Who's who in Oral Care
When it comes to looking after your smile, there are different oral health professionals who each play a unique role. Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists, and Oral Health Therapists work across a range of settings to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
This page explains what each professional does, so you know who to see for the care you need.
Dental Hygienist / Kaiakuaku Niho
Primary Focus
The practice of dental hygiene is the prevention and non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases through the provision of oral
health assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures in accordance with a dental hygienist’s approved education, training, experience and competence.
A dental hygienist guides patients’ personal care with the aim of achieving and maintaining oral health as an integral part of general health.
Areas of dental hygiene practice which were not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practises to the standards required by the Standards Framework for Oral Health Practitioners.
Highlights
Preventive Care: Oral health education and assessments, scaling, polishing, fluoride application, and fissure sealants.
Periodontal Therapy: Provide non-surgical periodontal therapy on patients.
Radiography: Authorised to take and process both intraoral and extraoral radiographs upon certification.
Pain Management: Can administer local anaesthesia if certified.
Dental Therapist / Kaihaumanu Niho
Primary Focus
The practice of dental therapy is the provision of oral health assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures in accordance with a dental therapist’s approved education, training, experience and competence. Dental therapy services are provided to children and adolescents up to age 18.
Disease prevention, oral health promotion and maintenance are core activities, aimed at achieving and maintaining oral health as an integral part of general health with children and adolescents up to the age of 18.
Areas of dental therapy practice which were not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practises to the standards required by the Standards Framework for Oral Health Practitioners.
Highlights
Preventive Care: Specialises in oral health education and assessments, radiographs, fluoride application, fissure sealants, and dietry counselling aimed at young patients.
Restorative Care: Provides fillings for primary and permanent teeth and pulp therapy for primary teeth only, along with stainless steel crowns. With additional training dental therapists can also perform restorative care on permanent teeth for adults and gain adult scope in dental therapy care.
Radiography: Authorised to take and process both intraoral and extraoral radiographs upon certification.
Extractions: Skilled in the extraction of primary teeth.
Pain Management: Administers local anaesthesia.
Oral Health Therapist / Kaiakuaku Waha
Primary Focus
The practice of oral health therapy is the provision of oral health assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures in accordance with an oral health therapist’s approved education, training, experience and competence.
Oral health education, disease prevention and oral health promotion for individuals and communities are core activities, aimed at achieving and maintaining oral health as an integral part of general health.
Areas of oral health therapy practice which were not included in a practitioner’s training should not be undertaken unless the practitioner has completed appropriate training and practises to the standards required by the Standards Framework for Oral Health Practitioners.
Highlights
Preventive and Periodontal Therapy: Extensive skills in oral health education and assessment, fluoride treatment, and provide non-surgical periodontal therapy on patients.
Restorative Care: Provides fillings for primary and permanent teeth and pulp therapy for primary teeth only, along with stainless steel crowns.
Radiography: Skilled in taking and interpreting radiographs for diagnosis of oral diseases for treatment.
Extractions: Skilled in the extraction of primary teeth.
Pain Management: Administers local anaesthesia for any patient, when required.
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Thank you to the Clare Foundation for supporting Te Ohu Pūniho Ora o Aotearoa – New Zealand Oral Health
