Dental Council of New Zealand

The NZDREX process for applicants
who enrolled prior to 4 November 2009

Policy

To view the Policy on the New Zealand Dental Registration Examinations for Dentists: Applicants with Assessment of Eligibility applications submitted PRIOR to 4 November 2009, click here.

Please Note:

Applicants who submitted their Assessment of Eligibility PRIOR to 4 November 2009 are required to complete the requirements of NZDREX by 2 August 2012.

If an applicant does not complete the NZDREX by 2 August 2012, the applicant will be required to enroll and comply with the Council's current policy (i.e. the Policy that applies to applicants with Assessment of Eligibility applications submitted AFTER 4 November 2009).

If an applicant has not yet passed the written component, the last written examination that may enable the applicant to satisfy this requirement is the March 2012 written examination. In particular, the applicant will need to sit and pass the March 2012 written examination and sit and pass the June 2012 clinical examination in order to complete the requirements of NZDREX by 2 August 2012. If you are one of these applicants, please read this document.

If an applicant has not yet passed the clinical component, they must sit and pass the June 2012 clinical examination at the latest. If you are one of these applicants, please read this document.

Written examination

The written examination tests the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the scientific bases of oral healthcare and the ability to apply this knowledge in the general area of pre-clinical health science (medical and oral).

Details of the Written Examination

Structure of the examination [+]

The written examination consists of:

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and
Short Answer Questions (SAQ)

These questions are designed to test your knowledge of dentistry and clinical and technical procedures relevant to dental practice in New Zealand and Australia. While different questions are included for each examination, the standard of each examination is at the same level.

The examination programme runs over two consecutive days: [+]

The written examination is conducted under strict supervision. Applicants will be provided with all material necessary. Calculators, slide rules or other mechanical or electronic aids are neither required nor permitted. Scrap paper is neither provided nor permitted for any of the papers.

Recent results indicate that some applicants need to take greater care in preparing for the written examination by studying more broadly and in greater depth. As many of the questions test clinical judgement and the ability to use specific knowledge, you are encouraged to analyse each question thoroughly before giving an answer. Please be aware that dental disease patterns, treatment needs, dental education and treatment methods are not the same in all countries.

Sample Questions [+]

Past examination papers are not available to applicants. You will however be sent a sample of MCQ questions, upon receipt of your completed application.

Each MCQ question is followed by several suggested answers. All MCQ questions require a single response. You are required to select the one response that represents the best answer and mark the corresponding letter alongside the question number of the attached answer sheet.

The following sample questions are intended to give applicants an indication of the format of the examination. They do not represent the degree of difficulty or the scope of any part of the examination:

Question	Answer
Dental caries is a: A. genetic disease B. nutritional deficiency disease C. disease caused by bacteria D. disease of auto-immune origin	The best answer is C, so the letter C should be marked alongside the number corresponding to this question on the Answer Sheet.
For the natural dentition it is better for the teeth on the balancing side to touch: A. only lightly or not at all B. heavily in balance C. prematurely in centric relation D. prematurely in centric occlusion	The best answer is A.
A patient wearing complete dentures complains of soreness. The first step in handling this complaint should be to: A. relieve the denture in the area that is sore B. reduce the occlusion on the teeth over the sore area C. determine the cause of the complaint before attempting treatment D. reline or refit the denture causing the soreness E. apply a tissue conditioner to the denture surface	The best answer is C.
A 25 year old male complained of many minute vesicles on the vermilion border of the upper lip. The vesicles were preceded by an �itching� sensation. The patient stated the vesicles develop �two or three times� a year. The most likely diagnosis is: A. impetigo B. herpes zoster C. recurrent herpes simplex infection D. primary herpetic stomatitis E. recurrent aphthous ulceration	The best answer is C.
The earliest apical radiographic change seen in a pulpally involved tooth is: A. resorption of bone B. loss of lamina dura C. widening of the periodontal ligament space D. hyper-cementosis E. external root resorption	The best answer is C.
The most common problem arising from premature extraction of deciduous molars is the loss of: A arch length B facial contour C vertical height D sibilant speech sounds E freeway space	The best answer is A.

