Dental Clinic Licence in Ukraine
From a single-chair practice to a clinic network
Specialities • Premises • Equipment • Documents • Case Studies | Dextralaw
Dentistry — The Most Popular and Most Competitive Medical Business
Dentistry falls under KVED 86.23 “Dental practice” and represents the largest segment of private medicine in Ukraine. By various estimates, more than 15,000 dental practices and clinics operate across the country. Competition is intense — yet the licensing requirements are identical for a single-chair cabinet in a small town and for a multi-clinic network in Kyiv.
Dentistry also has a unique licensing feature: up to 10 different specialities can be included in a single licence. The specialities you choose shape your entire business: the range of services, staffing, equipment, premises size and start-up budget.
If you are looking for an overview of the general medical licensing procedure, see our dedicated guide: Medical Practice Licence in Ukraine: Application Procedure. This article focuses exclusively on the specifics of licensing dental clinics.
For an in-depth look at the contractual framework for dental clinics — public service contracts, informed consent forms, warranty policies — see our dedicated article on contracts in dental clinics. This material is about the licensing process itself.
“A dental licence is not the finish line — it is the starting point. We have seen dozens of clinics that obtained a licence but had no internal documents whatsoever: no service contract, no informed consent form, no warranty policy. At the first patient dispute, they were completely defenceless. We build the whole system — from the licence to the first patient.” — Licensing Attorney, Dextralaw
Legal Framework
- Law of Ukraine “On Licensing of Business Activities” — Art. 7(1)(15)
- CMU Resolution No. 285 of 02.03.2016 — Licensing Conditions (as amended by No. 1393, No. 536, No. 781 of 02.07.2025)
- DBN B.2.2-10:2022 “Healthcare Institutions” (as amended 01.10.2024) — premises requirements for dental practices
- MoH Order No. 158 of 11.04.2005 — equipment schedule for dental practices
- Law of Ukraine “Fundamentals of Health Care Legislation” — Art. 43 (informed consent), Art. 40 (medical confidentiality)
- Law of Ukraine “On Consumer Rights Protection” — Art. 7 (warranties), Art. 15 (information)
- Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” — Art. 7 (health data)
- Criminal Code of Ukraine — Art. 138 (unlicensed medical activity), Art. 140 (negligent performance of duties), Art. 145 (breach of medical confidentiality)
Specialities: From a Single Practice to a Full-Cycle Clinic
Your choice of specialities determines everything: premises size, equipment, staffing and budget. Here is the full list of dental specialities available under a Ukrainian licence:
| Speciality | What it authorises | Staffing requirements |
|---|---|---|
| General dentistry | Therapeutic dentistry: diagnosis, treatment of caries, pulpitis, periodontitis, fillings, professional hygiene. | Dentist with a degree and a valid specialist certificate. |
| Oral surgery | Tooth extractions, resection, cystectomy, dental implantation, sinus lift, bone grafting. | Oral surgeon with the relevant certificate. |
| Prosthetic (restorative) dentistry | Prosthetics: crowns, bridges, veneers, removable dentures, implant-supported prosthetics. | Prosthodontist. |
| Orthodontics | Bite correction: braces, aligners, retainers, functional appliances. | Orthodontist with a specialist certificate. |
| Paediatric dentistry | Treatment of primary and permanent teeth in children, fissure sealing, prevention, sedation. | Paediatric dentist. |
| Radiology | Periapical X-rays, orthopantomogram (OPG), CBCT (3D). Limit: up to 100 periapical X-rays per week. | Radiologist or dentist licensed to perform radiological examinations. |
| Anaesthesiology | General anaesthesia, sedation. Required for surgical clinics and children’s treatment under general anaesthesia. | Anaesthesiologist. Anaesthetist nurse. |
| Healthcare organisation and management | Mandatory for the head of the institution. | Director with the relevant certificate. |
| Nursing | Dental assistant, sterilisation, record-keeping, patient management. | Mid-level healthcare professional with a nursing qualification. |
Tip: do not add specialities “just in case”. Every speciality on the licence creates an obligation to employ the corresponding specialist and have the appropriate equipment. An absent specialist for a declared speciality is a breach of the Licensing Conditions.
