Health Professions Act

DENTURISTS REGULATION

Definitions

1 In this regulation:

"complete denture" means a dental prosthesis supported by soft tissue which replaces the natural teeth and associated structures in an edentulous arch and is not attached to or supported by natural teeth or implants and which is removable by the patient;

"dentist" means a person authorized under the Dentists Act to practise dentistry,

"implants" means a device that has been inserted into, over, through or under the jawbone for the purpose of supporting a dental prosthesis;

"overdenture" means a dental prosthesis which replaces natural teeth, is removable by the patient and is

(a) attached to or supported by implants, or

(b) attached to, supported by or covers retained roots or natural teeth;

"edentulous arch" means a dental arch with no remaining natural teeth or roots;

"partial denture" means a dental prosthesis which

(a) is removable by the patient,

(b) restores one or more natural teeth or associated structures, and

(c) is supported in part by natural teeth, crowns, or mucosa;

"prescribed services" means services provided by a denturist in accordance with the prescription of a dentist; and

"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.

Designation

2 (1) Denturism is designated as a health profession, and

(2) The College of Denturists of British Columbia is the name of the College established under section 15 (1) of the Act.

Reserved title

3 No person other than a registrant may use the title denturist.

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, or make repairs to partial dentures and overdentures, and

(c) in accordance with a prescription, make or furnish partial dentures and overdentures.

Reserved acts

5 Subject to section 14 of the Act,

(a) no person other than a registrant may carry out non-surgical intraoral procedures to make or furnish complete dentures, and

(b) 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.

Limitations on practice

6 (1) No registrant may expose or interpret radiographs.

(2) No registrant may make or furnish a partial denture which is supported by an implant and natural teeth.

(3) A registrant may only provide a partial denture or overdenture which 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 where

(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 an overdenture in an arch where, after the removal or loss of teeth, wound closure is incomplete, sutures are still present or bone is exposed.

Patient relations program

7 The college is designated for the purposes of section 16 (2) (f) of the Act.

Note: this regulation repeals B.C. Reg. 510/95.

[Provisions of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183, relevant to the enactment of this regulation: section 12]

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