Dental Council of New Zealand

The Overseas Trained Dentist Preliminary (OTDP) Written Examination

The application forms for assssment of eligibility to enrol in the NZDREX OTDP Written examination are currently unavailable due to recent Council policy changes. The revised application forms will be available from the 19th March 2010.

An assessment of eligibility to enter the Dental Registration process.

If you are not already enrolled in the NZDREX process you need to download, complete and return form DE001. This form includes covering notes and a general guide to the information that is required. Please note in particular the prerequisites for entry into the examination process.

If you applied for individual assessment of your qualifications and training within the last two years and were advised to sit the Dental Registration Examinations, you need to download, complete and return form DE001A. Your documentation will be reviewed for currency and your request for a subsequent attempt will be processed. Applications received more than two years ago are no longer current and you are required to submit a new application (DE001) and supply full supporting documentation.

Please complete the relevant form, and return to the Dental Council together with the necessary documentation and fees by the listed DCNZ application closing date to commence your application for enrolment in this examination.

Fees paid for assessment of eligibility and subsequent assessments are non-refundable.

Details

The OTDP Examination tests your knowledge and understanding of the scientific bases of oral health care and your ability to apply that knowledge in the general area of pre-clinical health sciences (medical and oral).

You should be able to discuss a wide range of issues of relevance to oral health in the biological, physical (including biomaterials) social and clinical sciences.

Structure of the Examination

The OTDP Examination consists of two 2-hour papers and one 1-hour paper.

The OTDP Examination consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and short-answer questions (SAQ). It is designed to test the candidates' knowledge of dentistry and of clinical and technical procedures relevant to dental practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Different questions are included for each examination. The standard of examination is at the same level.

The standard of knowledge and experience required is equivalent to that of the New Zealand qualifying BDS (Otago) examination. However the Dental Council takes the view that candidates will often have completed their formal studies some time ago, so that the standard is set at the 5th year graduating level, with the scope of theoretical knowledge focussed on areas directly relevant to patient care and treatment.

The competencies required for the BDS degree at the University of Otago are:

A sound understanding of current scientific dental-related knowledge.
Understand current biological, physical, cultural, social and psychological factors that influence the attainment and maintenance of oral health.
Ability to obtain client or patient information.
Obtain relevant objective and subjective information. Record client or patient information logically and legibly.
Ability to analyse client or patient information.
Assess information and write a problem list which identifies problems, their causes, predictions, priorities and client or patient options. Support the problem list with evidence.
Ability to plan an oral healthcare programme.
Develop a written programme of the interventions required by the client, patient or dentist to attain or maintain oral health identifying options, priorities, predictions of outcomes, the extent and durations of interventions.
Ability to provide or make provision for oral health care.
Where necessary, inform patient of procedures, carry out agreed intervention, or refer client or patient to appropriate professional.
Ability to be able to assess the effectiveness of oral health.
Objectively assess both short-term and long-term methods of intervention.
In addition, students should monitor, and make provision for, continuing personal professional development.
Attend professional courses
Seek peer review
Analyse treatment records.

For the BDS Otago degree, each student must be able to:

recognise each patient as an individual with particular needs and expectations in health
demonstrate an understanding of oral health promotion and a sound knowledge of the means by which oral health can be achieved
show the ability to deal in a rational manner with any problem in dentistry
practise dentistry to a level of competence consistent with that required to register as a dental practitioner in New Zealand
communicate effectively with patients, with other health workers, and with the public
evaluate literature relevant to dentistry
understand the legal, ethical, personal and social responsibilities of dentists.

Candidate Information

Information for Candidates for this examination can be read in the OTDP Candidate Information Handbook.

Timetable

Refer to the Examinations Timetable for the scheduled dates for this examination.

All assessments of eligibility and subsequent assessments of eligibility must be received before the published closing date.