Dentists in Croatia : Accreditation and qualifications

Dentists in Croatia study at The School of Dental Medicine in Zagreb, founded in 1948 as the Department of Odontology within the Medical School and the only institution of its kind in Croatia.  In 1962 the establishment became one of the faculties of Zagreb University. 

The School of Dental Medicine is dedicated to fostering education, research and patient care and has an educational program similar to other European countries which lasts for five years.  After this, one more year of practice is obligatory before state exams are taken.  

After graduating, a student is entitled DDS or DMD (Doctor of Dental Surgery, or Doctor of Dental Medicine).  Thus follows one year of internship under supervision of mentors (professors and authorized practitioners), and finally, after passing the state examination, a young doctor is authorised to practice dentistry by him/herself.  Postgraduate programs for specialisations last three to four years and upon finishing these programs a doctor receives a title such as Specialist of Oral surgery. 

Many of Croatia’s dentists undertake training courses all over the world which provide invaluable knowledge and include internships in world educational centres such as The School of Dentistry at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the Global Institute for Dental Education (gIDE) which is established by professionals in order to go beyond the ordinary UCLA schedule running courses in implantology and dentistry in the UCLA facilities, as well as the Nobel Biocare Centre in Sweden under supervision of leading world specialists.

Dentists must belong to the Croatian Dental Chamber, the independent and autonomous professional association of doctors of dental medicine in Croatia.   Other official organisations include the Croatian Society of Periodontology, the Croatian Medical Association, the Croatian Society for Dental Implantology and the Croatian Society for Education in Implantology.