Enrolment closing dates [+]

Applicants must ensure that your ADC preliminary examination form reaches the office of the Australian Dental Council by no later than the closing dates listed (see Examinations Timetable). Late applications will not be accepted and/or considered.
Venues [+]
The written examination may be taken in Australia, New Zealand or at a number of overseas sites.

Applicants will be advised where their examination will be held and dates confirmed approximately one month before the examination. You may nominate a venue in Australia, New Zealand or another overseas location. If your preferred venue is unavailable, a nearby venue will be offered. Every effort is made to offer you a suitable venue. Previous venues have included:
- AFRICA (Cairo, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Harare)
- ASIA (Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore)
- AUSTRALIA (All States and Territories)
- EUROPE (Athens, Brussels, London)
- MIDDLE EAST (Tehran)
- SUB CONTINENT (New Delhi, Islamabad)
- SOUTH AMERICA (Bogot�, Brasilia, Mexico)
The availability of venues does vary and some venues may not be available for a particular session.

All visa and travel arrangements are the applicant�s own responsibility. Failure to undertake the examination because of an inability to obtain necessary visas or to arrange travel, etc will be considered as a withdrawal and withdrawal fees will apply.

You are required to produce proof of identity, usually a passport. Any other details will be provided prior to the examination by the venue organisers.
Examination Fees [+]

The preliminary examination fee is payable in advance to ADC by all applicants sitting the examination.

To repeat the examination a separate application must be submitted and an additional application fee paid.

All fees paid must be by Bank Cheque in Australian dollars made payable to the Australian Dental Council, by Australian Money Order or by credit card - Visa or MasterCard only.

The current fee structure can be seen in this document from the Australian Dental Council.

Withdrawal Fees [+]

Results [+]

The ADC will advise you of your written examination results as soon as practicable. Results are usually released 10 to 12 weeks after the examination date. A copy of your results will also be forwarded to the Dental Council of New Zealand.

Please note that NO results will be given by phone, fax or email.

Clinical Examination

The objective of the clinical examination is to determine whether you can plan, manage, deliver and evaluate oral healthcare for individuals and communities.

This includes determining whether you:

can obtain and utilise patient information; and
demonstrate competence in New Zealand's preventive approach to oral health care for individuals and the community; and
are competent in a wide range of interventive strategies to manage oral disease and disability; and
can assess the effectiveness of intervention.

Details of the Clinical Examination

Structure of the examination [+]
The clinical examination is held over five days. You must perform satisfactorily in the first three days of the examination, before proceeding to the second part of the examination where you treat patients.
- OSCE [+]
  
  This is an objective, structured, clinical examination that tests theoretical and practical knowledge. You will be asked to write brief answers to questions or perform tasks relating to clinical care. You must be prepared to explain the scientific basis of clinical decisions. Typical tasks take 10 minutes and may include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, prescription writing, and problems of diagnosis and treatments, based on radiographs, photographs and study models. The total examination time is approximately two hours.
- Simulation 1, Simulation 2 & Simulation 3 [+]
  
  You simulate a wide range of tasks and procedures using manikins in a clinic. There are 7.5 hours of operating over three half-days. A dental assistant works with you. Procedures may include operative, periodontal, paediatric, prosthodontic, endodontic or orthodontic tasks.
  Examiners evaluate the way you perform the tasks and the final results.
- Visual Interpretation [+]
  
  You view images in a lecture room setting and write short notes in answer to written questions. The images may be photographs, drawings or radiographs. The questions may cover the aetiology, diagnosis and clinical management of oro-facial disorders, treatment options, the uses of materials or equipment, or any other topic relevant to general dental practice.
- Patient Clinical Procedures [+]
  Your performance in the first three days of the examination is discussed at an examiners' meeting chaired by the Examinations Director (appointed by the DCNZ and not an examiner). If you perform satisfactorily you proceed to see patients. Note that proceeding is not the same as passing. Proceeding means that the examiners consider you are safe to examine and treat patients under supervision and for the purposes of the examination.
  