⚖ CMU Resolution No. 781 of 02.07.2025: Differentiated licensing: a violation in one speciality does not suspend the licence for all others.
Premises and Equipment Requirements
Dental practice premises must comply with DBN B.2.2-10:2022 and the equipment schedule in MoH Order No. 158:
| Equipment / zone | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Dental unit (per chair) | Patient chair, dentist’s unit, assistant’s unit, light, spittoon, aspirator. Minimum 14 m² per chair. |
| Sterilisation room | Separate room: autoclave (Class B for surgery), dry-heat oven, ultrasonic cleaner, packaging machine. Separate “dirty” and “clean” zones. |
| Radiological equipment | Radiovisiograph (periapical), orthopantomograph (OPG), CBCT (3D — if required). Radiation shielding per DSanPiN standards. |
| Compressor and vacuum | Oil-free dental compressor. Centralised aspiration system. Separate technical room. |
| Curing lamp | LED or halogen. Metrological calibration mandatory for measuring instruments. |
| Apex locator, endomotor | For endodontic treatment (root canals). Mandatory for the “general dentistry” speciality. |
| Physio-dispenser + implantology kit | For dental implantation. Surgical kits, keys, healing abutments. Required only under “oral surgery” speciality. |
| Waiting area, toilets (2) | Separate for staff and patients. Staff rest room. Accessibility for people with reduced mobility (from 2024). |
Key Premises Requirements
- Floor area: minimum 14 m² per dental chair, plus additional area for each further chair
- Non-residential premises only: a dental practice may only be located in non-residential premises. If on the ground floor of a residential building — a separate entrance is required.
- Sterilisation room: mandatory separate room with designated “dirty” and “clean” zones
- Toilets: 2 separate — for staff and for patients
- Ventilation: supply and exhaust system in accordance with DBN B.2.5-67:2013
- X-ray room: separate wall shielding (lead equivalents), load limits, DSanPiN compliance
- Accessibility for people with reduced mobility: a mandatory accessibility certificate from 30.03.2024 (Resolution No. 1393)
“The most costly mistake when opening a dental clinic is signing a lease before checking whether the premises meet the licensing requirements. We have seen cases where a clinic spent UAH 200,000 on renovation only to discover the floor area did not meet the standard or a separate entrance was impossible. Always check before signing.” — Licensing Attorney, Dextralaw
8 Stages of Licensing with Dextralaw
| Stage | What happens | What Dextralaw does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concept: a 1-chair practice or a 6-chair clinic? Which specialities? Is radiology, surgery or a children’s unit needed? | Consultation. Optimal set of specialities for your business plan. |
| 2 | Premises selection: compliance with DBN B.2.2-10:2022, floor area, zoning, utilities, entrance. | Premises requirements checklist. Review before signing the lease. |
| 3 | Fit-out: equipment, sterilisation room, X-ray unit (if applicable), technical room. | Equipment list per speciality. Metrological calibration oversight. |
| 4 | Staff: verification of diplomas, certificates and attestations for every doctor and nurse. | Personnel document audit. Recommendations for filling gaps. |
| 5 | Accessibility certificate for people with reduced mobility (mandatory from 30.03.2024). | Arranging the certificate. Process management. |
| 6 | Licence package: application, Annex 2, Annex 3 — submission to the Ministry of Health via Single Window. | 100% documentation prepared. Submission and communication with the MoH. |
| 7 | Internal documents: public service contract, informed consent forms, warranty policy, SOPs, NDA. | Complete bespoke package tailored to dentistry, not a generic template. More detail in our article on contracts. |
| 8 | Post-licensing support: licence amendments, adding specialities, inspection preparation. | Legal retainer. Updates as legislation changes. |
Case Studies: Real-Life Situations from Practice
Case 1. Implantation performed without “oral surgery” on the licence
⚠ Situation: A general dentist was performing dental implantation. The clinic’s licence listed only the “general dentistry” speciality, with no “oral surgery”. After a complication (damage to the inferior alveolar nerve), the patient filed a complaint with the Ministry of Health.
