In short
A notification about a dental practitioner is managed jointly by the Dental Board of Australia and Ahpra. Your practice is measured against the Board's Code of conduct. Ahpra assesses the concern against the risk to the public, then reports to the Board, which decides. Dental practitioners have among the highest complaint rates of any profession, and the most common concern by far is clinical care and treatment, followed by communication, documentation and advertising. The great majority of notifications end with no further action.
How does the Dental Board handle a notification?
It is a joint responsibility: Ahpra gathers the information and assesses the risk, and the Dental Board of Australia makes the decision.
When a concern is raised about a dental practitioner, Ahpra reviews it against the risk to the public and, where it proceeds, prepares a report for the Board. All decisions are made by the Board or its delegates. The overwhelming majority of notifications about dentists come from patients, relatives or members of the public. If you want the national picture first, our guide to what an AHPRA notification is explains the wider system.
Who does the Dental Board regulate?
All registered dental practitioners, not only dentists.
The Dental Board of Australia registers and regulates the whole dental team, and the same conduct standards apply across it.
Whichever division you are registered in, a notification is assessed against the standard expected of a practitioner in your role.
What standard is a dental practitioner measured against?
The Dental Board's Code of conduct, which sets the professional behaviour and conduct expected of you.
The Board applies the shared Code of conduct, which sets out expectations for professional behaviour, good care, communication, consent, records and advertising, and includes a section on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety. Where your practice varies significantly from the code, you will be asked to explain and justify it, and serious or repeated departures are the ones most likely to lead to regulatory action. Identifying which part of the code your matter touches is the first step in a strong response.
What are the most common concerns about dentists?
Clinical care and treatment is by far the most common, followed by communication, documentation and advertising.
The pattern of concerns about dental practitioners is distinctive, and clinical treatment dominates it. Knowing where notifications most often arise helps you understand what a Board is alert to.
- Clinical care and treatmentBy far the most common concern, about the quality, necessity or safety of treatment provided.
- CommunicationConcerns about how options, costs, risks and consent were explained.
- DocumentationIncomplete or inadequate clinical records.
- AdvertisingMisleading claims, testimonials or before-and-after images that breach the rules.
- Billing and costConcerns about fees, quotes and the necessity of treatment.
Why is dental advertising a special risk?
Because dental advertising is one of the most heavily monitored and enforced areas in the whole scheme, and the rules are strict.
The advertising rules
Under the National Law and the advertising guidelines, your advertising, across your website, social media, print and signage, must not use testimonials, create unrealistic expectations, promise particular outcomes, or make misleading or unverifiable claims.
Before-and-after photographs are the single biggest source of advertising complaints against dental practices, because they can mislead patients about likely results.
Ahpra and the Dental Board actively monitor dental advertising through routine surveillance as well as complaints, and studies have found the large majority of dental websites breach at least one standard. Because so many practices advertise heavily, this is an area where a notification can arise without any clinical concern at all. Reviewing your advertising against the guidelines is one of the simplest ways to reduce your risk.
What about promoting treatment funded by superannuation?
Encouraging patients to access their superannuation to pay for dental treatment is an area the Dental Board has specifically flagged.
With more patients accessing their superannuation early to fund dental care, the Board has warned practitioners to take particular care. Concerns have arisen both about the quality and necessity of treatment provided after a patient accessed their super, and about advertising or recommendations that encourage patients to release their retirement savings for treatment. The underlying rule is unchanged: treatment must be clinically necessary and appropriate, in the patient's genuine interest, and any promotion of it must comply with the advertising guidelines. Recommending significant or elective treatment funded this way, without a clear clinical justification, is exactly the kind of matter that draws scrutiny. Keeping treatment need-based, and your advertising compliant, protects both the patient and you.
Is your matter about conduct, performance or health?
Every notification is viewed through one of three lenses, and the stream shapes how it is handled.
A conduct concern is about behaviour that departs from the code, such as advertising, boundaries or documentation. A performance concern is about the clinical quality or safety of your treatment. A health concern is about an impairment that may affect safe practice, and is handled supportively wherever possible. Most notifications about dentists are performance matters, reflecting the dominance of clinical treatment concerns.
