Dental Practice

Dentists must be aware of the many factors influencing the practice of dentistry with the focus always on ensuring the welfare of patients.

Policy Statement 6.1 – Infection Control

Patients, dentists and allied dental personnel must participate in dental treatment with minimal risk of cross infection. Any authority which develops infection control regulations, codes, guidelines and standards relevant to dentistry should consult the ADA to seek expert dental opinion. The ADA’s publicly available guidelines for infection prevention and control should be the primary reference for dental practitioners.

Policy Statement 6.1 – Infection Control

Policy Statement 6.2 – Clinical Governance

Clinical governance frameworks provide an environment for dental practitioners to provide optimal clinical care. Dental practices should ensure good clinical governance systems are in place to ensure quality and safety of care.

Policy Statement 6.2 – Clinical Governance

Policy Statement 6.3 – Dental Health Care Workers (and Students) Infected with Blood-Borne Viruses

Dental personnel infected with blood-borne viruses should be able to continue to participate in dental practice without affecting public safety.

Policy Statement 6.3 – Dental Health Care Workers (and Students) Infected with Blood-Borne Viruses

Dental personnel infected with blood-borne viruses should be able to continue to participate in dental practice without affecting public safety.

Policy Statement 6.4 - Management of Impaired Dental Practitioners

Impaired dental practitioners can continue to provide valuable and safe dental health services, as long as their conditions are appropriately managed by regulatory authorities.

Policy Statement 6.4 - Management of Impaired Dental Practitioners

Impaired dental practitioners can continue to provide valuable and safe dental health services, as long as their conditions are appropriately managed by regulatory authorities.

Policy Statement 6.5 - Professional Boundaries

Dental practitioners must be aware of their responsibilities regarding professional boundaries and ensure that those boundaries are maintained.

Policy Statement 6.5 - Professional Boundaries

Dental practitioners must be aware of their responsibilities regarding professional boundaries and ensure that those boundaries are maintained.

Policy Statement 6.7 - Use of Dental Appliances to Treat Sleep-Disordered Breathing

While dentists are the only dental practitioners qualified to manage oral appliance therapy for Sleep-Disordered Breathing, both medical and dental expertise is required to manage patients who are candidates for this treatment.

Policy Statement 6.7 - Use of Dental Appliances to Treat Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Policy Statement 6.8 - Evidence-Based Dentistry

Dental practitioners should embrace evidence-based dental care with a focus on the primacy of patient treatment and along with government, industry, research foundations and universities, to ensure this research is well-funded.

Policy Statement 6.8 - Evidence-Based Dentistry

Policy Statement 6.9 - Advertising in Dentistry

The advertising of dental services should solely be used to assist patients in deciding which dentist to use and must comply with relevant standards administered by the Dental Board of Australia.

Policy Statement 6.9 - Advertising in Dentistry

The advertising of dental services should solely be used to assist patients in deciding which dentist to use and must comply with relevant standards administered by the Dental Board of Australia.

Policy Statement 6.10 - Oral Cancer

Patients should undergo oral cancer examinations by their dentists at least once a year as well as being encouraged to stop smoking and limit their intake of alcohol.

Policy Statement 6.10 - Oral Cancer

Patients should undergo oral cancer examinations by their dentists at least once a year as well as being encouraged to stop smoking and limit their intake of alcohol.

Policy Statement 6.12 - Medical Devices in Dentistry

The ADA supports cost effective supply of dental materials and devices while ensuring they are safe to use and appropriately regulated. Medical Device Production Systems should have the ability to use any appropriate/approved dental material.

Policy Statement 6.12 - Medical Devices in Dentistry

Policy Statement 6.13 - Partnering for Better Health - Dentists and Patients

The primary responsibility of dentists is the health, welfare and safety of their patients. Dentists and patients should work together, respectful of each others’ rights and responsibilities to achieve the best possible health outcomes.

Policy Statement 6.13 - Partnering for Better Health - Dentists and Patients

Policy Statement 6.14 - Radiation Safety

Radiation safety practices should be followed by appropriately trained and qualified practitioners. Any authority which develops radiation safety codes, guidelines and/or standards, relevant to dentistry, should seek expert dental opinion from the ADA.

Policy Statement 6.14 - Radiation Safety

Policy Statement 6.15 - Dental Informatics and Digital Health

Digital health records and communication of health information are commonplace in dentistry; their use must include provisions to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information, and back-up of data.

Policy Statement 6.15 - Dental Informatics and Digital Health

Policy Statement 6.16 - Forensic Dentistry

Dentists must keep legible and comprehensive dental records and release them in their original form as requested by forensic authorities or law enforcement agencies in a timely manner.

Policy Statement 6.16 - Forensic Dentistry

Dentists must keep legible and comprehensive dental records and release them in their original form as requested by forensic authorities or law enforcement agencies in a timely manner.

Policy Statement 6.17 - Conscious Sedation in Dentistry

The Dental Board (DBA) should adopt ADA Recommended Guidelines for Conscious Sedation in Dentistry. Only dentists endorsed by the DBA should practise conscious sedation in compliance with the DBA’s registration standard and guidelines.

Policy Statement 6.17 - Conscious Sedation in Dentistry

Policy Statement 6.18 - Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam should remain in use and not necessarily be replaced with other materials, but its use should be limited with children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with kidney disease.

Policy Statement 6.18 - Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam should remain in use and not necessarily be replaced with other materials, but its use should be limited with children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with kidney disease.

