South Australia
Dentists Regulations 1988
under the Dentists Act 1984

Contents
1	Short title
2	Revocation
4	Interpretation
5	Application for registration by a natural person
6	Application for registration by a company
7	Qualifications for registration on the general register
8	Qualifications and experience for registration on the specialist register
9	Prescribed branches of dentistry in relation to which a person may be registered as a specialist
10	Qualifications for registration as clinical dental technician
11	Qualifications for registration as a dental hygienist
12	Restrictions and conditions on the provision of dental treatment by dental hygienists
13	Annual return by a corporate practitioner
14	Corporate practitioner not to assume name calculated to attract patients or clients
15	Selection of dentists for nomination for appointment to the Board
16	Fees or charges which may be prescribed by the Board
17	Exemption from registration and annual practice fees
18	Section 58(1)—Prescribed Information
19	Section 61(1)—Prescribed Information
20	Section 80—Prescribed Information
21	Untrue or Misleading Documents
THE FIRST SCHEDULE
THE SECOND SCHEDULE
THE THIRD SCHEDULE
Legislative history

1—Short title
These regulations may be cited as the Dentists Regulations 1988.
2—Revocation
The following regulations are revoked—
	(a)	the Dentists Act (Electoral) Regulations, 1985 (see Gazette, 13 June 1985, p. 2168); and
	(b)	the Dentists Regulations, 1985 (see Gazette, 5 December 1985, p. 1703).
3	These regulations will come into operation on 1 June 1988.
4—Interpretation
In these regulations—
the Act means the Dentists Act, 1984:
corporate practitioner means a company registered on the general register or the register of clinical dental technicians.
5—Application for registration by a natural person
An application by a natural person for registration or reinstatement of registration on—
	(a)	the general register;
	(b)	the specialist register;
	(c)	the register of clinical dental technicians; or
	(d)	the register of dental hygienists,
must be accompanied by—
	(e)	the supporting evidence and documents referred to in the application; and
	(f)	the prescribed fee for registration or reinstatement of registration, and the prescribed annual practice fee.
6—Application for registration by a company
An application by a company for registration on—
	(a)	the general register; or
	(b)	the register of clinical dental technicians,
must be accompanied by—
	(c)	the supporting evidence and documents referred to in the application; and
	(d)	the prescribed fee for registration and the prescribed annual practice fee.
7—Qualifications for registration on the general register
The qualifications for registration of a natural person on the general register are—
	(a)	those prescribed by the second schedule; or
	(b)	any qualifications recognized by the Board as being of equivalent standard.
8—Qualifications and experience for registration on the specialist register
The qualifications and experience for registration on the specialist register are—
	(a)	the qualifications and experience prescribed by the third schedule; or
	(b)	any qualifications and experience recognized by the Board as being of equivalent standard.
9—Prescribed branches of dentistry in relation to which a person may be registered as a specialist
For the purposes of section 40(2) of the Act the following are prescribed branches of dentistry—
dento maxillofacial radiology
endodontics
oral pathology
oral and maxillofacial surgery
orthodontics
paedodontics
periodontics
prosthodontics.
10—Qualifications for registration as clinical dental technician
	(1)	The following qualifications are required for registration as a clinical dental technician:
	(a)	satisfactory completion of a course of at least one academic year (or the equivalent of one academic year) in clinical technical dentistry conducted by a university or other body or by a Department of the Government of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth; and
	(b)	completion to the satisfaction of the Dental Board of South Australia of an examination in clinical technical dentistry conducted by or on behalf of the Board.
	(2)	The course referred to in subregulation (1)(a) must be a course that the Board has approved either before or after the completion of the course by the applicant.
	(3)	Before deciding whether or not to approve a course referred to in subregulation (1)(a) or deciding the form and content of an examination referred to in subregulation (1)(b), the Board must consult the Clinical Dental Technicians Registration Committee and have regard to its views.
11—Qualifications for registration as a dental hygienist
The qualifications for registration as a dental hygienist are—
	(a)	the Certificate or Associate Diploma in Dental Hygiene awarded by the South Australian Department of Technical and Further Education; or
	(b)	—
	(i)	satisfactory completion of a course of training in dental hygiene that is of at least one academic year in duration at a School of Dental Hygiene approved by the Dental Board of South Australia; and
	(ii)	satisfactory completion of an examination in dental hygiene conducted by the South Australian Department of Technical and Further Education.
12—Restrictions and conditions on the provision of dental treatment by dental hygienists
	(1)	The provision of dental treatment by a dental hygienist is subject to the following restrictions and conditions:
	(a)	the dental treatment must fall within the following categories:
	(i)	chairside assisting duties;
	(ii)	dental health education (including dietary counselling for dental purposes);
	(iii)	the recording of periodontal disease or instruction in, and the supervision and recording of, plaque control routines;
	(iv)	prophylaxis (including the polishing of restorations if required);
	(v)	fluoride therapy and associated procedures or the application of remineralising solutions or desensitising agents;
