Dental therapists
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 therapy is the provision of oral health assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures in accordance with a dental therapist’s approved education, training, experience and competence. Dental therapy services are provided to children and adolescents up to age 18.
Disease prevention, oral health promotion and maintenance are core activities, aimed at achieving and maintaining oral health as an integral part of general health.
The scope of practice encompasses the dental therapist competencies.
Practice in this context goes wider than clinical dental therapy practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety. Areas of dental therapy 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 HPCA Act.
The practice of dental therapy on adults is the provision of oral health assessment, treatment, management and prevention services within the general dental therapy scope of practice for adult patients aged 18 years and older.
Depending on the dental therapist’s qualifications this is provided in a team situation under direct clinical supervision1 or the clinical guidance2 of a practising dentist or dental specialist. Disease prevention, oral health promotion and maintenance are core activities.
Practice in this context goes wider than clinical dental therapy practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety. Areas of adult care in dental therapy 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.
1 Direct clinical supervision means the clinical supervision provided to a dental therapist by a practising dentist or dental specialist when the dentist is present on the premises at the time the dental therapy work is carried out.
2 Clinical guidance means the professional support and assistance provided to a dental therapist by a practising dentist or dental specialist as part of the provision of overall integrated care to the adult patient group. Dental therapists 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 adult patient group.
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 therapy competencies describe the minimum competencies a dental therapy graduate must achieve through their education and training to be registered in the scope of dental therapy.
The competencies prescribe the scope of practice for dental therapy 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
- Te hauora ā-waha o te hapori - Community oral health.
The competencies broadly describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of a dental therapist; 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 practice for dental therapy practice.
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 dental therapy.
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 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 current as at 18 September 20042.
- 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 current as at 18 September 2004)2.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Therapy), 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 pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns, radiography and diagnostic radiography3.
- An Australian educational institution dental degree approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the purposes of registration in dental therapy in Australia that included education in pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns, radiography and diagnostic 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.
Competent authority – registration (from 1 November 2026)5
- Current full/unrestricted/unconditional dental therapy registration with a competent authority(s) recognised by the Dental Council6.
- Clinical practice7 in dental therapy 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 United Kingdom (General Dental Council), United States of America (state dental boards), Australia (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) for the purposes of dental therapy.
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 therapy or dentist qualification and a pass in the New Zealand Dental Therapy Registration Examination.
The Dental Council has defined the following list of prescribed qualifications for the additional scope of adult care in dental therapy in practice, which would allow registration in the scope of adult care in dental therapy in New Zealand.
Prescribed qualifications for practising under clinical guidance:
- Certificate in Dental Therapy (issued by the Department of Health or a New Zealand educational institution) and registration in the scope of practice for dental therapy and a Dental Council accredited adult restorative programme.
- Diploma in Dental Therapy (issued by a New Zealand educational institution) and registration in the scope of practice for dental therapy and a Dental Council accredited adult restorative programme.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Therapy), University of Otago and registration in the scope of practice for dental therapy and a Dental Council accredited adult restorative programme.
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology and registration in the scope of practice for dental therapy and a Dental Council accredited adult restorative programme.
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago and registration in the scope of practice for dental therapy and a Dental Council accredited adult restorative programme.
Dental Council accredited adult restorative programmes:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (endorsed in Adult Restorative Dental Care), University of Otago1.
- Graduate Certificate of Health Sciences (Oral Health), Auckland University of Technology2.
- Graduate Certificate in Dental Therapy (Advanced Clinical Practice), University of Melbourne3.
1 Accredited 7 August 2023
2 Accredited 9 July 2024
3 Accredited 8 November 2022
Prescribed qualifications for practising under direct clinical supervision:
Currently no training programmes have been accredited.
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 1, 2.
1 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.
2 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.