  Patients
  
  You will perform various clinical procedures for patients. Some procedures are irreversible. The procedures will normally be completed in less than one hour.
  
  The components are:
  
  Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology
  
  Exodontia and Local Analgesia
  
  Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
  
  Oral Medicine and Diagnosis
  
  Communication Skills
  
  Procedures tested may vary. However, they will normally include all of the following:
  
  administration of analgesia; and
  
  exodontia or minor oral surgery; and
  
  history, examination, problem solving and treatment planning for patients of different ages and states of health; and
  
  specific clinical procedures from the range expected of a general dental practitioner in New Zealand.
  
  During the time you are interviewing and examining the patient in the Oral Medicine and Diagnosis component, your Communication Skills will be evaluated by two examiners.
  You are expected to have mastered the current BDS (Otago) communication competencies that are basic to the establishment of rapport with patients. The requirements are that an applicant should be able to:
  
  greet a patient warmly and introduce himself or herself confidently; and
  
  attend to the patient's comfort, for example to offer to hang up coats and hats, ensure the patient is seated comfortably, and minimise distractions; and
  
  arrange the local environment so that it is appropriate for an interview, ensure that the patient is in an upright position, that the applicant is facing the patient at the same height, with due attention to personal space; and
  
  use open-ended questions to obtain information, and provide feedback in the form of reflective responses to indicate that what the patient is saying is important; and
  
  use non-verbal behaviour that demonstrates attentiveness and active listening; and
  
  give uncomplicated information, using terms that the patient can understand; and
  
  summarise for the patient the findings and accomplishment of the interaction; and
  
  close the interaction in a warm and confident matter; and
  
  to elicit accurate medical and dental histories from patients; and
  
  to react appropriately during analgesic procedures so as to minimise clinician and patient anxiety; and
  
  to demonstrate a skilled and caring approach to patients; and
  
  to show a professional interaction with colleagues and staff; and
  
  to understand the principles and practice of providing health advice and optimising client compliance.
Enrolment closing dates [+]

Applicants must ensure that their clinical examination enrolment form reaches the office of the DCNZ by no later than the closing dates listed (see Examinations Timetable. Late applications will not be accepted and/or considered.
Selection Criteria for Entry [+]
The clinical examination can accommodate a maximum of 32 applicants. If more than 32 applicants apply, the Council gives priority, in the following order, to applicants who:
1. Are new and have been declined a place once, or have failed and subsequently been declined a place twice (other than priority 7).
2. Have passed the written examination, in the first attempt, ranked on the basis of their marks.
3. Have been exempted from the written examination.
4. Have passed the written examination, but required more than one attempt, ranked on the basis of their marks.
5. Have failed the clinical examination and subsequently been declined a place once.
6. Have failed the clinical examination and are making their first application to resit.
7. Have transferred from the ADC preliminary examination process.
8. Have failed the clinical examination and been advised of the desirability of retraining before resitting.
Venue [+]

The clinical examination is conducted at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

University of Otago
School of Dentistry
280 Great King Street
DUNEDIN, New Zealand

You are required to produce proof of identity, usually a passport. Any additional details will be provided prior to the examination by the examination organisers.
Examination fees [+]

The examination fee is payable at the time of application.

Withdrawal fees [+]

Results [+]

Final results are awarded at an examiners' meeting at the completion of the examination. Results are posted to applicants after at least one week following the completion of the examination.

Please note that NO results will be given by phone, fax or email.
Preparation tips [+]

Try to rest before the examination.
Dress comfortably.
Allow time for travel.
Locate the venue for each component of the examination the day before the examination.
Bring a watch.
Practise your English.
If you are uncertain about any instruction or question from the examiners, ask for clarification.

Reference material [+]

The following publications do not form the basis of the clinical examination, however may be used as a general resource for applicants.

