Methods: The material for this study was obtained by reviewing the educational programs contained in the websites of 14 dental schools/faculties in Australia.
Results: In the last six years, four new universities all located outside capital cities (Griffith, La Trobe, Charles Sturt and James Cook universities) have been established. The undergraduate program for Bachelor of Dental Science (or equivalent) is offered in nine schools/faculties in Australia. Between these courses, there is great variability in the educational models offered. Eight schools/faculties offer a three-year course for Bachelor of Oral Health, a two year Diploma of Dental Technology is offered by six schools/faculties and three schools offer a 3 year Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics. Clinical placement of students in rural communities is part of the majority of the faculties' curricula which in turn enhances students' understanding of issues surrounding oral health in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
Conclusion: The education of oral health professionals in Australia is changing and expanding. New dental schools in non-metropolitan and rural centers and changes to the curricula in most dental school/faculties provide diverse models for dental education. Still, ongoing refinement, evaluation and monitoring of the curricula are required to establish whether these changes will be effective in overcoming Australia's dental workforce shortage, especially in rural and remote areas.