Dental Auxiliaries (Amendment) Regulations 2002

Draft Regulations approved by the Privy Council, laid before Parliament under section 45(9) of the Dentists Act 1984, for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Draft Statutory Instruments

2002 No.

DENTISTS

Dental Auxiliaries (Amendment) Regulations 2002

Made

2002

Laid before Parliament

25th April 2002

Coming into force

1st July 2002

Whereas a draft of these Regulations, approved by the Privy Council, has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament, pursuant to section 45(9) of the Dentists Act 1984(1):

Now, therefore, the General Dental Council, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by section 45(1) and (2)(b) of the Dentists Act 1984 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Dental Auxiliaries (Amendment) Regulations 2002 and shall come into force on 1st July 2002.

Amendment of the Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986

2.  The Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986(2) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

Amendment of regulation 23

3.—(1) Regulation 23 (dental hygienists) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“(d) the removal of excess cement by instruments which may include rotary instruments;

(e) the taking of impressions.”; and

(b) omit the words from “but shall not” to the end of the paragraph.

(3) In paragraph (3)(3)—

(a) for “local infiltration analgesia” substitute “local infiltration anaesthesia or inferior dental nerve block anaesthesia”; and

(b) omit “authorised as aforesaid”.

(4) In paragraph (4)(4)—

(a) after “tooth” insert “or replace a crown with a temporary cement”; and

(b) after “fallen out” insert “or a crown been dislodged”.

(5) After paragraph (4) add—

“(5) A dental hygienist may carry out any of the dental work described in paragraph (1) or (4) under local infiltration anaesthesia or inferior dental nerve block anaesthesia administered by the dental hygienist or any local or regional block anaesthesia administered by a registered dentist.

(6) A dental hygienist shall administer inferior dental nerve block anaesthesia only under the direct personal supervision of a registered dentist who is on the premises at which the hygienist is carrying out such work at the time at which it is being carried out.

(7) A dental hygienist may carry out any of the dental work described in paragraph (1) or (4) on patients under conscious sedation, provided that a registered dentist is in the room in which the work is being carried out for the duration of the work.”.

Amendment of regulation 27

4.—(1) Regulation 27 (dental therapists) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (e) insert—

“(ea) removal of excess cement by instruments which may include rotary instruments;

(eb) taking of impressions;

(ec) restoration of primary teeth by pulp therapy;

(ed) placing of pre-formed crowns for the purpose of restoring primary teeth;”; and

(b) omit the words from “but shall not” to the end of the paragraph.

(3) In paragraph (2), omit sub-paragraph (a).

(4) In paragraph (3)(5)—

(a) after “tooth” insert “or replace a crown with a temporary cement”; and

(b) after “fallen out” insert “or a crown been dislodged”.

(5) After paragraph (3) add—

“(4) A dental therapist may carry out any of the dental work in paragraph (1) or (3) under local infiltration anaesthesia or inferior dental nerve block anaesthesia administered by the dental therapist or any local or regional block anaesthesia administered by a registered dentist.

(5) A dental therapist shall administer inferior dental nerve block anaesthesia only under the direct personal supervision of a registered dentist who is on the premises at which the therapist is carrying out such work at the time at which it is being carried out.

(6) A dental therapist may carry out any of the dental work in paragraphs (1) and (3) on patients under conscious sedation, provided that a registered dentist is in the room in which the work is carried out for the duration of the work.”.

The Common Seal of the General Dental Council was hereto affixed in the presence of

President

Registrar

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986.

Regulations 3 and 4 extend the work permitted to be carried out by dental hygienists and dental therapists to include removal of excess cement, taking impressions, administration of inferior dental nerve block anaesthesia and replacing crowns which have been dislodged with a temporary cement. They are also permitted to carry out dental work on a patient under local or regional block anaesthesia administered by a registered dentist, or, provided there is a registered dentist in the room in which the dental work is carried out throughout the procedure, under conscious sedation. Dental therapists are also permitted to undertake pulp therapy and place pre-formed crowns for the purpose of restoring primary teeth and they are no longer subject to the restrictions on dental work which requires it to be carried out in the course of providing national health services.

(1)

1984 c. 24.

(2)

S.I. 1986/887; amending instruments are S.I. 1991/1706, 1996/2998 and 1999/3460.

(3)

Paragraph (3) was amended by S.I. 1991/1706, regulation 2(3)(c).

(4)

Paragraph (4) of regulation 23 was added by S.I. 1999/3460, regulation 6.

(5)

Paragraph (3) of regulation 27 was added by S.I. 1999/3460, regulation 7.