<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-06-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000948072</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIRNER DENTAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BDMS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001612424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Horowitz Joshua</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PALM VENTURES LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>19 WEST ELM STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-06-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>302000.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock that vests in two equal installments on June 20, 2019 and June 20, 2020</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On January 3, 2018, Palm Management (US) LLC (&quot;Palm Management&quot;), Palm Global Small Cap Master Fund LP (the &quot;Fund&quot;), Palm Active Dental, LLC (the &quot;LLC&quot;), the Reporting Person and certain other individuals filed a Schedule 13D regarding the Company under which  the Fund and the LLC reported holding an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of certain securities of the Company.  The Reporting Person's beneficial interest consists of 300,000 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Palm Management and the Fund. Due to his position as managing director of Palm Management, which is the investment manager of the Fund, the Reporting Person may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over such 300,000 shares. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joshua Horowitz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
