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THE SOUTH AFRICAN DENTAL TECHNICIANS COUNCIL
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RAAD VIR TANDTEGNICI
FROM THE DESK OF THE ACTING REGISTRAR
Dear Members of the profession, at the heart of the strategy of the new South African Dental
Technicians Council is a shift towards stakeholder service and engagement.
A special Working Dinner took place on the 20 June 2014 in
Cape Town with the purpose to start a discussion around the
possible introduction of a new oral health professional.
The present Act (19 of 1979) as amended makes provision for
a clinical dental technologist. This however never proceeded
for a host of reasons.
Council has the responsibility to promote the objectives as set
out in the Act. The Council is further charged by the Minister of
National Health to develop a new Act for dental technology that clearly reflects the transformation
and changes in South Africa as a result of the democratic dispensation post 1994.
With this in mind Council decided to invite three guest speakers to present position papers at
the dinner in an attempt to inform the new Council members and to start a debate around the
implementation of clinical dental technology training and registration.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN DENTAL TECHNICIANS COUNCIL
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RAAD VIR TANDTEGNICI
Mr. Ishmail Larney gave his presentation from an Australian perspective
on clinical dental technology internationally known as denturism. In
Australia this professional is known as a Dental Prosthetist.
His presentation focused on:
•
The role of the dental team with the emphasis on patient care in
relation to:
-- The patient, the dentist, the prosthetist (clinical dental technologist/
denturist)
•
How the above impact on:
-- The inflated cost to carried by the patient
-- Time wasted with the traditional delivery system
-- Individualisation of dentures and related appliances
•
Some case studies done by him
Mr Duffy Malherbe spoke from a South African perspective.
He focused on:
•
•
•
•
•
•
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The value of Denturism internationally and why South Africa
should follow
The existing realities regarding denture needs and public
demographics
The present conventional "crazy” system of denture delivery
The present system failure fuelling the “Quacks”
Extending the existing scope of practice of dental technologists
to include denture provision to the public
Educating future Clinical Dental Technologists
Why Clinical Dental Technology makes absolute sense
Mr. Oliver Meier gave his presentations from a New Zealand
perspective where he is registered and worked as a Denturist.
He covered the following:
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The reasons why he left South Africa and went abroad to
qualify as a denturist
The New Zealand education and practice perspective
Post qualification as a denturist practicing as such in New Zealand
The reason/s for his return to South Africa in 2007
His struggle to serve the people of South Africa as a denturist,
in a legal and professional manner
THE SOUTH AFRICAN DENTAL TECHNICIANS COUNCIL
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RAAD VIR TANDTEGNICI
DENTASA AGM 1-2 August 2014
DENTASA has invited the Council to their AGM. Immediately after the Business Meeting
councillors will join to provide feedback and answer questions that registered professionals
may have. Brief presentations will be made on various topics following the presentation by the
President of Council, Mrs Catherine Makwakwa.
Mr Louis Steyn (Vice President and HoD: Dep. Of Dental Sciences); Warren Spencer and Anneke van Zyl;
Mrs Catherine Makwakwa (President); Prof. Dhiro Gihwala (Dean: Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences)
For years the SADTC recognised the top achiever students in dental technology. The awarding of the Council’s
medal sadly was discontinued during the past two council’s terms of office. The newly constituted Council
took the matter up immediately and decided to award these annually to students at all three Universities of
Technology (UoT) based on very specific criteria.
For the first time Council decided to distinguish between the diploma and B.Tech students and to award the
medal to the best student in both of the qualifications at each of the institutions but with the following minimum
requirements:
National Diploma
• The recipient must achieve an average aggregate of 75% based on all subjects from first to third year.
• In the event of a recipient entering via the extended programme, the overall average aggregate of the
subjects of this programme must be taken into account.
• Apart from the above the recipient must achieve an average of 65% in the subject Applied Dental
Technology III.
B.Tech Degree
The recipient must achieve an average aggregate of 75% based on all the subjects at this level.
Apart from the above the recipient must achieve an average of 65% in the practical component of the subject
Dental Technology IV.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN DENTAL TECHNICIANS COUNCIL
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RAAD VIR TANDTEGNICI
In line with one of the Council’s strategic objectives, that of restoring and building good relationships with
stakeholders, it was further decided to award the medal in retrospect to students who were never recognised.
Council requested the President to award these medals personally to recipients at suitable events and to
involve where possible the management of the UoTs concerned.
At the working dinner in Cape Town on 20 June 2014 the President Mrs Catherine Makwakwa honoured two
former students of CPUT. The recently appointed Vice-Chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu and the Dean of the
Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences Prof. Dhiro Gihwala were invited to the occasion. Unfortunately Dr
Nevhutalu could not attend due to a prior agreed commitment.
Mrs Anneke Wiehahn (nee van Zyl) received her medal for the National Diploma in Dental Technology
completed in 2003, and Mr Warren Spencer for both the National Diploma (2005) and B.Tech: Dental
Technology completed in 2006.
Prof. Gihwala in his response reiterated the very important role that statutory regulators and professional
bodies plays in the education and training of professionals in the medical and related professions. The
relationship between the UoTs and the profession via the Liaison Committee structure cannot be emphasised
enough. He thanked the profession for their commitment to CPUT.
