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Study Dental Technology at Otago

Student demonstrating dental technology

Overview

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 defence 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 practise 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 recognise each other's qualifications and registration by professional bodies.

There are also opportunities for further postgraduate study at the University of Otago. One can apply for entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology (PGDipCDTech). Upon completion of the programme, a graduate can register with the New Zealand Dental Technicians Board as a Registered Clinical Dental Technician. This allows the dental technician to have direct clinical contact with patients providing a service in removable denture prosthetics. In addition there are opportunities for postgraduate study for the Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Technology (PGDipDentTech), and the Master of Dental Technology (MDentTech) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

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Contact details

Faculty of Dentistry
University of Otago
PO Box 647
Dunedin
New Zealand
Tel 64 3 479 7037
Fax 64 3 479 0673
Email don.brewer@otago.ac.nz

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Qualifications

Papers

See the full list of Dental Technology (DTEC) papers.

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Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech)

YearPapersPoints
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

18

18

51

15

18

2nd year

DTEC 201  Dental Materials 2

DTEC 202  Dental Technology 2

DTEC 203  Dental Technology 3

DTEC 204  Applied Design for Orthodontics

18

45

45

12

3rd year

DTEC 301  SSpecial Topic: Dental Technology Research

DTEC 302  Dental Technology 4

DTEC 303  Practice Management

MART 205  Marketing the Professional Practice

45

45

12

18

Notes: The due date for applications for first enrolment in the programme is 15 September in the year preceding that in which the programme is to be commenced. Late applications may be considered.
Candidates who have passed CHEM 191 and/or PHSI 191 will not be required to repeat those papers. Those who have passed approved equivalents may be eligible for exemption from CHEM 191 and/or PHSI 191. Candidates who are not required to take CHEM 191 and/or PHSI 191 will normally be required to take additional approved papers.

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Programme Requirements

BDentTech(Hons) (Option B)

Stage Papers Points
1st - 3rd years

Prerequisites:

All requirements for the ordinary degree of Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech)
4th stage DTEC 490  Dental Technology Research 3 120
 

Note: The due date for applications for Enrolment in the Fourth Stage is 1 November in the year in which the applicant completes the requirements for the ordinary BDentTech degree.

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Bachelor of Dental Technology with Honours (BDentTech(Hons)) (Option A)

Stage Papers Points

1st year

Prerequisite: Health Sciences First Year Course

Notes:
(i) Students enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year course will be required to achieve a satisfactory mark in a standard diagnostic English test or another approved measure of achievement.
(ii) For purposes of admission into the second year of the programme, a second attempt in a First Year paper in the Schedule in which a pass has already been achieved will not be considered.

126

2nd year

Prerequisites:

DTEC 102  Dental Technology 1

DTEC 103  Oral Health Sciences for Dental Technology

DTEC 105  Dental Materials 3

DTEC 204  Applied Design for Orthodontics

MART 205  Marketing the Professional Practice

51

15

30

12

18
3rd stage

DTEC 202  Dental Technology 2

DTEC 203  Dental Technology 3

DTEC 205  Dental Materials 4

DTEC 303  Practice Management

DTEC 491  Dental Technology Research 1

45

45

6

12

25
4th stage

DTEC 302  Dental Technology 4

DTEC 492  Dental Technology Research 2

45

95

Note:
The due date for applications for enrolment in the Second Year of the ordinary BDentTech programme (after completing the Health Sciences First Year course) and in the Third Stage of the Honours programme (after a year of enrolment for the ordinary BDentTech degree) is 1 November in the year preceding admission to the course concerned.

  

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Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology (PGDipCDTech)

Papers

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Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Technology (PGDipDentTech)

Papers

DTEC 501  Advanced Dental Materials Science; and

Two of
DTEC 502  Advanced Fixed Prosthodontics Techniques
DTEC 503  Advanced Implant Prosthodontic Techniques
DTEC 504  Advanced Maxillofacial Prosthodontic Techniques
DTEC 505  Topics in Advanced Dental Technology

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MDentTech degree table

Papers and Thesis

  • DTEC 501  Advanced Dental Materials Science

  • Two of:
    • DTEC 502  Advanced Fixed Prosthodontic Techniques
    • DTEC 503  Advanced Implant Prosthodontic Techniques
    • DTEC 504  Advanced Maxillofacial Prosthodontic Techniques
    • DTEC 505  Topics in Advanced Dental Technology

  • Thesis: DTEC 5

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