Abstract
The dental team comprises a number of oral health practitioners who work together to provide care for their patients. Members of the dental team may include dental specialists, dentists, oral health therapists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental technicians and dental assistants/dental nurses. The team may work together in private practice or in the public sector (e.g. community-based clinics, hospitals or Indigenous health providers). In New Zealand and Australia, dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists are independent practitioners; however, in other countries, they may work in a supervisory or consultative relationship with dentists.