Orthodontic auxiliaries
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.
Orthodontic auxiliary practice is a subset of dental hygiene practice that involves implementing orthodontic treatment plans prepared by a dentist or orthodontist, by performing orthodontic procedures and providing oral health education and advice on the care and maintenance of orthodontic appliances in accordance with an orthodontic auxiliary’s approved education, training, experience and competence.
Orthodontic auxiliaries practise under the direction of the dentist or orthodontist who is responsible for the patient’s clinical care outcomes and who is on-site at the time care is provided.
The scope of practice encompasses the orthodontic auxiliary competencies.
Practice in this context goes wider than clinical orthodontic auxiliary practice to include teaching, research, and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety. Areas of orthodontic auxiliary 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 orthodontic auxiliary competencies describes the minimum competencies a practitioner must achieve through their education and training to be registered in the orthodontic auxiliary scope.
The competencies prescribe the scope of practice for orthodontic auxiliary 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 an orthodontic auxiliary; 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 orthodontic auxiliary practice.
Orthodontic auxiliaries practise under the direct supervision of a dentist or orthodontist who is present on the premises at which the work is carried out and who is responsible for the patient’s overall clinical care outcomes.
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 orthodontic auxiliary scope of practice:
New Zealand accredited programmes
- Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting, New Zealand Association of Orthodontists: Orthodontic Auxiliary Training Programme1.
- Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice before 1 November 2017.
- Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology conferred from 2011, and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene practice before 1 November 2017.
- Bachelor of Health Science (Endorsement in Dental Hygiene), University of Otago conferred from 2002, and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice2.
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene, University of Otago conferred from 2002, and registration in the Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice, and a Dental Council approved course for extra-oral radiography2.
1 The Dental Council approved this prescribed qualification on 15 February 2010.
2 Accreditation expired.
Competent authority – registration (from 1 November 2026)3
- Current full/unrestricted/unconditional orthodontic auxiliary or equivalent registration with a competent authority(s) recognised by the Dental Council4.
- Clinical practice5 in orthodontic auxiliary practice in the recognised competent authority(s) for at least 33 months (working 20 hours or more per week) during the 48 months immediately 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) for the purposes of orthodontic auxiliary practice.
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 under prescription of a dentist or orthodontist.
Other
- Graduate Certificate of Orthodontic Assisting, Academy of Orthodontic Assisting, and possession of a dental therapy, dental hygiene or dentistry qualification and approved experience in the provision of orthodontic auxiliary services under the direction and supervision of a dentist or dental specialist who can attest to competency6.
6 The Dental Council approved this prescribed qualification on 10 July 2006.
Limited registration: Teaching and research (from 1 November 2026)7, 8
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.
7 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.
8 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.