⚖ Legal basis: Implantation is a surgical procedure. Performing it without “oral surgery” on the licence constitutes providing services beyond the authorised scope. Art. 138 CCU (unlicensed medical activity) + breach of the Licensing Conditions.
❌ Outcome: Licence suspended. Criminal proceedings opened. Patient’s claim for UAH 320,000 (repeat surgery + non-pecuniary damages). The correct approach: add “oral surgery” to the licence before performing any implantations.
Case 2. Children’s anaesthesia without an anaesthesiology speciality
⚠ Situation: A dental clinic advertised “dental treatment for children under general anaesthesia”. The licence included “paediatric dentistry” but not “anaesthesiology”. An anaesthesiologist was brought in on an ad-hoc basis. During sedation of a 4-year-old, a complication arose — laryngospasm.
⚖ Legal basis: Administering general anaesthesia without a licence covering anaesthesiology is a serious violation. Art. 138 CCU + Art. 140 CCU (serious consequences). Parents are entitled to full compensation under Arts. 1166–1167 CCU.
❌ Outcome: Licence annulled. Criminal proceedings against the director and anaesthesiologist. Claim for UAH 780,000. Reputational disaster. Anaesthesiology is a mandatory speciality for any clinic offering general anaesthesia or sedation.
Case 3. Ministry of Health refusal due to premises
⚠ Situation: A dentist operating as a sole trader (FOP) leased premises on the ground floor of a residential building. Spent UAH 180,000 on renovation. Submitted the licence application. The Ministry of Health refused: no separate entrance, sterilisation area was inside the treatment room, floor area 11 m² against the minimum 14 m².
⚖ Legal basis: Non-compliance with DBN B.2.2-10:2022 and the Licensing Conditions. Refusal fully justified. Resubmission possible only after all deficiencies are remedied.
❌ Outcome: UAH 180,000 lost on renovation + 4-month delay. Premises had to be changed. A legal premises check before signing the lease and starting renovation costs many times less than fixing the mistakes afterwards.
Case 4. MoH inspection: expired specialist certificate
⚠ Situation: During an unscheduled MoH inspection (following a patient complaint), it was found that the prosthodontist’s specialist certificate had been expired for 8 months. The doctor had continued to see patients and fit crowns throughout that period.
⚖ Legal basis: A doctor without a valid certificate = a doctor without confirmed qualifications. Breach of the staffing requirements of the Licensing Conditions. From 2025 (Resolution No. 781), only the “prosthetic dentistry” speciality is suspended — all other specialities on the licence continue to operate.
❌ Outcome: Enforcement notice requiring remediation within 30 days. Licence suspended for that speciality. Patients who received crowns during that period are potential claimants. Tracking attestation and certification expiry dates is a core function of Dextralaw’s legal retainer.
Case 5. X-ray equipment operated without dosimetric monitoring
⚠ Situation: A clinic used an orthopantomograph for 2 years without conducting dosimetric monitoring and without maintaining a radiological examination log. During an inspection by the State Food and Consumer Service — radiation safety violations were identified.
⚖ Legal basis: Violation of DSanPiN 6.6.3-150-2007 (ionising radiation protection) and the Licensing Conditions. Limits: up to 100 periapical X-rays per week, up to 50 OPGs per week.
❌ Outcome: Prohibition on using X-ray equipment until violations are remedied (2 weeks without X-ray = inability to work normally). Fine. MoH enforcement notice. An examination log + annual dosimetric monitoring + an X-ray SOP prevents these problems entirely.
