HSPCA views dental assistants as a vital profession, which deals with the treatment of patients, allowing for the safe and effective delivery of oral healthcare.
There is a global trend to professionalise dental assistants. Based on this, the Dental Assistants’ Association of South Africa (DAASA) approached the Professional Board for Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene (PBDOH) in 1995 and, after consultation with all stakeholders including the South African Dental Association (SADA), the registration of dental assistants began in 2005.
The Professional Board for Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene (PBDOH) created two categories of registration, namely:
• Registration allowing experienced dental assistants (with five or more years’ experience) to gain entry into the register of dental assistants. This was termed the Grandfather Clause in May 2008, and this register was opened for three months. However, due to a limited response from a number of eligible dental assistants, the PBDOH reopened this register for a further period of six months.
• The second category of registration was the Supplementary Dental Assistants’ register. This register allows dental assistants who had less than five years’ experience to register in this category, and then write a Board exam, with the last exam being in 2016. This register has now closed. This clause excludes qualified dental assistants.
In 2014/2015, the South African Dental Association (SADA) unsuccessfully instituted legal action against the registration of dental assistants. In March 2014, the North Gauteng High Court recommended that unregistered dental assistants not be subjected to criminal proceedings and the dentists not be subjected to unprofessional conduct proceedings until 31 March 2016. This was to allow the assistants to obtain the necessary qualifications. This means that the High Court had put a moratorium on the criminal prosecution of unregistered practising dental assistants, and the prosecution of dentists for employing unregistered practising dental assistants. The South African Dental Association appealed the judgement and, in November 2015, the Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed the High Court’s decision that dental assistants have to be regulated in order to protect the public and themselves.
To facilitate the registration of those dental assistants who, as a result of this moratorium, did not register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the PBDOH is presently instituting measures that would enable unqualified yet experienced dental assistants to be provisionally registered for a period of two years, with the stipulation that within a period of two years they complete a Board examination. The Board will offer four examinations per annum over a period of two years, and candidates will be allowed three opportunities to undertake the examination. Successful completion of the examination will permit access to full registration, and not a qualification. While provisionally registered, the dental assistant would need to comply with the continuous professional development (CPD) and annual fee payments as required for dental assistants.
These regulations and recommendations are awaiting final approval and promulgation by the Minister of Health. As soon as the amended regulations are promulgated by the Minister, unqualified, but experienced Dental Assistants will be registrable for a period of two years under these regulations, and in order to remain registered they will need to complete a Professional Board examination. There will be four (4) examinations offered in each of the nine provinces each year, and candidates will be afforded three opportunities to complete the Board examination. Failure to successfully complete the examination will result in a discontinuation of registration as a Dental Assistant.
Those Dental Assistants who have not completed the Board examination will have to acquire a formal dental assisting qualification from the HPCSA’s recognised and accredited institutions of Higher Education.
The registration period will be announced once the regulations have been promulgated by the Minister of Health. However, due to the urgency of the matter, regulations may not be open for public comment.
Last Updated on 14 April 2016 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs