Dental hygienists
See below for your:
- scope of practice - the health service a practitioner is permitted to perform
- competencies - the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to deliver the scope of practice
- prescribed qualifications - the qualifications that have gone through a formal accreditation or approval process and recognised by the Council.
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 dental hygiene is the prevention and non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases through the provision of oral health assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures in accordance with a dental hygienist’s approved education, training, experience and competence.
A dental hygienist guides patients’ personal care with the aim of achieving and maintaining oral health as an integral part of general health.
The scope of practice encompasses the dental hygiene competencies.
Practice in this context goes wider than clinical dental hygiene practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety. Areas of dental hygiene 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 dental hygiene competencies describes the minimum competencies a dental hygiene graduate must achieve through their education and training to be registered in the scope of dental hygiene.
The competencies prescribe the scope of practice for dental hygiene practice.
The competencies are presented in the following domains:
- Ngaiotanga - Professionalism
- Whakawhiti kōrero - Communication
- Kaiakatanga ahurea – Cultural competence (effective until 31 December 2022)
- Haumarutanga ahurea - Cultural safety (effective from 1 January 2023)
- Ngā whakaaro kaikini - Critical thinking
- Mōhiotanga pūtaiao me te haumaru - Scientific and clinical knowledge
- Tiaki turoro - Patient care
- Te hauora ā-waha o te hapori - Community oral health.
The competencies broadly describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of a dental hygienist; and are outcome 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 dental hygiene practice.
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 word version includes English hover text for Kupu Māori.
The Dental Council has prescribed the following qualifications for the scope of practice for dental hygiene.
New Zealand accredited programmes
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago1.
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology1.
- Certificate in Dental Hygiene issued by Otago Polytechnic and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography2.
- New Zealand Defence Force training programme in Dental Hygiene and approved experience in the provision of oral health services within the scope of dental hygiene practice, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography2.
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene issued by a New Zealand educational institution, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography2.
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene, University of Otago (orthodontic procedures conferred from 2002) and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic and extra-oral radiography2.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago2.
1 Before 1 November 2017.
2 Accreditation expired.
Competent authority - qualification
Australia
- An Australian Dental Council accredited programme that included education in administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography3.
- An Australian educational institution qualification approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of registration in dental hygiene in Australia that included education in administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography4.
3 Before 30 June 2010, and before 17 October 2010 for Western Australia.
4 From 1 July 2010 onwards, and 18 October 2010 onwards for Western Australia
Canada
- A Canadian educational institution dental hygiene qualification accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, and a pass in the Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
- A dental hygiene or dental qualification and a pass in the Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination, and a pass in a Canadian regional dental hygiene clinical examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
United Kingdom (UK)
- An approved UK educational institution dental hygiene qualification accredited by the GDC, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
- An approved UK educational institution dental hygiene qualification conferred by the GDC, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
United States of America (USA)
- A USA educational institution dental hygiene qualification accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
- A dental hygiene or dental qualification and a pass in the USA National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and a pass in a USA state board dental hygiene clinical examination, and Dental Council approved courses for administering local anaesthetic, undertaking orthodontic procedures, intra-oral radiography and extra-oral radiography.
Competent authority – registration5 (from 1 November 2026)
- Current full/unrestricted/unconditional dental hygiene registration with a competent authority(s) recognised by the Dental Council6.
- Clinical practice7 in dental hygiene 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.
5 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.
6 Republic of Ireland (Dental Council of Ireland), United Kingdom (General Dental Council), Canada (provincial dental regulators), United States of America (state dental boards), Australia (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) for the purposes of dental hygiene practice.
7 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 dental hygiene or dentist qualification and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination.
Limited registration: Teaching and research (from 1 November 2026)8, 9
Current registration with a recognised overseas oral health registering or licensing body in a Dental Council recognised scope of practice, that allows the practitioner to conduct oral health research and/or teaching relevant to the oral health profession.
8 To apply for registration in the teaching and research scope of practice, the practitioner must have confirmation of employment by a New Zealand tertiary education and/or research provider for New Zealand accredited oral health programmes.
9 Upon commencement of practice in New Zealand, the practitioner must work under the supervision of a Dental Council approved practitioner. Supervision is a permanent feature of the teaching and research scope of practice; this pathway does not lead to unconditional registration and the practitioner cannot undertake any individual or private clinical practice, including under supervision.