Education and training courses for non-dental health practitioners should include an oral health component. Non-dental health practitioners should ask patients about their dental attendance and enable access to timely oral health care.
2.1. Non-dental health practitioners providing oral health care interventions should be aware of any
regulatory framework surrounding the provision of such care.
2.2. The ADA supports interprofessional collaborative practice and integration of oral and general
health at a clinical and health system level.
2.3. Non-dental health practitioners should ask patients about their dental attendance and enable
access to timely oral health care.
2.4. The ADA supports the identification, prevention and management of oral disease as a universal
component of patient care across all health settings.
2.5. Inclusion of oral health education and training in other areas of healthcare will align the early
identification, prevention and management of oral disease with that of other chronic diseases and
conditions.
2.6. The ADA supports the inclusion of oral health education and training into other areas of
healthcare to foster interprofessional collaborative practice, and to help align the identification,
prevention and management of oral disease with that of other chronic diseases and conditions.
2.7. All health professionals and facilities should have access to protocols, and facilitate oral health
promotion and the detection of oral diseases and conditions in their residents/patients.
2.8. All non-dental health practitioners should provide referral options to see a dental practitioner
following the detection of oral diseases and conditions in their clients.
2.9. Education and training courses in emergency management should include a component enabling
non-dental health practitioners to provide dental first-aid.
2.10. All Health care practitioners should work together to:
There is a need to develop the capacity of other non-dental health practitioners to assist in meeting the
oral health needs of the community.
3.1. The Australian Dental Association is well placed to support the development and training of oral
health to non-dental health practitioners.
3.2. The WHO directives on patient-centred care stipulate that care be centred around individuals,
their families, and their communities, rather than a specific health care facility.
3.3. Evidence supports links between oral health and general health.1
3.4. Some medical conditions may be exacerbated by poor oral health or have deleterious effect on
oral health or be exacerbated by poor oral health.
3.5. Oral health screening can be conducted in many health and community settings. This can
increase early detection of oral health needs and can improve awareness of and access to dental
practitioners.
3.6. Increasing tooth retention by older people will lead to more of older people requiring ongoing oral
health care support in their homes and in aged care facilities.
3.7. People experiencing dental injuries and emergencies will often present to non-dental health
professionals for assistance. A delay in access to appropriate first aid and dental care may impact
oral health outcomes.
3.8. A wide-range of healthcare providers may be able to provide advice and support which
contributes to improved oral health for people of all ages.
4.1. BOARD is the Dental Board of Australia.
4.2. SCREENING is the intentional observation of patients to recognise potential deviations from
normal health.
4.3. NON-DENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS are health care providers other than those who are
registered with the Board.
4.4. DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner
Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.
June 2025
June 2030
