SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Clinical dental technicians (CDTs)

Clinical dental technicians are registered dental professionals who provide complete dentures direct to patients and other dental devices on prescription from a dentist. They are also qualified dental technicians.

Patients with natural teeth or implants must see a dentist before the CDT can begin treatment. CDTs refer patients to a dentist if they need a treatment plan or if the CDT is concerned about the patient’s oral health.

Clinical dental technology builds on dental technology. 

As a CDT, you can also undertake the following if you are trained, competent and indemnified:

• prescribe and provide complete dentures direct to patients

• provide and fit other dental devices on prescription from a dentist

• take detailed dental history and relevant medical history

• perform technical and clinical procedures related to providing removable dental appliances

• carry out clinical examinations within their scope of practice

take and process radiographs and other images related to providing removable dental appliances

• distinguish between normal and abnormal consequences of ageing

• give appropriate patient advice

recognise abnormal oral mucosa and related underlying structures and refer patients to other healthcare professionals if necessary

• fit removable appliances

• provide sports mouth guards

• keep full, accurate and contemporaneous patient records

vary the detail but not the direction of a prescription according to patient needs

Additional skills which CDTs could develop include:

• oral health education

• re-cementing crowns with temporary cement

• providing anti-snoring devices on prescription of a dentist

• removing sutures after the wound has been checked by a dentist

• prescribing radiographs

• replacing implant abutments for removable dental appliances on prescription from a dentist

• providing tooth whitening treatments on prescription from a dentist

All other skills are reserved to dental hygienists, dental therapists, orthodontic therapists or dentists.

GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL