Employers of oral health practitioners

This information is for organisations and individuals who employ or engage registered oral health practitioners, including hospitals, clinics, dental practices, and other healthcare providers.

Before employing an oral heath practitioner, we recommend checking the register to confirm:

that they are currently registered

that they hold a current annual practising certificate (APC)

whether any conditions or restrictions apply to their scope of practice and are relevant to the role.

Do you have concerns about a practitioner?

Concerns may relate to a practitioner’s competence, health, or conduct.

You may wish to contact us for advice if:

there appears to be a pattern of poor performance
there has been a serious departure from accepted standards of practice
patients may be at risk of harm
there has been a significant change in the practitioner's behaviour, health, or ability to practise safely.

When you need to notify the Dental Council

Competence-related resignations or dismissals

You must notify us if a practitioner resigns or is dismissed for reasons relating to their competence.

Health concerns

You must notify us if you believe a practitioner may be unable to perform the functions required for their profession because of a mental or physical condition.

Information to include

When making a notification, provide:

the practitioner’s name and registration details (if known)
a description of the concerns
relevant dates and events
any documents or information that may assist the Council’s assessment.

What happens next?

The Council will assess the information provided and determine whether any further action is required.

Information received by the Council is managed in accordance with our statutory obligations and privacy requirements. If you have concerns about confidentiality or how information may be used, please refer to our Privacy policy for further information.