The Short Title of this Act is “The Dentists Act, 1880.”

In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context,—

From and after the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, a person other than a legally qualified medical practitioner shall not be entitled to take or use the name or title of dentist (either alone or in combination with other words) or of dental practitioner, or any name, title, addition, or description implying that he is registered under this Act, or that he is a person specially qualified to practise dentistry, unless he is registered under this Act.

Any person who, after the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, not being registered under this Act, takes or uses any such name, title, addition, or description as aforesaid, shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds: Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any person registered under the said Act, or to any legally qualified medical practitioner.

A person registered under this Act shall be entitled to practise dentistry and dental surgery in any part of New Zealand; and from and after the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, a person shall not be entitled to recover any fee or charge in any Court for the performance of any dental operation or for any dental attendance or advice, unless he is registered under this Act, or is registered under the said Act, or is a legally-qualified medical practitioner.

Any person who—

Any person showing that he holds some recognized certificate, as hereinafter defined, granted in a British possession, and that he is of good character, shall upon payment of the registration fee be entitled, without examination, to be registered under this Act.

Any person showing that he holds some recognized certificate, as hereinafter defined, granted in a foreign country, and that he is of good character, and either continues to hold such certificate or has not been deprived thereof for any cause which disqualifies him for being registered under this Act, shall upon payment of the fees be entitled, without examination, to be registered under this Act.

The certificate granted in a British possession or in a foreign country, which is to be deemed such a recognized certificate as is required for the purposes of this Act, shall be such certificate, diploma, membership, degree, license, letters, testimonial, or other title, status, or document as may be recognized by the Board of Examiners as entitling the holder thereof to practise dentistry or dental surgery in such possession or country, and as furnishing sufficient guarantee of the possession of the requisite knowledge and skill for the efficient practice of dentistry or dental surgery.

If a person is refused registration as a colonial dentist or as a foreign dentist, the Board of Examiners shall, if required by him, state in writing the reason for such refusal; and if such reason be that the certificate held or obtained by him is not such a recognized certificate as above defined, such person may appeal to the Governor in Council, and the Governor in Council may, after hearing the Board of Examiners, order the Board of Examiners to recognize such certificate, and such order shall be duly obeyed.

When a person entitled to be registered under this Act produces or sends to the Registrar-General the document conferring or evidencing his qualification, with a statement of his name and address, and the other particulars, if any, required for registration, and pays the registration fee, he shall be registered in the Dentists’ Register: Provided that a person shall not be registered under this Act as having been at the passing thereof engaged in the practice of dentistry, unless he produces or transmits to the Registrar before the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, information of his name and address, and a declaration signed by him in the form of the Schedule to this Act.

The Senate may from time to time appoint a Board or Boards of Examiners for the purpose of conducting examinations and granting certificates under this Act.

Each of such Boards shall be called Boards of Examiners in Dental Surgery or Dentistry, and shall consist of not less than six members, who shall be either qualified medical practitioners or persons registered under this Act.

The persons appointed by the Senate shall continue in office for such period, and shall conduct the examinations in such manner, and shall grant certificates in such form, as such Senate may from time to time by by-laws or regulations respectively direct.

A casual vacancy in any such Board of Examiners may be filled by the Senate which appointed such Board, but the person so appointed shall be qualified as the person in whose stead he is appointed, and shall hold office for such time only as the person in whose stead he is appointed would have held office.

Such reasonable fees shall be paid for the certificates to be granted under this Act by the Board of Examiners, as the Senate may from time to time by by-laws or regulations respectively direct.

If it appears to the Senate that an attempt has been made, by any Board of Examiners, to impose on any candidate offering himself for examination an obligation to adopt or refrain from adopting the practice of any particular theory of dentistry or dental surgery, as a test or condition of admitting him to examination or granting a certificate of fitness under this Act, the Senate may represent the same to the Governor in Council, and the Governor in Council may thereupon issue an injunction to the authority so acting, directing them to desist from such practice; and in the event of their not complying therewith, then to order that such authority shall cease to have power to confer any right to be registered under this Act so long as they continue such practice.

Any person who wilfully procures or attempts to procure himself or any other person to be registered under this Act, by making or producing or causing to be made or produced any false or fraudulent representation or declaration, either verbally or in writing, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall, on conviction, be liable to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding twelve months.

Any Registrar who wilfully makes or causes to be made any falsification in any matter relating to any register under this Act, shall be liable to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding twelve months.