Welcome

The Dental Council is a regulatory authority created by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. We ensure oral health practitioners meet and maintain our standards in order to protect the health and safety of the New Zealand public.

The oral health practitioners we regulate are dentists, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists, clinical dental technicians, dental technicians, and orthodontic auxiliaries.

September 25, 2023    Changes to prescribing regulations

Cabinet has approved amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977 to ensure more appropriate restrictions on …

September 25, 2023    University of Otago postgraduate adult restorative dent…

Following a review in July 2022, the Dental Council (the Council) has accredited the new University of Otago progra…

September 25, 2023    Workforce analysis report 2020 to 2022

The workforce report for 2020 to 2022 is now available. It provides an overview of the oral health workforce based …

September 25, 2023    Request for expressions of interest from practitioners

The Dental Council (the Council) is calling for expressions of interest from suitability qualified oral health prac…

July 31, 2023    Ireland accredited dentistry programmes now recognised …

Council has now approved the Dental Council of Ireland accredited dentistry programmes as prescribed qualifications…

July 31, 2023    Annual recertification programme for dentists and denta…

We are coming to the end of the next annual recertification cycle for dentists and dental specialists.

At the end …

June 30, 2023    Consultation on the proposed Principles for quality and…

Consultation on the proposed Principles for quality and safe prescribing practice statementThe Dental Council with …

June 9, 2023    Update on guidance on advanced and new areas of practic…

In response to a request from Te Ohu Pūniho Ora o Aotearoa – New Zealand Oral Health Association, the Council has r…

June 9, 2023    Local anaesthetic and adrenaline medicines reclassifica…

Last year the Council submitted an application to Medsafe’s Medicines Classification Committee to widen the classif…

June 9, 2023    New radiography course for dental therapists and dental…

The University of Otago developed a new radiography course to support dental hygienists and dental therapists to re…