Policy Statement 5.13 - Complementary or alternative therapy associated with Dental Practice

Position Summary

Dentists practising non-dental, complimentary or alternative therapies do not do so in their capacity as a dentist. These activities must be regulated by legislation (negative licensing) and require separate consent from patients.

1. Background

1.1. Non-dental, complementary or alternative health services are being provided in association with dental practice.

1.2. Negative licensing legislation has been introduced in some jurisdictions in Australia to govern individuals whose conduct is otherwise unregulated or where professional misconduct under health legislation is considered extreme.

1.3. Dental qualifications do not indicate ability to conduct activities outside the scope of the practice of dentistry.

Definitions

1.4. AREAS OF PRACTICE ADJUNCTIVE TO DENTISTRY are parts of dental practice, which are usually not unique to dentistry, nor part of undergraduate dental education and training. These could include acupuncture, conscious sedation for dental procedures, hypnosis, and some external cosmetic procedures.

1.5. NEGATIVE LICENSING LEGISLATION is legislation that regulates the conduct of unregistered health practitioners.

1.6. NON-DENTAL, COMPLEMENTARY OR ALTERNATIVE HEALTH SERVICES are not dental services. This may include activities such as: providing local anaesthesia to assist non dental services; oral appliances for non-dental conditions; naturopathic, herbal and other natural therapies; laying on of hands, prayer and faith healing; massage therapies, tattooing, iridology, reflexology, homeopathy and chirodontics.

2. Policy

2.1. Dentists conducting business outside the scope of the practice of dentistry should not provide this as a registered dentist and not imply that their being a dentist qualifies them to do nondental, complementary or alternative health services.

2.2. Dentists who provide non-dental, complementary or alternative health services or practise in association with other forms of service must ensure the safety of the public and meet all relevant legal obligations.

2.3. Non-dental, complementary or alternative health services provided at the same time as dental treatment, require separate consent.

2.4. Negative licensing legislation should apply to any person providing non-dental, complementary or alternative health services in association with dental practice.