How to find a board certified dentist

If you need a dentist, you can find a dental health service near you.

Dentists provide: 

• assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management and preventive services  

• diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries and abnormalities of teeth and gums   

• restorative and preventive procedures 

• surgery or other specialist services.  

Dentists must complete a minimum 4-year undergraduate degree, or 4-year postgraduate master course. They must complete further training to specialise. 

Dental hygienists

Dental hygienists use preventive, educational and therapeutic methods to help prevent and control oral disease and maintain oral health. They provide: 

• oral health assessment 

• diagnosis 

• treatment 

• management  

• education.  

Dental hygienists must complete a minimum 2-year advanced diploma, or 3-year undergraduate course.  

Oral health therapists

Oral health therapists have dual qualifications as dental therapists and hygienists. They may practice as a hygienist, a therapist or both. Unless they have completed further training, oral health therapists treat patients aged under 18 years, with: 

• oral health assessment 

• diagnosis 

• treatment 

• management and preventive services, such as fillings, tooth extraction and gum treatment 

• education. 

Oral health therapists must complete a minimum 3-year undergraduate course.  

Dental therapists

Dental therapists generally treat patients under the age of 18, unless they have completed further training. They provide: 

• oral health assessment 

• diagnosis

• treatment 

• management and preventive services, such as x-rays, examinations, dental impressions and routine treatment.  

Dental therapists must complete a minimum 3-year undergraduate course.  

Dental prosthetists

Dental prosthetists make, fit, supply and repair dentures and other dental appliances. They provide: 

• education 

• assessment 

• treatment 

• management and provision of removable dentures 

• flexible, removable mouthguards used for sporting activities.  

Dental prosthetists must complete a minimum 3-year undergraduate or one-year postgraduate course.

Find out how to become a dentist or a dental practitioner.

Dentist and dental practitioner registration

To practise in Australia, all dentists and dental practitioners must: 

Those who want to broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence can also undertake continuing professional development.

Regulation of the dental profession

A number of bodies work side by side to regulate Australia's dental profession. 

National Registration and Accreditation Scheme

Australia has a single National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for registering health professionals. It operates independently of the Australian Government under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009. 

Dental Board of Australia

The DBA is responsible for:  

• registering dental professionals and students who must practise within a scope of practice according to their education, qualifications, training, experience and competence 

• developing standards, codes and guidelines for the dental profession 

• handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings 

• approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study 

• assessing the skills and qualifications of overseas trained dental practitioners wanting to practise in Australia.

Find out more about the DBA.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (Ahpra)

This independent statutory agency supports the DBA by: 

• processing applications for registration 

• maintaining a public register of registered health practitioners.  

Find out more about Ahpra.

Australian Dental Council (ADC)

This independent authority is responsible for: 

• accrediting education providers and programs of study for the dental profession 

• assessing international dental practitioners.  

Find out more about the ADC. 

Medicare compliance

We protect Australia’s health payments system from incorrect claiming, inappropriate practice and fraud through a range of compliance activities. We also monitor compliance activity through the Practitioner Review Program (PRP).

Practitioner Review Program

We monitor health practitioner conduct, including dentists and dental practitioners, to identify inappropriate practices. This is done under our Practitioner Review Program.

If the outcome of a review is unresolved, we may refer the matter to the Professional Services Review for further action.

Billing and prescribing compliance

To protect Australia’s health payments system from incorrect claiming, inappropriate practice and fraud, we monitor practitioners' billing and prescribing practices against the:

• Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
• Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS)
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Learn more about how we ensure Medicare compliance.

Dentists and dental practitioners in Australia

Registered dental professionals make up about 3% of Australia’s health workforce. In Australia, between April and June 2021, there were:  

• 16,055 dentists 

• 2,298 oral health therapists 

• 1,405 dental hygienists 

• 1,227 dental prosthetists 

• 745 dental therapists. 

The majority of Australia’s dental workforce are dentists who work in: 

• general dental practice 

• the private sector  

• urban areas, largely capital cities.  

See our health workforce data about dentists and dental practitioners. 

Becoming a dentist takes years of dental school. It takes years but the expertise shows as a top qualified dentist can work with about any oral health issue. Or recommend another dental specialist to take over. Those experts who want to shine can take it even further. Being a board-certified dentist is to be a go-to expert in the industry. In this easy read post, we’ll show the quick facts about what it means to be a board-certified dentist. Let’s get reading.

Board-Certified Dentist – What’s That?

This accolade signals that the dentist has gone through all relevant training. And has qualifications to the utmost that can be. The dentist will have proven exceptional skills. These skills go beyond legal and industry standards. Through this certification, they prove a commitment. One of providing patient care above and beyond the call of duty.

A board-certified dentist offer excellence past the basic training learned in dental school. Which is far from basic to the average human. They do so by attended and completing post-doctoral programs. And writing clinical and oral examinations.

What Does a Dentist Need to do?

The dentist must meet qualifications demanded by the American Board of General Dentistry (. These include a post-doctoral residency in general dentistry. They can also present a Master Certificate from the Academy of General Dentistry. After this, the dentist must pass a written exam. Demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of dentistry.

To complete the path to board-certification a dentit must complete an oral exam. The exam results are then reviewed by Board Members of the ABGD. After passing this long and hard examination process your dentist is then awarded Board Certification.

Where Can I Find a Board Certified Dentist?

Board-certified dentists make up 1% of the dental industry. Finding one is going to need investigating. If a dentist is NOT board certified it does not mean they are not experts in their field. 99% of dentists are top-grade experts they just haven’t taken extra exams to make them more super. All dentists are dedicated to providing the best care available regardless of certification.

All dentists are dedicated to providing the best care available

Why Bother Being a Board-Certified Dentist?

This is to elevate the provider with certification. One that sets them apart from the industry. Only a handful of dentists ever achieve this accolade. It recognizes ability, skill, knowledge, and pride in general dentistry.  As a patient, be confident in your dentist’s abilities. But look out for certificates on the wall setting that expert apart from the rest.

In industry standards, certifiation allows access to industries non-board-certified providers cannot access. The Military for one. Working for the Armed Forces allows for a significant pay increase. And board certification is key for advancement and promotion. Plus the dentist will do his or her duty, which for some is the best thing they can do.

Other industries include hospitals, private practice, and academia. In all these industries, board-certification leads to better positions. And a greater reward for both the dentist and the patient.

Contact a Board-Certified Dentist

Once you have checked out your provider’s qualifications, you can proceed with confidence. The knowledge that your daughters and sons will get the best care possible is key. A focus on comfort, respect, knowledge is first. Top-quality oral health care wins when it comes to your family’s dental health.

Conclusion

Are you ready to experience the top-quality dentist office difference? Contact Dr. Engel at Kinder Smiles today with any questions or to make an appointment for your child or teen. Our new dental and orthodontic specialists are eager to make your appointments great. And we can arrange a treatment plan to suit you.

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400 Kinderkamack Rd.
Oradell, NJ 07649

Phone: 201-262-0211