51.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall not be lawful, on or after the date of the passing of this Act, for any person—

(a) to practise dentistry, or

(b) to represent or hold himself out, whether directly or by implication, as practising, or being willing and ready to practise, dentistry,

unless such person is a registered dentist.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) (a) of this section shall not operate to prohibit—

(a) the practice of dentistry by a registered medical practitioner, or

(b) the performance of dental work by an auxiliary dental worker in accordance with conditions specified in a scheme made by the Council, with the approval of the Minister, under section 53 of this Act, or

(c) the practice of dentistry under the supervision of a registered dentist by—

(i) a student of dentistry at a body referred to in the Second Schedule to this Act, or

(ii) a student of medicine at a body in the State recognised by the Medical Council for the purposes of section 35 (a) of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978,

while such student is in the course of instruction or is taking an examination, or

(d) the performance of dental work under the supervision of a registered dentist by any person as part of a course of instruction which he is following in order to qualify for membership of a class of auxiliary dental worker recognised by the Council or as part of an examination required to be passed in order to qualify for membership of such class of auxiliary dental worker.

(3) Any person who acts in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, proceedings for an offence under this section may be instituted at any time within two years from the commission of the offence.