Section 1 definitions of "dentist" and "prescription" BEFORE amended by BC Reg 32/2020, effective February 24, 2020.
"dentist" means a person authorized under the Dentists Act to practise dentistry;
"prescription" means a complete written description and design of a partial denture or an overdenture, by a dentist, including any advisory regarding the oral environment or tooth structure.
Section 1 definitions of "denture", "denturism", "denturist", "dispense" and "fit" were added by BC Reg 32/2020, effective February 24, 2020.
Section 1 definition of "prescribed services" BEFORE repealed by BC Reg 32/2020, effective February 24, 2020.
"prescribed services" means services provided by a denturist in accordance with the prescription of a dentist;
Section 4 BEFORE re-enacted by BC Reg 32/2020, effective February 24, 2020.
Scope of practice
4 A registrant may carry out non-surgical intraoral procedures to
(a) make, repair, reline, replace or furnish complete dentures,
(b) reline, replace teeth in or make repairs to partial dentures and overdentures, and
(c) in accordance with a prescription, make or furnish partial dentures and overdentures.
Section 5 BEFORE re-enacted by BC Reg 32/2020, effective February 24, 2020.
Restricted activities
5 (1) No person other than a registrant may carry out non-surgical intraoral procedures to make or furnish complete dentures.
(2) No person other than a registrant who meets the additional qualifications established in the bylaws may carry out non-surgical intraoral procedures to make or furnish overdentures and partial dentures.
Section 6 BEFORE re-enacted by BC Reg 32/2020, effective February 24, 2020.
Limits or conditions on services
6 (1) No registrant may expose or interpret radiographs.
(2) No registrant may make or furnish a partial denture that is supported by an implant and natural teeth.
(3) A registrant may only provide a partial denture or overdenture that is removable by the patient.
(4) No registrant may reline, replace natural teeth or make structural repairs to a partial denture or overdenture unless the patient has been examined by a dentist within the previous 365 days.
(5) Despite subsection (4) a registrant may reline, replace a tooth or make structural repairs in an urgent situation if a dentist is not available and the registrant immediately refers the patient to a dentist.
(6) No registrant may cut, grind, scale, clean, restore, alter or polish natural teeth, crowns or implants.
(7) Subject to subsection (8), no registrant may provide prescribed services except in accordance with the prescription.
(8) A registrant may alter a prescription if
(a) the prescribing dentist gives prior consent to the alteration,
(b) the altered prescription is noted by the registrant and the prescribing dentist on the patient's record, and
(c) the altered prescription is communicated to a dental technician involved in the fabrication of the dental prosthesis.
(9) A registrant must provide a prescribed service
(a) subject to paragraph (b), within 90 days after the prescription is issued, or
(b) with the approval of the prescribing dentist, within 365 days if this approval is noted by the registrant and the prescribing dentist on the patient's record.
(10) Subject to subsection (11), after a patient has been fitted with an overdenture or partial denture, the registrant
(a) must refer the patient to the prescribing dentist for an examination of the mouth and of the functioning of the overdenture or partial denture, and
(b) must not provide further services until the examination referred to in paragraph (a) has occurred.
(11) A registrant may perform minor adjustments to improve the fit or function of an overdenture or partial denture within 90 days prior to the examination by the prescribing dentist referred to in subsection (10).
(12) Unless authorized by a dentist, a registrant may not deliver to a patient or adjust a complete denture, partial denture or overdenture in an arch in circumstances where, after the removal or loss of teeth, wound closure is incomplete, sutures are still present or bone is exposed.