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What's New
  • Consultation on the draft Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice Code of Practice
    24 May 2013
     
    Dental Council has issued a consultation document on the proposed draft Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice Code of Practice. The consultation document was issued to all practitioners and stakeholders to gather views from the sector to inform Council's decision.
     
    Council seeks any comments on the proposal by the close of business on 19 July 2013.
     
     
  • Consultation Outcome - Code of Practice on Advertising
    19 April 2013
     
    The Dental Council has recently approved a Code of Practice on Advertising, which informs oral health practitioners of the standards of practice that are required of them when advertising oral health services.
     
    The Code will take effect from 1 November 2013. This timeframe is to enable oral health practitioners the opportunity to make any necessary amendments to their advertising to ensure that it is compliant with the Code.
     
    Click here for the consultation outcome letter and the Code of Practice on Advertising.
     
     
  • Consultation Outcomes on the proposed prescribed qualifications for the General Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Technology Scopes of Practice
    27 March 2013
     
    The Dental Council issued a consultation document during October 2012 on the proposed prescribed qualifications for the General Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Technology Scopes of Practice.
     
    The Council considered all the submissions, and approved the following qualifications for the respective scopes of practice:
     
      • University of Otago Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours as a prescribed qualification for the general dental scope of practice.
      • University of Otago Bachelor of Dental Technology with Honours as a prescribed qualification for the dental technology scope of practice.
      • University of Otago Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as a prescribed qualification for the oral and maxillofacial surgery scope of practice.
     
    The notices are scheduled to be published in the New Zealand Gazette on 4 April 2013. Further details can be found in the outcomes letter.
     
     
  • Expression of interest - Oral Health Therapist Working Group
    21 March 2013
     
    The Dental Council issued an expression of interest to serve on its Oral Health Therapist Working Group ("working group") in November 2012. The call was for the dental academic, dentist, and dual-trained dental hygienist-dental therapist positions.
     
    During its February 2013 meeting Council noted the nominations received and considered requests submitted to it for an expansion to the membership of the working group. Council agreed that the inclusion of practitioners with more extensive practice experience in dental hygiene and dental therapy would add value to discussions on complex issues such as training, scope of practice development, working relationships, supervisory levels and international practice.
     
    Accordingly, the Dental Council is seeking further expressions of interest to fill the separate positions of a dental hygienist and a dental therapist to serve on the Oral Health Therapist Working Group. For more detail on the process and the updated terms of reference of the working group, please click here.
     
    All interested candidates must forward a Curriculum Vitae to the Council by close of business 4 April 2013.
     
     
  • Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Orthodontic Auxiliaries, Dental Technicians and Clinical Dental Technicians - Annual Practising Certificate Renewal Cycle 2013/14
    23 February 2013
     
    All Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Orthodontic Auxiliaries, Dental Technicians and Clinical Dental Technicians' Annual Practising Certificates (APCs) expire on 31 March 2013. The APC and Retention forms were mailed to practitioners on 22 February 2013. If you have not received your APC or Retention form, or would like to change your practising status please download, complete and submit the relevant forms at this link.
     
    Easter Weekend
    Please be aware that standard post can take several days to be delivered, especially if you are located outside the main cities. Also, keep in mind that Easter Sunday is the last day of the current APC cycle. Because of the Easter statutory holidays, the last business day for receipt of your application is Thursday, 28 March 2013. Following the statutory holidays the Dental Council will reopen on Tuesday 02 April 2013.
    Practitioners are strongly encouraged to submit their forms as soon as possible, and to aim for their forms to reach the Dental Council office by 22 March 2013, especially if you require the hard copy of your APC on 01 April 2013. The Public Register on the Dental Council website is updated daily on working days, and practitioners can view their APC status at the following link: www.dcnz.org.nz/cgi-bin/searchohp.pl.
     
     
  • New Recertification Programme for all Dentists and Dental Specialists commencing 1 January 2013
    18 December 2012
     
    A letter was posted to all registered dentists and dental specialists on 18 December 2012, to give formal notice that at its meeting on 3 December 2012, the Dental Council set a recertification programme (a new four-year continuing professional development cycle) for all dentists and dental specialists, to commence on 1 January 2013 and finish on 31 December 2016. For a copy of this letter please click here.
     
     
  • Outcomes - Follow-up Consultation on the Specialty of Oral Surgery in New Zealand
    18 December 2012
     
    Council considered, at its December 2012 meeting, the submissions received from stakeholders on the follow-up consultation on the Specialty of Oral Surgery in New Zealand. To view the outcome of the consultation click here.
     
     
  • Dental Council Newsletter - December 2012
    3 December 2012
     
    The Dental Council newsletter for December 2012 contains the following articles:
     
    Message from the Chair - December 2012 | Budget 2013/14, fees and disciplinary levies consultation | Disciplinary levy for dental technicians and clinical dental technicians | Council membership | Update on shared secretariat | End of continuing professional development cycle for dentists and dental specialists | New Recertfication Programme for all dentists/dental specialists commencing 1 January 2013 | Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 review | Specialty of Oral Surgery in New Zealand | Other Dental Council activities | Updated standing order guidelines | Professional conduct and disciplinary matters | Discipline and competence costs | Practitioners' corner
     
    The Dental Council Newsletter December 2012 edition can be read as a pdf version or as an interactive flipbook.
     
