On the 22nd December 2009, Dr John Lockwood, Chair of the Dental Board of Australia submitted the initial proposals from the Dental Board of Australia on mandatory registration standards, endorsements and specialist registration for the Ministerial Council’s approval. The proposals submitted relate to:
• criminal history registration standard
• English language requirements registration standard
• professional indemnity insurance arrangements registration standard
• continuing professional development registration standard
• recency of practice registration standard
• board specific registration standard – scopes of practice
• specialist registration
• endorsement of area of practice of conscious sedation
Common minimum registration standards across all boards are proposed for criminal history matters and English language requirements registration standards.
The proposals have been subject to wide-ranging consultation as required in relation to registration standards by section 40 of the national law, and comments have been received from the sector, governments and other stakeholders. The ones of most interest to DP’s are;
 

Scope of Practice Standard;

All registrants are required to base their practice on the scope of practice definitions outlined in this standard.
1. A dental practitioner must not direct another registered practitioner to undertake dental procedures or give advice outside that person’s education or competence.
2. Dental practitioners must only perform those dental procedures:
(a) for which they have been formally educated and trained in programs of study approved by the Board; and
(b) in which they are competent.
And for DP’s specifically
5. Dental prosthetists work as independent practitioners in making, fitting, supplying and repairing removable dentures and flexible, removable mouthguards.

Continuing Professional Development Standard;

Practitioners must undertake approved continuing professional development (CPD) activities as a condition of registration. The minimum requirements are set out in this standard;
1. Practitioners must:
(a) complete a minimum of 60 hours of CPD activities over three years
• 80% of the minimum 60 CPD hours must be clinically or scientifically based
(b) make a declaration of their compliance with CPD requirements at the time of annual renewal
(c) maintain their own records detailing their CPD activities for audit purposes
(d) produce evidence of their CPD activities when requested to do so by the Board.
2. When a person registers for the first time or has his or her registration restored after it has lapsed, the number of CPD hours to be completed will be calculated on a pro rata basis according to a formula published by the Board.