What outcomes can a dental practitioner face?
The full range, from no further action at the lightest end to conditions or, for the most serious matters, referral to a tribunal.
The large majority of notifications about dental practitioners close with no further action. Where the Board decides action is needed, it chooses the least restrictive response that manages the risk, from a caution or conditions such as education or supervision, through to suspension or cancellation by a tribunal. Our guide to notification outcomes sets out the full ladder, and where there is a serious risk the Board can also take immediate action.
How should you respond, and how can CPD help?
Map the concern to the code, reflect honestly, and evidence targeted remediation.
Identify which part of the code your concern touches, whether treatment, consent, records or advertising. Prepare a clear reflective statement that shows you understand why it mattered, and back it with real remediation. Structured CPD on professionalism and the relevant clinical or advertising area, aligned with your CPD registration standard, gives dated evidence that you have addressed the concern. For serious matters, take advice from your indemnity insurer. Browse the range of CPD for dentists.
For dentists
Courses for the Dental Board
Structured CPD written for dentists and mapped to the Dental Board's Code of conduct, to help you respond to a notification and evidence your reflection. Independent CPD you can use as evidence of remediation.
Professionalism and Professional Standards for Dentists and Dental Professionals
- Written to the Dental Board's code
- Address professional standards concerns directly
- Evidence your understanding for the Board
Ethics and Ethical Standards for Dentists and Dental Professionals
- Ground your response in dental ethics
- Map decisions to the code of conduct
- Show the reasoning a Board looks for
Ensuring Clinical Competence and Patient Safety
- Targets the most common dental concern
- Strengthen treatment and safety
- Evidence competence for your response
How to Deal With a Notification or Investigation
- Understand each stage of the Board's process
- Know what to do, and what to avoid, early
- Respond calmly and well prepared
Frequently asked questions
Who decides a notification about a dentist?
The Dental Board of Australia, or its delegates, makes the decision. Ahpra gathers information and assesses the risk, then presents a report to the Board. That report is prepared for the Board and is not released to the practitioner.
What standard is my dental practice judged against?
The Dental Board's Code of conduct, which sets expectations for professional behaviour, good care, communication, consent, records and advertising. Serious or repeated departures from the code are the ones most likely to lead to action.
What are the most common complaints about dentists?
Clinical care and treatment is by far the most common, making up the majority of concerns. Communication, documentation, advertising, and billing or cost concerns are the next most frequent triggers for notifications about dental practitioners.
Can I be reported for my dental advertising?
Yes. Dental advertising is heavily monitored. Testimonials, misleading claims, and before-and-after photographs that create unrealistic expectations can all breach the rules and lead to a notification, even with no clinical concern involved.
Can I keep working during a notification?
Usually yes. Most dental practitioners keep working while a notification is assessed. Your registration is only restricted if the Board takes immediate action, used in a small number of higher risk matters after a show cause process.
How long does the Dental Board process take?
Ahpra aims to complete the assessment stage within around 60 days in most cases. More complex matters, investigations, and referrals to a panel or tribunal take considerably longer to resolve fully.
What should I do first if a notification is made about me?
Read it carefully, note any deadline, and contact your professional indemnity insurer before responding. Identify which part of the code the concern touches, and prepare a considered, evidenced response rather than a defensive one.
Does CPD help with a Dental Board notification?
Yes. Targeted CPD mapped to the code, whether on treatment, consent, records or advertising, and aligned with your CPD registration standard, gives dated evidence of insight and remediation. It never guarantees an outcome, but it directly addresses the concern.
Dr Richard
Course Facilitator
A practising clinician with over 21 years of experience and postgraduate training in healthcare law and ethics, so every course reflects both clinical reality and Australian regulatory standards.
Written and reviewed by Dr Richard. Last reviewed . Read full profile
AHPRA Courses is an independent training provider. Our courses are structured CPD that practitioners can use as evidence of remediation. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Ahpra, the Dental Board of Australia, or any other regulator. Courses provide evidence of remediation and do not determine the outcome of any matter. This article is general information, not legal advice. If you have received a notification, seek advice from your professional indemnity insurer or a health law solicitor.