Auxiliary Dental Workers

Brexit Update – December 2022:

UK applicants are no longer eligible to be registered under the provisions of the EU’s Professional Qualifications Directive since the UK’s exit from the EU.

The Dental Council have extended our current agreement with the UK until the 31 December 2023. Auxiliary Dental Workers can continue to follow the application details below until further notice.

Registration Information for Auxiliary Dental Workers

Please see the information section below for your profession and then go to application details for the information needed to apply for registration or assessment.

Information for Dental Hygienists

If you obtained your Diploma in Dental Hygiene from one of the two dental universities in Ireland, you are entitled to automatic recognition of your qualification, which means you are entitled to apply for registration.

If you obtained your qualification as a dental hygienist from an institution in the UK and you have obtained registration in the UK, you are entitled to automatic recognition of your qualification, which means you are entitled to apply for registration.

If you obtained your qualification outside of Ireland and the UK and;

• You registered with a competent authority to practice your profession, where the profession is regulated in that State;
  
  or
• You have pursued the profession in question on a full-time basis for one year or for an equivalent overall duration on a part-time basis during the previous 10 years, from the submission of your application, in a State which does not regulate that profession;

You can apply for assessment, for the purpose of obtaining registration. Please see the application details for applying for assessment at the bottom of this webpage.

Information for Dental Nurses

If you obtained a qualification in dental nursing from one of the institutions listed below, you are entitled to automatic recognition of your qualification, which means that you are entitled to apply for registration:

1. The Dublin Dental University Hospital
2. The University of Dublin
3. The University Dental School & Hospital Cork
4. The National University of Ireland Cork
5. Athlone Institute of Technology
6. Letterkenny IT
7. National Examining Board for Dental Nurses UK

If you obtained a qualification as a dental nurse from an institution, other than the ones listed above, and you feel that your education and training would allow you to competently undertake the full scope of practice for dental nurses in Ireland, you can apply for assessment for the purposes of obtaining registration.

Please note that the Register of Dental Nurses is a voluntary register. It is not mandatory to register as a dental nurse in order to practice in the Republic of Ireland. However, only registered dental nurses are permitted to take dental radiographs to the prescription of a dentist, having completed a Dental Council approved course in dental radiography.

Information for Orthodontic Therapists

If you obtained your Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy from The Dublin Dental University Hospital, you are entitled to automatic recognition of your qualification, which means you are entitled to apply for registration.

If you obtained a qualification as an orthodontic therapist elsewhere and you feel that your education and training would allow you to competently undertake the full scope of practice for orthodontic therapists in Ireland, you can apply for assessment for the purposes of obtaining registration.

Information for Clinical Dental Technicians

If you obtained your Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology from The Dublin Dental University Hospital, you are entitled to automatic recognition of your qualification, which means you are entitled to apply for registration.

If you obtained a qualification as a clinical dental technician elsewhere and you feel that your education and training would allow you to competently undertake the full scope of practice for clinical dental technicians in Ireland, you can apply for assessment for the purposes of obtaining registration.

Application details for Auxiliary Dental Workers
Important Information for applicants;

The Dental Council recommends that you allow for the registration process to take three months. We aim to finalise applications as quickly as possible but delays can occur due to incomplete applications or if additional information is required. The Dental Council would advise that you do not book patients in before you are registered.

We will only deal with the applicant regarding applications for registration.

You must refer to the relevant checklist when compiling your application.

Registration

Those applying for registration, please submit by post to the address above;

1. Complete application form
2. Identification
3. Photocopy of your qualification
4. Proof of language proficiency
5. Letter/s of good standing or certificate/s of current professional status
6. Translations
7. Registration fee

Please read the checklist below when compiling your application.

Auxiliary Dental Workers – Checklist for Registration [pdf]
Auxiliary Dental Workers Application Form [pdf]

If you are a recent graduate, qualified from Ireland, please see the page dedicated to new graduates.

Assessment

For those applying for assessment, please submit by post to the address above all the information listed in the below checklist. Please contact the registration department to ensure you are eligible for assessment before compiling your application. Information that is bound may be taken apart for the purpose of assessment checks. Please do not have information bound unnecessarily. This precludes notarised translations which must be bound by the translator and must not be taken apart before submission.

Auxiliary Dental Workers – Checklist for Assessment [pdf]
Assessment Application Form [pdf]