Dental Practice Board of Victoria

The Dental Practice Board of Victoria (DPBV) is a statutory body. It was originally established by the Dental Practice Act 1999 and came into existence on 1 July 2000. On 1 July 2007 the Health Professions Registration Act 2005 (the Act) came into force, replacing the Dental Practice Act. The Board's powers are determined by the Act.

In general, the functions of the DPBV are to:
• register suitably qualified dental care providers in Victoria (thus entitling them to practise);
• investigate their professional conduct and fitness to practise; and
• regulate the standards of practice in dental care.

Dental care providers include the following:
• dentists and specialists
• dental prosthetists
• dental therapists
• dental hygienists.

The DPBV also grants registration to students to enable them to complete their course of study in dental care.

The DPBV has the responsibility to protect the public by this regime of registration, investigation and regulation.

The powers, functions and consultation requirements of the Board are defined in the Health Professions Registration Act (see section 118). They are to:

1.	to register persons who comply with the requirements so that they may practise or, in the case of students, undertake clinical training;
2.	to approve courses of study that provide qualifications for registration as dental health practitioners;
3.	to approve positions with a registered health practitioner or any other person or body providing regulated health services for supervised practice required for registration under section 5;
4.	to regulate the standards of practice in dental care, in the public interest;
5.	to investigate the professional conduct, professional performance or ability to practise of practitioners and impose sanctions where necessary;
6.	to investigate the suitability of students to undertake clinical training and impose sanctions where necessary;
7.	to issue and publish codes for the guidance of registered practitioners and students about recommended standards relating to the provision of dental care and about professional performance;
8.	to issue and publish guidelines about the minimum terms and conditions of professional indemnity insurance for registered practitioners;
9.	to issue and publish guidelines about the obtaining, possession, use, sale or supply of Schedule 1, 2, 3,4 and 8 poisons within the meaning of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 by registered practitioners;
10.	to issue and publish guidelines about qualifications for registration or endorsement of registration including supervised practice and examinations;
11.	to initiate, promote, support, fund or participate in programs that the Board considers will improve health practitioners' ability to practise and students' ability to undertake clinical training;
12.	to advise the Minister for Health on any matters relating to the Board’s functions;
13.	when so requested by the Minister for Health, give the Minister any information reasonably required;
14.	any other functions conferred on the Board by this or any other Act.

The DPBV is made up of 12 members, who are nominated by the Minister for Health and appointed by the Governor in Council. The Board meets regularly each month. These meetings are not open to the public.