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Find your field to learn more about the specific criteria you must meet to be eligible for Medicare benefits.
Dental specialists
Dental specialists are dentists who have completed additional specialised training and education. They need to register with both Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Dental Board of Australia. They must register specifically for their specialist area to access Medicare benefits for specialist dental services.
Dental prosthetists
Eligibility for recognition as a dental prosthetist for Medicare purposes depends on the type of recognition you’re seeking.
Short-term, interim or provisional registration
We only recognise dental prosthetists for the stated period when licensed to practice for a short-term, interim or provisional period. After this time, they must give us evidence of their current licence so we can continue to recognise them.
Company registration
We can’t recognise dental prosthetists who are registered or licenced to practise in the name of a company. They need to practise under relevant state or territory law, as an individual, for us to recognise them.
Non-practising registration
We can’t recognise dental prosthetists who are non-practising.
Limited, specific or special purpose registration
For us to recognise them, dental prosthetists need to give us evidence. This applies if they are providing services under a limited, specific or special purpose registration or licence.
This could be advice from the relevant state or territory registration board.
Dental hygienist, dental therapist and oral health therapist
To be recognised as a dental hygienist, dental therapist or oral health therapist for Medicare you must be registered or licensed with either:
- Ahpra
- Dental Board of Australia.
Representative public dentist or representative public dental practitioner
Public dental services are Australian Government funded and are provided free of charge to eligible patients. These services are delivered through a range of public facilities including mobile dental clinics, school dental clinics and community dental clinics.
There are 2 professions who can provide public dental services:
- Representative public dentists (RPD) are dentists nominated by a state or territory.
- Representative public dental practitioners (RPDP) are dental hygienists, dental therapists or oral health therapists nominated by a state or territory.
RPDs and RPDPs must have:
- a general or specialist registration with the Dental Board of Australia
- a provider number for each public sector clinic location they’re responsible for under the representative public dentist model.