奥塔哥大学

Dental Technology is the technical side of dentistry where a dental technician, on prescription of a dentist, makes any prosthesis or appliance for the head and neck. This could consist of:

• Artificial teeth such as complete dentures, partial dentures, crowns and bridges and implant supported dentures in various materials such as acrylics, alloys, and ceramics;
• Removable orthodontic appliances consisting of springs and retainers in acrylic bases for the movement of teeth. Mouth guards to protect against sports injuries;
• Maxillofacial appliances such as artificial eyes, ears, and facial prostheses that may be required after surgical treatment.

Dental technicians do not have direct contact with patients. Instead they work in a dental laboratory where various prosthetic appliances are custom made. Dental technicians can be thought of as artists who, with a thorough understanding of dental materials science, use their artistic skills to fabricate the form, colour and function of individual teeth or maxillofacial prostheses for a patient. The fact that the product can affect the health and appearance of a person demands of the technician a high level of responsibility and accuracy. For this reason, the profession of dental technology is registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2004. Graduates with the Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech) degree are automatically entitled to register with the New Zealand Dental Technicians Board.

Dental Technology

Dental Technology is a global profession. Throughout the world there is a high demand for skilled dental technicians.

In New Zealand and Australia, dental technicians are employed by commercial dental laboratories which provide the bulk of the work for the private dental industry, the defense forces, hospitals and state health dental services. The ratio of employer to employee is approximately 1:3 and many dental technicians ultimately set up business for themselves. There are no barriers to becoming self-employed.

The profession of dental technology is registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2004 and graduates with a Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech) degree are automatically entitled to register with the New Zealand Dental Technicians Board in order to practice as Registered Dental Technicians. Once registered in New Zealand, there are no barriers to registration or working in Australia owing to the Trans-Tasman agreement between Australia and New Zealand to recognize each other's qualifications and registration by professional bodies.

Structure

1st year

• CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health
• DTEC 101 Dental Materials 1
• DTEC 102 Dental Technology 1
• DTEC 103 Oral Health Sciences for Dental Technology
• PHSI 191 Biological Physics

2nd year

• DTEC 201 Dental Materials 2
• DTEC 202 Dental Technology 2
• DTEC 203 Dental Technology 3
• DTEC 204 Applied Design for Orthodontics

3rd year

• DTEC 301 Special Topic: Dental Technology Research
• DTEC 302 Dental Technology 4
• DTEC 303 Practice Management
• MART 205 Marketing the Professional Practice

Honours degree are available. For Bachelor of Dental Technology with Honours (BDentTech(Hons)) two pathways are there. Students who have completed the Health Sciences First Year course may apply for admission to the third stage of the programme. Alternatively, students who have completed the third year requirements for the Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech) degree may apply for admission to the fourth stage of the programme.