Policy Statement 6.19 - Minimal Intervention Dentistry

Dentists should practise minimal intervention dentistry, which promotes a comprehensive approach to dental treatment including a preference for preventive measures over surgical ones where possible.

Policy Statement 6.19 - Minimal Intervention Dentistry

Dentists should practise minimal intervention dentistry, which promotes a comprehensive approach to dental treatment including a preference for preventive measures over surgical ones where possible.

Policy Statement 6.20 - Social Responsibility

The ADA believes dentistry should be practised in a way that is culturally sensitive, non-discriminatory, and socially responsible. Oral health promotion should be well-funded, and treatment provided to those in need.

Policy Statement 6.20 - Social Responsibility

Policy Statement 6.21 - Dentistry and Environmental Sustainability

Dental practices should be encouraged to operate in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way although this should not compromise the safety and quality of dental treatment delivered to a patient.

Policy Statement 6.21 - Dentistry and Environmental Sustainability

Dental practices should be encouraged to operate in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way although this should not compromise the safety and quality of dental treatment delivered to a patient.

Policy Statement 6.22 - Dento-Maxillofacial Cone Beam Volumetric Tomography

Cone beam Volumetric Tomography (CBVT) captures 3D images of the head and neck and should be used for dental diagnosis and treatment when appropriate.

Policy Statement 6.22 - Dento-Maxillofacial Cone Beam Volumetric Tomography

Cone beam Volumetric Tomography (CBVT) captures 3D images of the head and neck and should be used for dental diagnosis and treatment when appropriate.

Policy Statement 6.23 - Prescribing Medications in Dentistry

Dentists should understand when prescriptions are needed, be trained in their safe use, adhere to the legal requirements of prescribing and be able to use e-prescribing where available.

Policy Statement 6.23 - Prescribing Medications in Dentistry

Dentists should understand when prescriptions are needed, be trained in their safe use, adhere to the legal requirements of prescribing and be able to use e-prescribing where available.

Policy Statement 6.24 - Social Media and Dentistry

The Dental Board of Australia must regulate all forms of advertising and social media use by dental practitioners who should comply with the Board’s registration standards and guidelines, including preserving the privacy of patients.

Policy Statement 6.24 - Social Media and Dentistry

Policy Statement 6.25 - Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice

Dentists should ensure that the dental team’s skills in managing medical emergencies remain current; practices should have a written protocol for responding to medical emergencies.

Policy Statement 6.25 - Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice

Dentists should ensure that the dental team’s skills in managing medical emergencies remain current; practices should have a written protocol for responding to medical emergencies.

Policy Statement 6.26 - Dental Fees

Dentists must retain the right to determine their own fees, and to charge usual and customary fees appropriate to their circumstances.

Policy Statement 6.26 - Dental Fees

Dentists must retain the right to determine their own fees, and to charge usual and customary fees appropriate to their circumstances.

Policy Statement 6.27 - Bisphenol-A in Dental Restorative Materials

Further research on exposure and release of BPA from resin-based dental materials and the relevant clinical implications including how BPA is absorbed and cleared by the body, is strongly recommended.

Policy Statement 6.27 - Bisphenol-A in Dental Restorative Materials

Policy Statement 6.28 - Teledentistry and Virtual Care in Dentistry

Teledentistry services must only be provided by a dental practitioner registered with the Dental Board of Australia. Teledentistry should be further developed, monitored and assessed.

Policy Statement 6.28 - Teledentistry and Virtual Care in Dentistry

Teledentistry services must only be provided by a dental practitioner registered with the Dental Board of Australia. Teledentistry should be further developed, monitored and assessed.

Policy Statement 6.29 - Laser Safety in Dentistry

Safe use of lasers in a dental practice must be achieved by following a program of laser safety activities and procedures which are monitored, reviewed and audited to achieve best practice.

Policy Statement 6.29 - Laser Safety in Dentistry

Safe use of lasers in a dental practice must be achieved by following a program of laser safety activities and procedures which are monitored, reviewed and audited to achieve best practice.

Policy Statement 6.30 - Neurotoxins and Dermal Fillers in Dentistry

Dentists are the only dental practitioners qualified to administer neurotoxins and dermal fillers and must comply with both the requirements of the Dental Board of Australia, and with their state or territory’s drug and poison legislation.

Policy Statement 6.30 - Neurotoxins and Dermal Fillers in Dentistry

Policy Statement 6.31 - Salivary Diagnostics

Dentists should be aware of the potential value and implications of salivary tests in clinical practice, and further translational and clinical studies regarding the use of saliva for diagnostic purposes are required.

Policy Statement 6.31 - Salivary Diagnostics

Policy Statement 6.32 - General Anaesthesia in Dentistry

Government, hospitals and health fund policies should ensure that patients have equitable access to dentistry under general anaesthesia.

Policy Statement 6.32 - General Anaesthesia in Dentistry

Government, hospitals and health fund policies should ensure that patients have equitable access to dentistry under general anaesthesia.

Policy Statement 6.33 - Relative Analgesia

Relative Analgesia is a commonly used and safe technique prescribed by dentists for treating anxious patients utilising nitrous oxide and oxygen for the relief of dental patients’ anxiety and pain. Dentists should remain the only dental practitioner who can prescribe relative analgesia.

Policy Statement 6.33 - Relative Analgesia

Policy Statement 6.34 - Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry

Applications of artificial intelligence in dentistry should prioritise patient safety, quality of care, continuity of care, and data privacy and security.

Policy Statement 6.34 - Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry

Applications of artificial intelligence in dentistry should prioritise patient safety, quality of care, continuity of care, and data privacy and security.