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legal position in this country at present are contained in Circular 1929 of the Board
of Education which is here reproduced:—
Performance of Minor Dental work by persons who are not
Registered Dentists.
"Local Education Authorities will find in the Appendix to this Circular the
conditions which have been approved by the Minister of Health under Section 1 (3)
(c) of the Dentists Act, 1921, for the performance, in connection with the School
Medical Service, of minor dental work, under the personal supervision of a registered
dentist, by a person who is not a registered dentist.
A few Local Education Authorities have, under conditions approved by the
Board of Education, already tried the experiment of employing the services of dental
nurses or dental dressers to undertake minor dental work. If such Authorities desire,
after the receipt of this Circular, to continue to employ any person who is not a
registered dentist in connection with their arrangements for the dental treatment of
school children, an intimation to that effect should be sent to the Board of Education,
together with an assurance that the work will in future be conducted in strict
compliance with the conditions set out in the Appendix.
In the case of other Authorities desirous of employing on minor dental work
under these conditions any person who is not a registered dentist, full particulars of
the proposal should be submitted (on a Form 9a M.) for the approval of the Board
of Education under Section 13 (1 )(b) of the Education (Administrative Provisions)
Act, 1907, before any appointment is made.
Appendix.
Conditions approved by the Minister of Health under Section 1 (3) (c) of the Dentists
Act, 1921, for the performance of Minor Dental Work in the School Medical
Service of Local Education Authorities, under the Personal Supervision of a
Registered Dentist, by a person who is not a Registered Dentist.
The conditions on which a person who is not a Registered Dentist may perform
minor dental work in the School Medical Service of Local Education Authorities
under the personal supervision of a registered dentist are as follows:—
1. The approval of the Board of Education must be given to the employment
in the School Medical Service of the person concerned, and such approval shall not
be given unless the Local Education Authority undertake that the work done shall
be limited to cleaning and polishing, applying or removing dressings or temporary
fillings, charting, recording or work of like responsibility.
2. The person concerned must be either :—
(a) a duly registered dental student who has received training for at least
two years in dental mechanics and for at least six months in practical operative
work; or
(b) a person (called a Dental Nurse) who has received a course of instruction
approved by the Minister of Health in a Dental School or Dental Clinic approved
for the purpose by the Minister after consultation with the Dental Board ; or
(c) a person employed at the date of the approval of these conditions on
minor dental work in the School Medical Service under arrangements approved
by the Board of Education.
No dental student employed under paragraph 2 (a) of these conditions may be
so employed for more than six months.
3. The registered dentist under whose personal supervision the work is
performed:—
(a) must always be present when operative work is being carried on ;
(b) must not supervise more than two persons at one time if he himself is
performing operative work at the same time, or more than six persons at one
time if he himself is not so performing;
(c) must prescribe the treatment to be given and inspect every case after
treatment and be responsible for the efficient carrying out of the treatment."
The issue of this Circular for the time being put an end to the employment of
dental dressers by the local education authorities.