Warren Spencer is a dental laboratory owner in Cape Town and Anneke apart from being a wife and mother
is also working for her father Mr Hermie van Zyl who has been a dental laboratory owner in Cape Town for
many years.
Two further presentation events are planned for the near future. One for TUT and another for DUT. The Acting
Registrar is in the process of finalising the arrangements.
CPD in Dental Technology Dental Technology and CPD
Entering the third cycle and after almost five years since its implementation CPD is well and alive.
From humble beginnings, a lot of misinformation, misperception, animosity, frustration and anger expressed
from time to time it can be confirmed, as was done on many occasions before that CPD is here to stay? What
has changed on 11 April 2014 is that the National Minister of Health Dr Aron Motsoaledi signed and published
the regulations that are now governing CPD. Up until that date the Council could not regulate and enforce
CPD effectively.
The present Council acknowledges the fact that the way CPD started five years ago was not the best way and
that not enough attention was given to those who warned the previous Council against a hasty implementation.
It is quite evident from the Council's records that the implementation in April 2010 was hijacked by some
members of that Council, as a decision was only made in November of that year. This necessitated a rush
into rather than starting with insight and proper planning. It was only at this point that a CPD Committee was
established to deal with this matter and to advise Council on the way forward. One of the major caps in the
implementation was the absence of regulations that would govern CPD. This included the monitoring, and
ultimate statutory enforcing if and when required.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN DENTAL TECHNICIANS COUNCIL
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RAAD VIR TANDTEGNICI
CPD in Dental Technology Dental Technology and CPD
The regulations referred to above did also not come about in isolation. Once drafted by Council the National
Minister of Health published it in the Government Gazette for public comment. A 90 day comment period was
allowed. This notice was brought to registered members attention on more than one occasion by not only the
Council via its webpage but also on numerous occasions by DENTASA via email, bulk SMS’s, and branch
meetings. Only three comments were received; one from David van Eyk, the other from DENTASA and the
students from CPUT. For this assistance we wish to thank DENTASA as well as for many other areas where
they support the work of the present Council.
So where we are now and what must you do?
CPD is here to stay! There is hardly an occupational group that is not involved in CPD. From chartered
accountants to real estate agents, and from this it is clear that it is not limited to the health sector only.
It has absolutely nothing to do with whether we call ourselves "practitioners", "executors of instructions”,
or anything in between. In the end we are professionals and will be more so in future. We do not compare
ourselves to plumbers or electricians. Those who hold that opinion are entitled to their view but that does not
change anything at all. In South Africa dental technology is a profession and Council together with DENTASA
will continue to build this profession, image and associated status it deserves.
For the new CPD cycle that started in January 2014 and will end in December 2015 the required CEUs is fifty
(50). Twenty (20) in 2014 and thirty (30) in 2015. Council is in the process of appointing a CPD administrator
who will assist members to keep track of their CEUs and make it possible to audit each and every registered
dental technician/technologist early in 2016.
Those who are found not to be compliant will be called to explain. Section 5 of the regulations is very clear on
the putative measures that are available to Council when dealing with noncompliance.
Please visit the Council's website regularly. Why not make the Council's webpage your browser page? In
that way your electronic device will open on this webpage and in so doing you will remain updated on what is
happening not only regarding CPD but everything of importance. www.sadtc.org.za
On this webpage you will find a document CPD-006. Please read it and familiarise yourself on how to obtain
CEUs. There is no reason for any registered member not to comply.
Council realizes that more varied opportunities exist for those who live in or near the bigger cities. However
there is adequate provision made for those in more rural areas. Ultimately Council is not responsible to
arrange CPD activities. It is the responsibility of first and foremost the individual and secondly that of the
organized profession such as what was arranged by DENTASA linked to their AGM.
The organized profession via branch structures can arrange local events and the Dental Traders should
consider taking more roadshows to smaller places.
Local special interest groups can be established with very little administrative/approval red tape. Where there
are as few as two dental technicians/technologists and one or twodentists such a special interest group can
be established. Dentists apply to SADA for their CEUs and dental technicians/technologists to the SADTC.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN DENTAL TECHNICIANS COUNCIL
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE RAAD VIR TANDTEGNICI
CPD in Dental Technology Dental Technology and CPD
Another way is to read approved articles and answer a few questions such as what DENTASA does from
time to time and in that way generate quite a few CEUs. If they limit this service to members only then that is
their prerogative.
Smaller local/regional micro and macro events can also be considered over weekends. Branches of structures
such as DENTASA can take a lead in this respect.
Call upon the UoTs to assist by bringing lectures to your area. Academics must also comply and they cannot
generate CEUs by lecturing their own students. They must go out of their employment area if they want to
comply. Invite them.
Council does not wish to be prescriptive in how activities should be arranged, or that every registered
professional should join DENTASA. Council is simply saying "get organized" and take charge of your own
future.
Council is extremely open mined regarding the adding of additional activities to the document CPD-006.
If you have items to be added please forward these to the Council's office at [email protected] Your
contributions will be appreciated.
The time to debate the merit and demerit of CPD and whether dental technicians/technologists should do it
is over. The discussion is now cantered around the "how"
If you decided not to join DENTASA then establish your own alternative association that will meet your needs
and requirements. Present this association's constitution and membership records to Council and you will be
recognized.
The challenge to all is to take charge, take responsibility and take this profession to new heights.
The new Council has taken the lead please take action by following.

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