New Types of Registration of Dentists

Following the passage of the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 at the Legislative Council on 10 July 2024, the relevant amendments will come into operation on the day(s) to be appointed by the Secretary for Health by notice published in the Gazette. Pursuant to the Government’s brief to the Legislative Council on the commencement of the amended Dentists Registration Ordinance, Cap. 156, Laws of Hong Kong, issued on 16 October 2024, relevant provisions, amongst others, on the new types of registration including limited registration, special registration and temporary registration will take effect from 1 January 2025.

Limited Registration

According to section 9D of the amended Dentists Registration Ordinance, the following persons may apply for limited registration –

1. the applicant has been selected for
   1. full-time employment as a person with limited registration in a Schedule 4 institution; or
      
   2. an employment or an employment of a type determined under section 9E of the Ordinance;
2. the applicant has obtained a recognized non-Hong Kong qualification;
3. the applicant has had adequate and relevant full-time post-qualification clinical experience;
   
4. unless the applicant is a person with limited registration or a person with special registration when the application is made, or was such a person at any time before the application is made—the applicant is registered as a dentist under the law of a place outside Hong Kong;
   
5. the applicant has not been refused, under section 7A(3) of the Ordinance, to take the Licensing Examination; and
   
6. the applicant is of good character.

Note: Schedule 4 Institutions include Department of Health, Hospital Authority, The University of Hong Kong and The Prince Philip Dental Hospital.

In approving an application, the Dental Council—

1. must specify a period not exceeding 3 years during which the registration is to be in force; and
2. may impose any condition that the Dental Council considers appropriate.

Special Registration

According to section 9K of the amended Dentists Registration Ordinance, the following persons may apply for special registration that –

1. the applicant has been selected for full-time employment as a person with special registration in a Schedule 5 institution;
2. the applicant has obtained a recognized non-Hong Kong qualification;
3. either —
   1. the applicant has been awarded a Fellowship of the Academy of Medicine in the specialty of dental surgery; or
      
   2. the Academy of Medicine has certified that the applicant has attained a professional standard equivalent to that recognized by the Academy for the award of a Fellowship of the Academy in the specialty of dental surgery;
4. the applicant has had adequate and relevant full-time post-qualification clinical experience;
   
5. unless the applicant is a person with limited registration or a person with special registration when the application is made, or was such a person at any time before the application is made—the applicant is registered as a dentist under the law of a place outside Hong Kong;
   
6. the applicant has not been refused, under section 7A(3) of the Ordinance, to take the Licensing Examination; and
   
7. the applicant is of good character.

Note: Schedule 5 Institutions include Department of Health, Hospital Authority, The University of Hong Kong and The Prince Philip Dental Hospital.

In approving an application, the Dental Council—

1. must specify a period not exceeding 3 years during which the registration is to be in force; and
2. may impose any condition that the Dental Council considers appropriate.

Temporary Registration

According to section 9G of the amended Dentists Registration Ordinance, a person (applicant) may apply to the Dental Council for the temporary registration of another person (subject person) exclusively for conducting clinical teaching or research for the applicant.

In approving an application, the Dental Council—

1. must specify a period not exceeding 14 days during which the registration is to be in force; and
2. may impose any condition that the Dental Council considers appropriate.

Application Form with Guidance Note for New Types of Registration