1. Position Summary
As the only oral health professionals trained and registered to provide care across the full scope of dentistry, dentists are uniquely qualified to lead the delivery of comprehensive oral healthcare. Like general practitioners in medicine, dentists serve as the principal providers and coordinators of dental care. They are best placed to oversee diagnosis, treatment planning, interdisciplinary coordination, and the long-term management of patients’ oral health within a dental team framework. Australia must be self-sufficient with regard to workforce supply of dentists.
2. Position
2.1 In Australia, the primary qualification leading to the conferral of the title “dentist” must be an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 7 Bachelor Degree or higher in dentistry, accredited by the Australian Dental Council (ADC) and approved by the Board.
2.2 The program should train dentists to safely operate within the full scope of dentistry.
2.3 A one-year clinical placement within the dentist training program is supported provided there is direct assistance and clinical supervision to enhance the knowledge and skills and experience of the student.
2.4 Voluntary post-graduate year one programs are supported provided they are based on mentoring the continuing professional development of the graduates and not just the provision of service.
2.5 Overseas qualified dentists may satisfy registration requirements if their qualification is on the list that the Dental Board of Australia consider are equivalent to an approved qualification for general registration as a dental practitioner. Otherwise, overseas qualified dentists must satisfactorily fulfil ADC and Board requirements before practising in Australia.
2.6 The dentist is the principal provider of dental services to the community. Dentist-based systems of care and delivery should be a high priority, along with the provision of high quality and appropriate dental care. Where Allied Dental Personnel are utilised, they must work within their defined scope of practice and refer to an appropriately trained and experienced dental practitioner when required.
2.7 Dentists providing dental care within clinical practice must maintain an appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance cover.
2.8 Dentists should conduct themselves in accordance with the Australian Dental Association Federal and Branch Codes of Ethics and AHPRA’s Shared Code of Conduct.
2.9 Dentists must engage in continuing professional development throughout their practising careers.
3. Background
3.1 A dentist is the only dental practitioner entitled to use the title “dentist” but may also be known as a dental surgeon, surgeon dentist or by a specialist dentist title.
3.1. Dentist education and training involve different models at university that culminate in registration with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) in courses accredited by the ADC.
3.2. Dentists are the only dental practitioners who are trained to practise the full scope of dentistry.
3.3. Dentists in Australia have a proud tradition of voluntarily supporting Australian Dental Schools, their professional association, and other initiatives.
3.4. Dentists in Australia must complete a university-level degree in a program accredited by the Australian Dental Council (ADC) and approved by the Dental Board of Australia. To practise, they must maintain Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration and comply with all associated professional and regulatory requirements, including appropriate indemnity coverage and adherence to the AHPRA and Dental Board of Australia shared Code of Conduct and the Australian Dental Association Code of Ethics
4. Definitions
4.1. AUSTRALIAN HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGISTRATION AGENCY (AHPRA) is the agency that supports the National Boards to implement the National Registration and accreditation Scheme.
4.2. ALLIED DENTAL PERSONNEL are those, other than dentists, working in the provision of dental services.
4.3. BOARD is the Dental Board of Australia.
4.4. A DENTAL TEAM comprises a mix of dentists and other registered dental practitioners and support staff and must at all times be headed by a dentist who is responsible for the care, diagnosis, treatment planning, management of chronic conditions, delivery of dental procedures and continued evaluation of the oral health of the patient. The dentist supports and directs the other members of the dental team working directly with them.
4.5. A DENTIST is an appropriately qualified dental practitioner, registered by the Board to practise all areas of dentistry.
4.6. A DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.
4.7. DENTISTRY is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical, reversible and irreversible procedures) of diseases, disorders, irregularities or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body.
5. Last review
September 2025
6. Next review due
September 2030
This Policy Statement is linked to other Policy Statement:
3.1 Dental Workforce & Education
3.4 Specialist Dentists
3.8 Overseas Qualified Dentists
3.9 Recency of Practice
3.10 Clinical Practice Placements
3.12 Benefits of Defined Health Professions
4.1 Continuing Professional Development
