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South Africa

Information to work in this country is available from

Oral Hygienists' Association of South Africa (OHASA)
PO Box 253, Kirkwood 6120
Tel: +27 41 5851589 • Fax: +27 41 5854039 • Email: mariefer@iafrica.com
www.ohasanet.co.za

Regulations Defining the Scope of the Profession of Oral Hygiene in this Country

The Minister of Health has, in terms of section 33 (1) of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), on the recommendation of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, made the regulations in the Schedule.

Schedule

1. In these regulations any expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall bear such meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates – "the Act" means the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974)
2. The following acts shall for the purposes of the application of the Act be deemed to be acts pertaining to the profession of oral hygiene:
   • Provisional examination and charting of conditions of the mouth, with particular reference to the teeth and periodontium;
   • Scaling, root planning and polishing of the teeth, including trimming and polishing of restorations;
   • Performing dental radiography;
   • Topical application of agents appropriate to the practice of the oral hygienist, including caries-preventive agents, tooth-desensitising agents, surface anaesthetics and plaque-controlling agents;
   • Application and removal of periodontal packs;
   • Taking impressions and casting of study and primary work models;
   • Placing of temporary fillings as an emergency measure prior to referral to a dental therapist or dentist;
   • Temporary cementing of inlays, crowns and bridges;
   • Placement of glass ionomer cement on sensitive dentine or cervical abrasion lesions;
   • Placement of soft linings in dentures as tissue conditioners;
   • Taking of cytological smears, for example to test for candida infections;
   • Performing specified functions in orthodontics:
     • cephalometric tracings;
     • relief of trauma caused by intra- and extra-oral appliances, for example the cutting of distal ends of arch wires;
     • the placement of pre-activated orthodontic appliances and the removals of orthodontic attachments and bands.
   • Administering of applicable local analgesia as appropriate to the scope of the profession of oral hygiene.

Official licensing body in the country

Health Professions Council of South Africa
PO Box 205, Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 3389300 • Fax: +27 12 3285120 • Email: registrar@hpcsa.co.za
www.hpcsa.co.za

Contact for Work Permit and/or Visa

The South African Embassy/Consulate in the country of residence.

Main local and/or official language(s)

English and Afrikaans.

Are hygienists qualified overseas required to sit the country's national examination?

This depends on Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) – The Board for Oral Hygiene and Dental Therapy's decision.

Links to related web sites

• Health Professions Council of South Africa
• South African Dental Association
• WHO Oral Health: Country/Area Profile Programme

Information based on data received by IFDH in:

2011

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