The Dental Council is largely independent in the exercise of its functions under the Dentists Act, 1985 [No. 9 of 1985].
The provisions of the Dentists Act do not, in my view, require the Dental Council to make a scheme for establishing a class of auxiliary dental worker to operate independently of the registered dental practitioner.
There are powers available to me under section 55 of the Act to direct the Dental Council to produce a scheme for a particular class of auxiliary dental worker but the content of such a scheme is a matter for the Dental Council in the first instance. I am advised that while schemes are subject to my consent I do not have powers of amendment.
Some years ago, at the request of the Minister for Health, the Dental Council brought forward a draft scheme for a class of auxiliary dental worker to be known as a clinical dental technician. The clinical dental technician could operate independently, in accordance with the provisions of section 54 of the Act, in the fitting, insertion or fixing of artificial teeth.
The draft scheme required a high academic standard and was not acceptable in its present format by some groups who would be directly affected by its introduction.
The position in other member states of the European Union regarding the fitting of artificial teeth by persons other than dentists varies widely. Denturists are known to operate in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and Portugal. In the Netherlands denturism is deregulated. The other countries where denturists operate require that they be well trained and competent in laboratory techniques and in the provision of clinical prosthesis.
