Oral Health Unit

An updated revision of HPU 280 Oral Health Unit (Revision 8, October 2025) has been uploaded to the AusHFG website.  The revised version has been informed by extensive consultation with clinical, operational and technical experts, health infrastructure specialists, consumer representatives as well as the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC).

Key changes to the document include: ​

• Updates to reflect the impact of AS 5369:2023 on the planning and design of dental reusable medical device (RMD) reprocessing and storage, through direct collaboration with the ACSQHC.
• Acknowledgement of the logistical challenges faced by small remote oral health facilities in accessing centralised reprocessing services, often making on-site systems necessary.
• Consideration of recovery areas in larger units or where procedures requiring IV sedation are performed.
• Inclusion of infection prevention and control (IPC) considerations relating to open-plan dental surgeries.
• Acknowledgement of the critical role mobile dental units play in delivering oral health services. These units may rely on the infrastructure of oral health clinics for sterilisation of RMDs and storage of sterile and non-sterile supplies.
• Revised guidance relating to key ICT considerations.
• Inclusion of a new section relating to drainage systems associated with dental chairs.
• Guidance on scaling recommended dental reprocessing and sterile store areas to meet the required capacity of the unit.
• Updates to ensure alignment with relevant policies, standards and other key reference documents.