Find your state dental board
Every state licenses dentists and dental hygienists through its own board, each with its own contact process, renewal cycle, and complaint procedure. This directory links directly to the official board for all 51 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., so you can find contact information, licensing requirements, and renewal fees without digging through state government websites.
Select Your State
Browse contact information, licensing details, and complaint procedures for every state dental board below, or use the filter to jump straight to yours.
No states match your search.
Helpful Guides
Whether you're applying for your first license, moving from out of state, or coming up on a renewal deadline, these guides cover the details that trip people up most — exams, fees, CE hours, and paperwork. Each one links out to the state boards themselves so you're always working from the current requirements.
License Requirements
See the exams, education, and application steps required to become a licensed dentist or dental hygienist in every state.
Learn more →State Dental Associations
Find contact details for your state's professional dental association, separate from the licensing board.
Learn more →License Renewal
Renewal fees, deadlines, and requirements for dentists and dental hygienists in every state.
Learn more →CE Requirements
See how many continuing education hours are required to renew your license in each state, and which courses qualify.
Learn more →How to Verify a License
Verify a dentist's or hygienist's license status using each state board's official lookup tool.
Learn more →How to File a Complaint
Step-by-step guidance on filing a complaint against a dentist or hygienist with your state dental board.
Learn more →Disciplinary Actions
How state dental boards investigate and discipline dentists, and how to check a practitioner's public record.
Learn more →Dental Specialties
The 12 recognized dental specialties explained, from orthodontics to oral surgery, and how specialty licensing works.
Learn more →Interstate Licensure Compact
See which states have joined the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact and what it means for practicing across state lines.
Learn more →Expanded Function Dental Assistant
What an EFDA is allowed to do, how certification works, and how allowed duties vary by state.
Learn more →Dental Therapist Licensing
A newer mid-level provider role now licensed in a growing number of states — what they do and where they practice.
Learn more →No two states license the same way
CE requirements alone range from 15 hours a year to 63 hours over three years depending on the state, and that's before accounting for differences in exam providers, jurisprudence requirements, and complaint procedures. A license that's fully compliant in one state can fall short of another's requirements the moment you cross a border. The pages above break down exactly what each state expects — for first-time applicants, license holders moving from out of state, and anyone renewing on a deadline — so you know what applies to you before you rely on it.