Section 38
Use of qualification and title
of Dental Registration Act 1999
(1)
A registered dentist or registered oral health therapist must not use any qualification other than the qualifications which are entered in the Register of Dentists in respect of him or her, or which have been approved by the Council for his or her use.
(2)
A registered dentist whose name appears in the first division of the Register of Dentists must not use any title, addition or designation other than —
the title, addition or designation which has been approved by the Council for his or her use; or
if his or her name has been entered in a list mentioned in subsection (6) in respect of a title prescribed under subsection (5), the prescribed title.
(3)
A registered dentist whose name appears in the second division of the Register of Dentists must not use any title, addition or designation other than that of “registered dentist”, “dentist” or, if his or her name has been entered in a list mentioned in subsection (6) in respect of a title prescribed under subsection (5), the prescribed title.
(4)
Any registered dentist or registered oral health therapist who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (3) may be subject to disciplinary proceedings under Part 5 and for the purposes of that Part, such contravention is deemed to be an act which brings disrepute to the profession of a registered dentist or registered oral health therapist, as the case may be.
(5)
If the Council is of the opinion that any branch of dentistry has become so distinctive that it would be for the convenience of the public or of the dental profession that registered dentists qualified to practise, or practising, in that branch of dentistry should use a distinctive title, the Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations to prescribe appropriate titles and conditions under which they may be used.
(6)
In the case of any prescribed title, regulations may provide —
for a list to be kept by the Council of the names of registered dentists who are qualified under those regulations to use that title; and
for any registered dentist who is so qualified to be entitled to have his or her name entered in the list.
(7)
For the purposes of this section, “use”, in relation to any qualification, title, addition or designation, includes to exhibit or publish the qualification, title, addition or designation in any card, letter, stationery, nameplate, signboard, placard, circular, handbill or any notice displayed by the registered dentist concerned at any premises used by him or her for the practice of dentistry.[31