The Dentists Act 1919 established the present Dental Board of Tasmania. The Board maintained the assessment of qualifications, the registration of Dentists and the taking of disciplinary action for breaches of the Act. Prior to this the Dentist Act 1884 (48 Vic 31) provided for the registration of dentists who had qualifications that met the criteria in the Act. A Board of Examiners was appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Court of Medical Examiners and the Dentists Register was maintained by the Registrar-General. A return of all the names on the Register was sent to the Colonial Secretary in December each year for publication in the Government Gazette, usually appearing the following January.