Dental Therapy

The New Zealand Scene

Dr Lyndie Foster Page

BSc BDS MPH
Dental Public Health
Specialist
Taranaki District Health Board
New Zealand
New Zealand

4 million people

1.5 million in Auckland

Mori people are the

tangata whenua (indigenous
people)

15 percent of the NZ
population
History

NZ government noted the appalling state of soldiers teeth in

WWI

Survey showed 90% of NZs children required dental care

Introduced trained women into primary schools to educate

children and families on healthy living and nutrition and
provide treatment

World first

1921 SDS began with dental nurses entering the workforce 2

years later
School Dental Nurses
Presently
HPCA Act 2004 Therapists registered

Workforce shortage nationally

Employed in public sector

Facilities not meet standards to practice

modern day dentistry

Increase in wages and professional status

Review of child and adolescent oral health

19902004 Prevalence of Decay
Percentage Decay Free
1990-2004 Severity of
Decay
Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth
Access
Outcomes
5-year-olds nationally 95-
99% seen annually till year
8 of school
Early enrolment
Projects running to improve
preschool access to Maori
and low-SES families
Data analysed at
ethnicity/SES/fluoride
exposure level
2003 Public Health Advisory
Committee report showed
that the SDS reduces oral
health inequalities but they
return in the early 20s
Reduced acute sequelae
from early enrolment, early
detection, prevention and
intervention when needed
Dental Therapy Training
Two training institutes in NZ

AUT University
Bachelor of Health Sciences in Oral Health 2002
Bachelor of Health Sciences in Oral Health 2006
(hygiene/therapy) intake numbers doubled
Plan to introduce Adult Scope into degree in future

University of Otago
Diploma in Dental Therapy
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Dental Therapy) 2002
Bachelor of Oral Health 2007 (hygiene/therapy)
Safety
Therapists were not registered until 2004

PDO (dentist) was responsible for standard of care prior to this

date

No cases against PDOs and only one case of a therapists

standard of care has been investigated but not pursued

Complaints occur with any health professionals

DCNZ national competencies for therapist to ensure ongoing

high standards of care

Currently 500-600 therapists

NZ Dental Therapy
Scopes of practice DCNZ
Subset of the practice of dentistry

Commensurate with a dental therapists approved education,

training and competence

Provide oral health assessment, treatment, management and

prevention services for children and adolescents up to age 18

Disease prevention and oral health promotion and

maintenance are core activities

Dental therapists and dentists have a consultative working

relationship which is documented in an agreement
My Role
Clinical governance and support

Continuing professional development

Clinic visits

Health promotion/prevention

Dental advisor for DHB

Ministry of Health steering group for improving oral health for children

Hospital Clinician
Future in NZ
Joint dental therapy and hygiene degree

Adult scope of practice

Working in private/public

More Maori/Polynesian and male therapists

Team working environment

More involved in public health policy

Thank you