	(vi)	debridement to remove deposits from teeth (other than debridement involving definitive subgingival scaling, root planing or both);
	(vii)	the application and removal of rubber dam;
	(viii)	the application of fissure sealants;
	(ix)	the removal of supragingival and subgingival deposits of calculus from teeth;
	(x)	root planing;
	(xi)	the application and removal of periodontal packs and the removal of sutures and irrigation of the mouth (including pre-operative and post-operative instructions);
	(xii)	the taking of alginate impressions;
	(xiii)	dental radiography (but only if the dental hygienist has qualifications in dental radiography recognised by the Board);
	(xiv)	orthodontic bands and attachment selection and removal of arch wires, bands and attachments; and
	(b)	the dental treatment must be supervised by a dentist who is on the premises at the time of the treatment unless—
	(i)	the treatment falls within one of the categories referred to in paragraph (a)(i) to (viii); and
	(ii)	the treatment is provided on the premises of the Julia Farr Centre or at a supported residential facility as defined in section 3 of the Supported Residential Facilities Act 1992; and
	(iii)	a medical practitioner or a registered nurse is at close call during the time of the treatment; and
	(c)	the dental treatment must be provided in accordance with a treatment plan prepared by a dentist who has personally examined the patient; and
	(d)	a dentist must examine a patient as soon as practicable on completion by a dental hygienist of the treatment plan referred to in paragraph (c).
	(2)	A treatment plan referred to in subregulation (1)(c)—
	(a)	must be in writing signed and dated by the dentist who prepared it; and
	(b)	will be effective for not more than six months.
13—Annual return by a corporate practitioner
	(1)	In this regulation—
annual return means the return that a corporate practitioner is required to lodge under section 46(1)(b) of the Act:
return period means the period of 12 months ending on 30 June immediately preceding the month in which the annual return is required to be lodged.
	(2)	An annual return must be in the appropriate form prescribed by the first schedule.
	(3)	An annual return must state—
	(a)	the address in the State of—
	(i)	the registered office of the corporate practitioner;
	(ii)	the principal place at which the practitioner practices; and
	(iii)	every other place at which the practitioner practices;
	(b)	the telephone number of the principal place of practice;
	(c)	any business name under which the practitioner practices;
	(d)	the following information in relation to every person who was a director of the corporate practitioner during the return period:
	(i)	the full name of the director;
	(ii)	the residential address of the director;
	(iii)	whether the director was registered throughout the return period;
	(iv)	where the director was registered during part only of the return period, the date on which the director became or ceased to be registered;
	(v)	where the director was a prescribed relative of another director of the corporate practitioner during the return period—
	(A)	details of the prescribed relationship; and
	(B)	where the director became or ceased to be a prescribed relative of the other director during the return period, the date on which the director became or ceased to be a prescribed relative;
	(e)	the following information in relation to every person who was a member of the corporate practitioner during the return period—
	(i)	the full name of the member;
	(ii)	the residential address of the member;
	(iii)	whether the member was registered throughout the return period;
	(iv)	where the member was registered during part only of the return period, the date on which the member became or ceased to be registered;
	(v)	where the member was a prescribed relative of a director or employee of the corporate practitioner during the return period—
	(A)	details of the prescribed relationship; and
	(B)	where the member became or ceased to be a prescribed relative of a director or employee of the corporate practitioner during the return period, the date on which the director became or ceased to be such prescribed relative;
	(f)	the following information in relation to every person who was a beneficial owner of shares in the corporate practitioner during the return period—
	(i)	the full name of the beneficial owner;
	(ii)	the residential address of the beneficial owner;
	(iii)	details of the shares—including number, nominal value and voting rights attached to the shares;
	(iv)	the full name of the person in whose name the shares were registered;
	(v)	the residential address of the person in whose name the shares were registered;
	(vi)	if the shares were held subject to a trust—details of the trust;
	(vii)	where a person became or ceased to be the beneficial owner of shares during the return period—
	(A)	the date on which he or she became or ceased to be a beneficial owner; and
	(B)	details of the circumstances in which he or she became or ceased to be beneficial owner;
	(viii)	where the beneficial owner of shares was a prescribed relative of a director or employee of the corporate practitioner during the return period—
	(A)	details of the prescribed relationship; and
	(B)	where the beneficial owner of shares became or ceased to be a prescribed relative of a director or employee of the corporate practitioner the date on which he or she became or ceased to be a prescribed relative;
	(ix)	whether the beneficial owner of shares was registered;
	(x)	where the beneficial owner of shares became or ceased to be registered during the return period the date on which he or she became or ceased to be registered.
14—Corporate practitioner not to assume name calculated to attract patients or clients
A corporate practitioner must not assume any name calculated to attract patients or clients.
Penalty: $2 000.
15—Selection of dentists for nomination for appointment to the Board
The dentists who are to be nominated for appointment to the Board under section 6(1)(b) will be selected as follows:
	(a)	Where there is a vacancy or vacancies to be filled under that paragraph the Board will circularize all registered dentists inviting nominations for the vacancy or vacancies.
	(b)	A nomination—
	(i)	must be in writing signed by the nominee and at least two other registered dentists; and
	(ii)	must be forwarded so as to reach the Board not later than 21 days after the date of the circular.
	(c)	Where the number of nominations does not exceed the number of vacancies to be filled, the Board will treat the nominees as having been duly nominated for the purposes of the Act and forward the names of the nominees to the Governor.
	(d)	Where the number of nominees exceeds the number of vacancies the Board will have ballot papers prepared setting out the names of all dentists duly nominated for appointment.
	(e)	A ballot paper (together with an envelope in which it is to be enclosed and the Board's voting instructions) will be sent by the Board to each registered dentist (except corporate practitioners).
	(f)	A dentist votes by—
	(i)	marking a tick or cross by the name of the candidates for whom the dentist desires to vote (but the number of candidates for whom the dentist votes must not exceed the number of vacancies to be filled);
	(ii)	folding the ballot paper, enclosing it in the envelope provided and completing the endorsements on the envelope in accordance with the Board's voting instructions; and
	(iii)	returning the envelope to the Board in accordance with the Board's voting instructions.
	(g)	A vote will be rejected if the endorsements on the envelope in which it is contained have not been duly completed in accordance with the Board's voting instructions.
	(h)	Where the Registrar is satisfied by inspection of the endorsement that an envelope contains a ballot paper from a registered dentist, the Registrar will have the envelope opened and, without unfolding the ballot paper, place it in a ballot box.
	(i)	Where the time allowed by the Board for return of ballot papers has expired and all envelopes returned within that time have been either rejected or dealt with in accordance with paragraph (h), the Registrar will count the votes.
	(j)	A candidate is entitled to inspect the ballot papers and the envelopes in which they were contained in order to verify the results obtained by the Registrar.
	(k)	The Board will forward to the Governor that nomination or those nominations (as the case requires) that are supported by the greatest number of votes.
	(l)	If there is an equality of votes between two or more candidates, the nomination or nominations to be forwarded to the Governor will be determined by lot under the direction of the Board.
16—Fees or charges which may be prescribed by the Board
	(1)	The Board may prescribe fees or charges in relation to—
	(a)	annual practice;
	(b)	corporate practitioners;
	(c)	the inspection of registers;
	(d)	the issue of documents;
	(e)	printed matter supplied by the Board;
	(f)	the recognition of qualifications or experience;
	(g)	registration and reinstatement of registration.
	(2)	The Board may recover a fee or a charge as a debt.
17—Exemption from registration and annual practice fees
Where—
	(a)	a person—
	(i)	is employed as a dentist on a full-time basis by the Australian Government or the Royal Flying Doctor Service (S.A. Branch) Inc.; and
	(ii)	is registered as a dentist in another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth; and
	(b)	the appropriate periodical registration or practice fees have been paid under the law of that State or Territory,
that person is exempt from the payment of registration and annual practice fees under the Act.
18—Section 58(1)—Prescribed Information
For the purposes of section 58(1) of the Act the prescribed information is the following—
	(a)	the nature of the practice in which the registered person is engaged or employed;
	(b)	the addresses of the registered person's current and last preceding place of practice;
	(c)	if the registered person is in employment the full name and business address of the registered person's current employer;
	(d)	whether the registered person practices full-time or part-time;
	(e)	the number of hours per week for which the registered person is normally engaged in practice;
	(f)	any period during the preceding 12 months for which the registered person was not engaged in practice;
	(g)	the name of any other registering authority with which the registered person has professional registration.
19—Section 61(1)—Prescribed Information
For the purposes of section 61(1) of the Act the prescribed information is as follows—
	(a)	the diagnosis of the patient's illness;
	(b)	the prognosis (including the likely duration) of the patient's illness;
	(c)	a description of any treatment being received by the patient for any mental or physical illness or disability;
	(d)	a description of any form of dental treatment that the patient is not in the opinion of the medical practitioner fit to provide.
20—Section 80—Prescribed Information
For the purposes of section 80 of the Act the prescribed information is as follows—
	(a)	the nature of the treatment or procedure that is alleged to have been carried out negligently;
	(b)	full details of the alleged negligence;
	(c)	the address of the premises at which the negligence is alleged to have occurred;
	(d)	the time and date of the alleged negligence; and
	(e)	full details of the injury suffered or allegedly suffered by the claimant as a result of the alleged negligence.
21—Untrue or Misleading Documents
No person shall lodge a document with the Board containing any false or deliberate misleading information.
Penalty: $2 000.

