About

The Dental Board of Australia is established under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). The Board’s role is to regulate dental practitioners in Australia under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme).

Board members are appointed by the Australian Workforce Ministerial Council. 

Functions of the Board

The functions of the Dental Board of Australia include:

• registering dentists, students, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists 
• developing standards, codes and guidelines for the dental profession
• handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings
• assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia  
• approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.

National committees

The Dental Board of Australia is supported by National committees, they are the:

• Registration and Compliance Committee
• Notification and Compliance Committee
• Immediate Action Committee
• Dental Notifications Committee - Assessment

These committees make decisions, based on national policies and standards set by the Dental Board of Australia. The Dental Board of Australia has formally delegated the necessary powers to the National committees.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

The Board is supported by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Ahpra has a National office based in Melbourne and offices in every State and Territory to support local Boards and Committees.

For information about legislation governing our operations see Ahpra's Legislation and Publications pages. 

Contact the Board

Postal address:

Dr Simon Shanahan, Chair
Dental Board of Australia
G.P.O. Box 9958
Melbourne VIC 3001

You can use the online enquiry form to contact the board.  

Communiqués

Read Communiqués from the Board. 

Newsletters

Read the Dental Board's newsletters for important information relevant to the practice and regulation of dental practice in Australia.

Meet the Board 

Meet the individual Board members.