The texts are available from the North Shore Hospital Library (reference only). Applicants will be granted access to these texts during opening hours. Those marked with an * are also available from the Wellington City Library.

North Shore Hospital Library

Lower Ground Floor
North Shore Hospital
Cnr Shakespeare & Taharota Road
North Shore
AUCKLAND
Tel: 09 486 8920 ext 2534

Wellington City Library

Science & Humanities reference Area
First Floor
65 Victoria Street
WELLINGTON
Tel: 04 801 4074

	Author	Title	Publisher	Edition
*	Summitt JB et al	Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry. A Contemporary Approach	Quintessence	3rd 2006
	Johnson DR & Moore WJ	Anatomy for Dental Students	Oxford University Press	3rd 1997
	Burkitt HG et al (Editors)	Wheater's Functional Histology - A Text & Colour Atlas	Churchill Livingstone	3rd 1993
	Dow J et al	Biochemistry: Molecules, Cells and the Body	Addison Wesley	1996
*	Kumar V et al	Basic Pathology	Saunders	6th 1997
	Bagg J et al	Essentials of Microbiology for Dental Students	Oxford University Press	1999
	Walton JG et al	Textbook of Dental Pharmacology & Therapeutics	Oxford University Press	2nd 1994
	Kardos TB & Kieser JA	Oral Structural Biology	Otago University Press	2nd 2000
	Okeson JP	Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion	Mosby Year Book	3rd 1993
	Zarb GA & Bolender CL.	Boucher's Prosthodontic Treatment for Edentulous Patients	Mosby Year Book	12th 2004
	Schroeder H (Translated by Jacobi R)	Oral Structural Biology	Thieme Medical	1991
	Wilson TG & Kornman KS	Fundamentals of Periodontics	Quintessence	1996
	Stewart KL et al	Clinical Removable Partial Prosthodontics	Ishiyaku EuroAmerica	2nd 1992
*	Proffit WR et al	Contemporary Orthodontics	Mosby Year Book	2nd 1993
*	Soames JV & Southam JC	Oral Pathology	Oxford University Press	3rd 1998
	Neville BW et al.	Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology	WB Saunders Co.	2nd 2002
*	Rosenstiel SF et al	Contemporary Fixed Prosthodontics	Mosby Year Book	4th 2006
	Pitt Ford TR	Harty's Endodontics in Clinical Practice	Wright, Edinburgh	5th 2004
	Wright GZ et al	Child Management in Dentistry	John Wright	1987
	Agur AMR & Lee MJ (Editors)	Grant's Atlas of Anatomy	Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
	Freer JJ	Orthodontic Diagnostic Principles	University of Queensland	1998
	MacEntee MI	The Complete Denture: a Clinical Pathway	Quintessence
	Stevens A & Lowe J	Human Histology	Mosby-Year Book Europe
*	Anusavice KJ	Phillips' Science of Dental Materials	Saunders	11th 2003
*	Campell MK	Biochemistry	Saunders
*	Kidd EAM & Joyston-Bechal S	Essentials of Dental Caries	Oxford University Press
*	McGivney GP & Carr AB	McCracken's Removable Partial Prosthodontics	Mosby	10th 2000
*	Vander AJ et al	Human Physiology	WCB/McGraw Hill
	Cameron A & Widmer R (Editors)	Handbook of Paediatric Dentistry	Mosby-Wolfe	1997
	Welbury RR (Editor)	Paediatric Dentistry	Oxford University Press	1997
	Petersen et al	Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	Mosby Year Book	3rd 1998

Return to NZDREX Examination Process

Policy

Written examination

Details of the Written Examination

Structure of the examination [+]

Sample Questions [+]

Enrolment closing dates [+]

Venues [+]

Examination Fees [+]

Withdrawal Fees [+]

Results [+]

Clinical Examination

Details of the Clinical Examination

Structure of the examination [+]

Enrolment closing dates [+]

Selection Criteria for Entry [+]

Venue [+]

Examination fees [+]

Withdrawal fees [+]

Results [+]

Preparation tips [+]

Reference material [+]