The Dental Council is a regulatory authority created by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.  The Dental Council ensures that oral health practitioners meet and maintain standards in order to protect the health and safety of the New Zealand public.  Oral health practitioners regulated by the Dental Council are dentists, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hgygienists, oral health therapists, clinical dental technicians, dental technicians and orthodontic auxiliaries.  On the Dental Council website you can search the register for all oral health practitioners registered in New Zealand; find disciplinary decisions about registered oral health practitioners; learn your rights as a patient and raise concern or make a complaint about an oral health practitioner.  www.dcnz.org.nz