kaiakatanga ahurea – Cultural competence 
• Haumarutanga ahurea - Cultural safety 
• Ngā whakaaro kaikini - Critical thinking
• Mōhiotanga pūtaiao me te haumaru - Scientific and clinical knowledge
• Tiaki turoro -  Patient care

The competencies broadly describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of a clinical dental technician; and are outcomes focussed. The learning curriculum will provide the level and extent of detail needed to facilitate graduates’ achievement of these competencies, for registration in the scope of practice for clinical dental technology.

Clinical dental technology practice encompasses the dental technology scope of practice and includes additional activities.

It is assumed that all competencies are performed with a degree of quality consistent with patient and whānau well-being, and that oral health practitioners can self-evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the care they provide.

There is also a clear link between a number of the competencies and the standards embodied in the standards framework that registered oral health practitioners must meet.

The attached word version includes English hover text for Kupu Māori.

The Dental Council has prescribed the following qualifications for the scope of practice for clinical dental technology.

New Zealand accredited programme

• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology University of Otago.

Competent authority - qualification

Australia

• An educational institution dental prosthetics qualification accredited by the Australian Dental Council¹.
• An Australian educational institution qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of registration in dental prosthetics in Australia².

1   Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.

2   From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia.

Competent authority – registration (from 1 November 2026)³

• Current full/unrestricted/unconditional clinical dental technology or equivalent registration with a competent authority(s) recognised by the Dental Council⁴.
• Clinical practice⁵ in clinical dental technology in the recognised competent authority(s) for at least 33 months (working 20 hours or more per week) during the 48 months prior to application.

3   Upon commencement of practice in New Zealand, practitioners registered under the competent authority registration pathway will practise under the oversight of a Dental Council approved practitioner for a period of at least six months under the terms of the oversight protocol.

4   Republic of Ireland (Dental Council of Ireland), United Kingdom (General Dental Council), Australia (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) for the purposes of clinical dental technology.

5   Clinical practice means 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.

New Zealand examination

• A clinical dental technology qualification and a pass in the New Zealand Clinical Technology Registration Examination.

The Dental Council has prescribed the following qualification for the scope of practice for implant overdentures.

• A Dental Council approved implant overdenture course or a pass in the Dental Council implant overdenture registration examination.