Page 80 - 2021 AGD ADVOCACY

History Part 1

The original model in New Zealand featured deployable DTs

• 1923, New Zealand:

• In response to poor dental health of school children, the Public

Health Department recruited, trained, and employed/deployed
dental nurses to treat elementary school children in in-school dental

clinics of 2-3 chairs and 1-2 Dental Nurses/Dental Therapists that
worked under general supervision.

• The system was effective because preventive and basic restorative care
was given regularly, over a long period of time.

• 45 years later, the model had been copied throughout the British
Commonwealth and other countries.