Assessment of Overseas Trained Oral Health Therapists,

Abstract

Quality assurance, benchmarking, assessment and mutual international recognition of qualifications in dental education is currently being considered by the Australian Dental Council (Hobson, et al., 2008). Overseas trained dentists from the UK have been assessed as substantially equivalent to Australian and New Zealand trained dentists and are able to be registered in Australia via the respective boards. However, an anomaly has existed whereby no overseas trained dental therapists and/or dental hygienists from the UK have been assessed as substantially equivalent to Australian and New Zealand trained dental therapists and/or dental hygienists (Dental Board of Queensland, 2010). This paper has been written in order to inform decision-makers as to the quality of accreditation, registration and education of dental therapists and dental hygienists in the United Kingdom (UK).