THE FIRST SCHEDULE
Forms
Corporate
[Regulation 13(2)]

THE SECOND SCHEDULE
[Regulation 7]

QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION ON THE GENERAL REGISTER
Qualification	Body Awarding Qualification	
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Bachelor of Dental Science
Bachelor of Dental Science
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Bachelor of Dental Science	University of Adelaide
University of Melbourne
University of Queensland
University of Sydney
University of Western Australia	
OR		
a certificate issued by the Australian Dental Examining Council or the Australian Dental Council certifying that the person applying to be registered on the general register has satisfactorily completed the examinations conducted by that body.		

THE THIRD SCHEDULE
[Regulation 8]

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE FOR REGISTRATION ON THE SPECIALIST REGISTER
Qualification	Body Awarding Qualification	Experience	
A.—			
1.			
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Bachelor of Dental Science
Bachelor of Dental Science
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Bachelor of Dental Science	University of Adelaide
University of Melbourne
University of Queensland
University of Sydney
University of Western Australia		
OR			
2. A certificate issued by the Australian Dental Examining Council or the Australian Dental Council certifying that the person applying to be registered has satisfactorily completed the examinations conducted by that Body.			
AND			
B.—			
1.			
Master of Dental Surgery
Master of Dental Science
Master of Dental Science
Master of Dental Science
Master of Dental Science
Diploma in Oral Surgery	University of Adelaide
University of Melbourne
University of Queensland
University of Sydney
University of Western Australia
Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons	(1) Subject to subclause (2), the following experience is required:
	(a)	two years of practice in general dentistry; and
	(b)	four years of experience in relation to the relevant specialty consisting of—
	(i)	experience gained in the course of completing one of the specialist qualifications in the first column; and
	(ii)	experience gained in the course of the exclusive practice in the relevant specialty after completing the relevant qualification in the first column.
(2) In relation to oral and maxillofacial surgery, one year's experience is required under paragraph (a) and five years' experience is required under paragraph (b).	

OR			
Qualification		Experience	
2. Registration as a dentist under the repealed Act during a continuous period of 4 years ending on 22 August, 1985.		Exclusive practice on a continuous period of 4 years ending on 31 December, 1987, in one of the following specialist branches of dentistry:
	(a)	dento maxillofacial radiology;
	(b)	endodontics;
	(c)	oral pathology;
	(d)	oral and maxillofacial surgery;
	(e)	orthodontics;
	(f)	paedodontics;
	(g)	periodontics;
	(h)	prosthodontics.	

Legislative history
Notes
	•	For further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes.
Revocation of regulations
These regulations became obsolete on the repeal of the Dentists Act 1984 on 19.6.2003
Principal regulations and variations
Year	No	Reference	Commencement	
1988	88	Gazette 26.5.1988 p1360	1.6.1988:  r 3	
1990	225	Gazette 15.11.1990 p1523	15.11.1990	
1991	261	Gazette 19.12.1991 p1967	19.12.1991	
1996	187	Gazette 15.8.1996 p672	15.8.1996: r 2	
1997	1	Gazette 2.1.1997 p36	2.1.1997: r 2	
1997	28	Gazette 13.3.1997 p1190	13.3.1997: r 2	
Provisions varied
Provision	How varied	Commencement	
r 10	substituted by 261/1991 r 2	19.12.1991	
r 11	varied by 225/1990 r 2	15.11.1990	
r 12			
r 12(1)	substituted by 1/1997 r 3	2.1.1997	
	varied by 28/1997 r 3	13.3.1997	
Second schedule	varied by 187/1996 r 3	15.8.1996	
Third schedule	substituted by 225/1990 r 3	15.11.1990	
	varied by 187/1996 r 4	15.8.1996