“A dental business is not just a chair and a drill. It is a legal system: a licence, documents, SOPs, insurance. We build that system so you can focus on what matters — treating patients.” — Senior Partner, Dextralaw
Frequently Asked Questions
1. FOP or TOV for a dental practice?
Both are possible. FOP (sole trader) — a simpler start-up, less reporting, but unlimited personal liability. TOV (limited liability company) — separates personal and business liability, better suited for a clinic with employed doctors and for scaling. The correct KVED for both: 86.23 “Dental practice”.
2. How long does it take to obtain a licence?
The Ministry of Health issues its decision within 10 working days of receiving the complete package. The realistic timeline including preparation: 1–3 months for a single practice, 2–4 months for a clinic. Most of that time is spent on preparing the premises and documents. For the full procedure, see our guide: “Medical Practice Licence in Ukraine: Application Procedure”.
3. Does each branch need a separate licence?
No, one licence covers all locations. But each branch (place of activity) must be listed in the licensing file and meet all requirements independently. When opening a new branch, you submit a notification to the MoH with updated Annex 2 details for the new premises.
4. Is an in-house dental laboratory required for prosthetic dentistry?
No, an in-house dental laboratory is not mandatory. You can work with an external laboratory under a service contract. However, if you choose to have your own, it must be listed in the Annex 2 Details and comply with all requirements.
5. What changed in 2024–2025?
Three key changes: (1) mandatory accessibility certificate for people with reduced mobility (from 30.03.2024); (2) updated Annex 2 Details form from 02.06.2024; (3) differentiated licensing by speciality (Resolution No. 781, July 2025).
6. Can a general dentist extract teeth or place implants?
No. Tooth extractions and implantation are surgical procedures. They require the “oral surgery” speciality on the licence and a doctor with the relevant certificate. Performing surgical procedures under a “general dentistry” licence is a violation that may result in criminal liability.
Dextralaw: Dental Clinic Licensing — Full-Service Support
Law firm Dextralaw offers dental clinics a complete cycle of services:
- Premises check before signing the lease — to avoid spending money on a renovation that leads nowhere
- Optimal speciality selection tailored to your business plan and budget
- Licence package “turnkey” — 100% documentation from the application to Annex 3
- Accessibility certificate for people with reduced mobility — arranged and managed
- Internal documents: public service contract, informed consent forms, warranty policy, SOPs, NDA
- Submission and representation before the MoH — from Single Window to receiving the licence order
- Licence expansion: new specialities, branches, equipment
- Post-licensing retainer: MoH inspections, legislative updates, staff certificate monitoring
For more on the general medical licensing procedure, see our guide: “Medical Practice Licence in Ukraine: Application Procedure”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are possible. FOP (sole trader) — a simpler start-up, less reporting, but unlimited personal liability. TOV (limited liability company) — separates personal and business liability, better suited for a clinic with employed doctors and for scaling. The correct KVED for both: 86.23 “Dental practice”.
The Ministry of Health issues its decision within 10 working days of receiving the complete package. The realistic timeline including preparation: 1–3 months for a single practice, 2–4 months for a clinic. Most of that time is spent on preparing the premises and documents. For the full procedure, see our guide: “Medical Practice Licence in Ukraine: Application Procedure”.
No, one licence covers all locations. But each branch (place of activity) must be listed in the licensing file and meet all requirements independently. When opening a new branch, you submit a notification to the MoH with updated Annex 2 details for the new premises.
No, an in-house dental laboratory is not mandatory. You can work with an external laboratory under a service contract. However, if you choose to have your own, it must be listed in the Annex 2 Details and comply with all requirements.
Three key changes: (1) mandatory accessibility certificate for people with reduced mobility (from 30.03.2024); (2) updated Annex 2 Details form from 02.06.2024; (3) differentiated licensing by speciality (Resolution No. 781, July 2025).
No. Tooth extractions and implantation are surgical procedures. They require the “oral surgery” speciality on the licence and a doctor with the relevant certificate. Performing surgical procedures under a “general dentistry” licence is a violation that may result in criminal liability.
