Specialist Disciplines

  • Dental Public Health

    Focus on preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organised community efforts. Practitioners achieve this through dental health education, applied dental research, and administration of group dental care programs.

  • Dental Surgery (Membership Only)

    The branch of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis and surgical management of conditions affecting the oral and dento-alveolar tissues.

  • Dento-Maxillofacial Radiology (via the Qualifications Pathway only)

    The branch of dentistry that deals with diagnostic imaging procedures applicable to the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region, and to other structures that are relevant for the proper assessment of oral conditions.

  • Endodontics

    The branch of dentistry that is concerned with the morphology and pathology of the pulpo-dentine complex and periradicular tissues.

  • Oral Medicine

    Concerned with the oral health care of patients with chronic and medically related disorders of the oral and maxillofacial region and with their diagnosis and nonsurgical management.

  • Orthodontics

    The dental specialty that is concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the growing and mature dentofacial structures; it includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception and treatment of all forms of malocclusion of the teeth and associated alterations in their surrounding structures.

  • Paediatric Dentistry

    Concerned with preventive and therapeutic oral health care for children from birth through to adolescence. It includes management of orofacial problems related to medical, behavioural, physical or developmental disabilities.

  • Periodontics

    Focus on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases or abnormalities of the supporting tissues (gums) of the teeth and their substitutes.

  • Prosthodontics

    The branch of dentistry that deals with the restoration and maintenance of oral health, function and appearance by coronal alteration or reconstruction of the natural teeth, or the replacement of missing teeth and contiguous oral and maxillofacial tissues with substitutes.

  • Special Needs Dentistry

    Supports the oral health care needs of people with an intellectual disability, medical, physical or psychiatric conditions that require special methods or techniques to prevent or treat oral health problems, or where such conditions necessitate special dental treatment plans.

Fellowship and Membership – What is the difference?

Fellowship

Fellowship in Specialist Dental Practice is recognition of proven peer proficiency and is seen as a continuation of learning and professional development in that discipline.

Fellowship represents the successful assessment and peer review a level of proficiency such that the candidate will be expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge and clinical skill commensurate with an experienced specialist practitioner in the Specialist Dental Practice discipline. Fellowship is awarded following completion of a period of five (5) years of Specialist practice and the Fellowship Examination. Fellowhsip may not be granted through application for prior recognition of qualifications or experience.

Read more about Fellowship

Membership

Membership in Specialist Dental Practice is granted in recognition of a candidate’s standing as a specialist in their discipline and is achieved through completion of an examination or via the assessment of previous qualifications and experience.

Membership in Specialist Dental Practice is for those that have attained, or are eligible for, specialist registration in their country. Competency is based on demonstrated knowledge and clinical expertise commensurate with an Australian or New Zealand graduate of a structured specialist program in the relevant dental practice specialty or, in the case of Dental Public Health, a structured specialist program in Public Oral Health & Epidemiology, or equivalent as approved by the Board of Studies.

Read more about Membership

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, all supporting documents are required to be certified copies of the original. Please refer to the certification guidelines on the RACDS website. Please do not send original documents.

The relevant forms can be found on both the Fellowship(SDP) and Membership(SDP) webpages.

Enrolment forms can be sent electronically.

Each year the College will publish the College fees online. Refer to the Membership – Specialist Dental Practice (SDP) or Fellowship – Specialist Dental Practice (SDP) sections.

Enrolment in a Specialist Dental Practice examination does not include a mentor arrangement; however the College highly recommends you seek advice from senior specialists; particularly Fellows of the College for advice on case report preparation and viva voce examination techniques.

If you obtain Membership or Fellowship in a specialist dental practice discipline, it does not mean you will be eligible for registration or to practice in Australia. Please contact the local regulatory authority in your country of practice for information about registration.

Each program has its own dedicated administration team. Please email sdp@racds.org in the first instance for more information on the Specialist Dental Practice pathways