Written answers
Thursday, 28 March 2019
Department of Health
Dental Services Staff
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Health the limitations that apply to the business of a dental technician; if dental technicians provide a service to dentist practitioners only and not directly to members of the public; the body with the responsibility of regulating same; the efforts being made to inform the public of the difference between a clinical dental technician and a dental technician; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14702/19]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Dental technicians manufacture dental appliances and devices according to a dentist’s prescription. They may not provide such services directly to the public. The laboratories in which dental technicians work are regulated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
The Dental Council, established by the Dentists Act 1985, is the body responsible for regulation of the dental profession, including registered auxiliary dental workers (i.e. dental nurses, dental hygienists and clinical dental technicians). It is illegal for anyone other than a dentist or a registered clinical dental technician to fit a denture for a patient. The Dental Council recommends that members of the public obtain dentures only from a registered dentist or a registered clinical dental technician. The Dental Council publishes advice on its website, where a list of registered clinical dental technicians is available to download.
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