     
  • Expression of interest - Oral Health Therapist Working Group
    30 November 2012
     
    The Dental Council is seeking expressions of interest to serve on its Oral Health Therapist Working Group, to fill the positions of dental academics, dentist, and dual-trained dental hygienists - dental therapists. For more detail on the process and the terms of reference of the working group, please click here.
     
    All interested candidates must forward a Curriculum Vitae to the Council by close of business 25 January 2013.
     
     
  • Dentist convicted of dishonesty offences censured
    30 November 2012
     
    Dr Ryan Woongki Kim, previously a registered dentist in New Zealand but presently a periodontist practising in New South Wales, Australia, was convicted in New Zealand in 2011 on four charges relating to dishonestly obtaining a student allowance to which he was not entitled. As a consequence of those convictions and an application from Dr Kim for registration as a dental specialist in New Zealand, he was referred by Dental Council to a PCC, and a disciplinary charge was then laid before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) that he had been convicted of offences that reflect adversely on his fitness to practise.
     
    The Tribunal ordered that Dr Kim be censured and pay a $10,000 contribution to costs, to be divided equally between the PCC and Tribunal costs incurred in this matter.
     
    A copy of the full decision can be accessed on the HPDT website - www.hpdt.org.nz.
    Dr Kim (488/Den12/218P)
     
     
  • New Graduate Application Form 2012
    29 November 2012
     
    The New Graduate Application Form is available for 2012 graduates (undergraduate or postgraduate) of New Zealand qualifications who are seeking registration in New Zealand. This form is only valid until 31 March 2013.
     
     
  • Consultation on the 2013/14 Budget, Annual Practising Certificate and other Fees and Disciplinary Levies
    21 November 2012
     
    The Dental Council has issued a consultation document on the proposed 2013/14 Budget, Annual Practising Certificate and other Fees and Disciplinary levies, effective 1 April 2013. The covering letter and consultation document was sent to all registered practitioners today.
    The Council seeks comments by 21 January 2013. Council welcomes your feedback, and will be considering all submissions at its 4 February 2013 meeting.
     
     
  • Disciplinary Levy for dental technicians and clinical dental technicians
    20 November 2012
     
    Significant costs have been incurred by the Council in prosecuting disciplinary action against a number of Dental Technicians and Clinical Dental Technicians. Council has accordingly imposed upon all dental technicians and clinical dental technicians who were practising as at 5 November 2012 a disciplinary levy of $268.78 exclusive of GST.
     
    The Disciplinary Levy was published in the New Zealand Gazette on Thursday 15 November 2012, and will come in effect after 28 days. Invoices will then be issued to practitioners.
     
    For a copy of the letter issued please click here.
     
     
  • Continuing Professional Development cycle - Dentists/Dental Specialists
    9 November 2012
     
    The four year Continuing Professional Development ("CPD") cycle for Dentists and Dental Specialists ends on 31 December 2012. By then practitioners are required to have completed 80 hours of verifiable CPD and, a minimum of 12 peer contact activities.
     
    A letter has been sent to all practitioners setting out Council's requirements and how to comply with CPD obligations. A schedule (in Microsoft Word format) has also been sent which practitioners may be required to complete and return to Council - the letter explains who is required to do so.
     
    For further details on the specific CPD requirements, refer to Council's Policy on Continuing Professional Development Activities.
     
    Should practitioners require additional information, please contact the Dental Council secretariat on 04 499 4820 or by email to inquiries@dcnz.org.nz.
     
     
  • Cancellation of registration, censure, and costs ordered against dental technician
    1 November 2012
     
    The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal expressed strong disapproval for the conduct of a registered dental technician, Mr Daniel George Sutherland, finding his conduct "completely unacceptable". It was established that he had practised without a current practising certificate; practised outside the scope of his practising certificate; and inappropriately advertised his services. Accordingly, Mr Sutherland was found guilty of professional misconduct.
     
    Mr Sutherland operated a denture repair service in Whakatane and advertised his services in making and fitting dentures directly to the public when he knew that such services were outside his scope of practice as a dental technician and/or restricted activities under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
     
    The Tribunal noted, as an aggravating factor, he knowingly provided clinical services he was not permitted to perform and he had "deliberately and cynically" chosen to "ignore the requirements, for personal financial gain". Further aggravating factors included, Mr Sutherland continuing to provide clinical services after being told his conduct was under investigation and, continuing to practice without a practicing certificate after repeatedly being advised his certificate had expired. The Tribunal noted it was a fundamental requirement of all health practitioners that they could be trusted. Mr Sutherland's conduct was dishonest and "put members of the public at significant risk of harm". His refusal to engage with the professional conduct committee (PCC) and the Tribunal showed "a significant lack of insight".
     
    The Tribunal ordered the cancellation of Mr Sutherland's registration as a dental technician. He was censured and ordered to pay costs of $38,000 (being 50% of the costs and disbursements of the PCC and the Tribunal). The Tribunal noted that the high award of costs might cause hardship, but it was regarded as appropriate.
    Mr Sutherland (481/Dtech11/199P) (http://www.hpdt.org.nz)