University of Otago postgraduate adult restorative dental care programme accredited
Following a review in July 2022, the Dental Council (the Council) has accredited the new University of Otago programme, Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (endorsed in Adult Restorative Dental Care) ((PGCertHealSc)).
The programme will prepare dental therapists and oral health therapists to provide restorative care to patients 18 years and older.
On successful completion of the PGCertHealSc programme:
- oral health therapists can apply to have the adult restorative exclusion removed from their scope of practice
- dental therapists can apply for the adult care in dental therapy scope of practice and provide restorative care to adults under clinical guidance.
The gazetted oral health therapy scope of practice has no age limit. However, most oral health therapists’ initial education and training did not include restorative care for adults. As a result, they have an Adult restorative care exclusion on their scopes of practice. After completing this programme, oral health therapists can apply to remove the adult restorative care exclusion from their scope of practice.
The gazetted dental therapy scope of practice has an age limit of 18 year of age. Completion of this programme will enable the dental therapist to apply for registration in the adult care in dental therapy scope of practice.
After successfully completing the programme, practitioners must first apply and have these changes approved before restorative care can be provided on adults.
Click here to view the full accreditation report.