Oral Health Unit

B.0280

Revision: 
8.0
Date published: 
16/10/2025

HPU 280 Oral Health Unit describes the operational, functional and design requirements for the provision of dental services in hospital and community settings.

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.

 

Health Planning Unit Document

Downloads
Complete Unit
Revision: 8.0
16/10/2025
PDF

Schedules of Accommodation for this HPU

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Schedule of Accommodation
Revision: 8.0
16/10/2025
PDF

Archive

Find past versions of documents here

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Complete Unit
Revision: 7.0
11/03/2021
PDF
Complete Unit
Revision: 6.0
01/03/2016
PDF
Complete Unit
Revision: 5.0
30/01/2014
PDF