Yes, dentists in India can advertise, but within limits. The rules most dentists know come from the Revised Dentists (Code of Ethics) Regulations, 2014, which allow advertising with decorum and treat false promises and solicitation as unethical. What has changed in 2026 is the regulator: the Dental Council of India is gone, and the National Dental Commission has taken over. This post explains what that means for a clinic’s marketing today.
What changed in March 2026
On 19 March 2026 the National Dental Commission (NDC) replaced the Dental Council of India, and the Dentists Act, 1948 was repealed on the same day. Professional conduct and registration now sit with the NDC’s Ethics and Dental Registration Board (PIB release).
The National Dental Commission Act, 2023 gives the Commission the power to lay down a code of professional ethics for dentists. At the time of writing, the NDC has not published new rules on advertising. Until it does, the 2014 code is the last published standard, and the safest working assumption is that its principles carry on.
What the 2014 code allows
The 2014 code lets a dentist or a group of dentists advertise, provided they maintain decorum and the integrity expected of the profession. In practice, a clinic can share:
- the dentist’s name, qualifications and registration number
- the clinic’s address, timings and how to book
- the services offered, described factually
- real photos of the clinic, team and equipment
- educational content that explains procedures in general terms
What it treats as unethical
The same code lists demeaning solicitation and false promises through advertisements or direct marketing as unethical. Two clauses catch clinics out more than any other:
- Public education through television, newspapers or magazines should not carry the dentist’s address, phone number or email, because that turns education into surrogate advertising.
- Television “scroller” ads that show a dentist’s name and number are listed as unethical.
State dental councils still act on complaints. In January 2025 the Karnataka State Dental Council reminded practitioners that demeaning solicitation and false promises through social media and direct marketing are unethical (KSDC notice).
Do the new NMC advertising rules apply to dentists?
Not directly. The National Medical Commission’s Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication, issued on 6 October 2026, apply to doctors registered with the NMC, not to dentists, who come under the NDC. Those guidelines ban promotional before-and-after images, testimonials and review requests for doctors. Many dental clinics already avoid these on ethical grounds, and the NDC may well adopt similar rules, so they are a sensible guide to where dental rules are heading.
A practical checklist for your clinic
- Remove “best”, “No. 1”, “painless” or “guaranteed” claims from your website, Google profile and ads.
- Take down before-and-after galleries and patient testimonials used as promotion.
- Stop discount-led offers and “limited slots” messaging.
- Keep your dentist’s name, qualifications and registration number visible on your website and profile.
- Write educational content about procedures, reviewed by your dentist, without outcome promises.
- Leave your clinic’s contact details out of newspaper columns or TV appearances that are meant as public education.
For the wider picture, including Google Business Profile, websites and ads, read our guide to digital marketing for dentists in India, or see how we run dental clinic marketing within these rules.
This article is general information about professional-conduct rules for dentists in India. It is not legal advice. The NDC is expected to issue its own regulations; check them and your State Dental Council’s guidance before acting.
