Alabama Board of Dentistry

The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama is the state's dental regulatory agency, established in 1881 by the Alabama Dental Association — the first dental regulatory board created in the United States. The Board's inaugural meeting was held in Selma on July 19, 1881, and it has met continuously since to examine, license, and discipline dental professionals.

Under the Alabama Dental Practice Act (Code of Alabama 1975, Title 34, Chapter 9), the Board is responsible for licensing dentists and dental hygienists, setting minimum standards for safe practice, investigating complaints, and taking disciplinary action against licensees who violate the Act or Board rules.

The Board is governed by seven members serving staggered five-year terms: six licensed dentists (one of whom serves as Secretary/Treasurer) and one licensed dental hygienist. A President and Vice President are elected from among the dentist members.

The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama licenses two practitioner types and issues a range of supplemental permits:

• Dentists
• Dental Hygienists

In addition to a base license, the Board issues permits authorizing specific procedures or practice settings, including:

• Controlled Substance Permit (and Controlled Substance by Credentials)
• Oral Conscious Sedation (OCS) Permit
• Parenteral Sedation Permit and General Anesthesia (GA) Permit
• Hygiene Infiltration Anesthesia Permit
• Special Teaching Permit and Teaching Permit
• Mobile Dental Facility / Portable Dental Operation Certificate of Registration
• Special Purpose License (for dentists treating Alabama patients across state lines via teledentistry)
• Special Volunteer License (short-term, for approved events)

Initial license applications are reviewed and approved at the Board's monthly meetings. Application packets are "fillable" PDFs that must be printed, notarized, and submitted as a complete package with supporting documents and payment. Once the Board approves an application, the applicant is notified by email, must pass the Board's online jurisprudence exam, and then receives a digital copy of the license by email.

License by Regional Exam

Available to dental and dental hygiene graduates who passed a regional clinical examination — CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, or WREB (mannequin or patient-based) — within the five years preceding the application, and who attended a CODA-accredited dental or dental hygiene program (or the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program).

License by Credentials (out-of-state licensees)

Dentists and dental hygienists licensed in another state for at least five years may apply for an Alabama license by credentials without sitting for a regional clinical exam, provided they attended a CODA-accredited dental or dental hygiene school.

Other application pathways

• Special Purpose License — for a dentist located outside Alabama who treats a patient inside the state via transmission of patient data (teledentistry), or holds themself out as able to do so (Ala. Code 1975, § 34-9-1(12)(a)).
• Military/Spouse Portability — a service-connected practitioner relocating to Alabama on military orders, holding a qualifying out-of-state license in good standing and 24 months of active practice, may be issued an Alabama license upon application to the Director of Licensing.
• Special Volunteer License — a short-term license to participate in an approved volunteer event in Alabama.
• Retired/Physically Disabled status — waives the annual registration fee for licensees retired due to age (65 or older) or physical disability (Rule 270-X-4-.12); the request form must be resubmitted to licensing@dentalboard.org by August 1 each year to continue the waiver.

Alabama continuing education requirements were last revised effective February 14, 2025 (Rule 270-X-4-.04) and are tracked annually, not on a multi-year cycle.

CE hours by license type

Dentist requirement breakdown (20 hours)

• At least 10 hours must be in-person (face-to-face) live training
• 2–4 hours of CPR (Basic or Advanced Life Support) every 2 years, in person only, through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or an equivalent program
• At least 1 hour of infectious disease control annually
• At least 1 hour of prescribing controlled substances annually
• OCS permit holders only: at least 2 hours of sedation/anesthesia annually
• At least 1 hour of ethical considerations in the practice of dentistry annually
• Up to 4 hours annually of insurance, government regulation, tort liability, or risk management
• Up to 3 hours annually of practice management
• At least half of all CE hours must relate directly to the practice of dentistry
• Up to 4 hours of credit annually for pro bono charitable work performed within Alabama

Hygienist requirement breakdown (12 hours)

• At least 6 hours must be in-person (face-to-face) live training
• 2–4 hours of CPR (Basic Support Level) every 2 years, in person only
• At least 1 hour of infectious disease control annually
• At least 1 hour of ethical considerations in the practice of dental hygiene annually
• Up to 4 hours annually of insurance, government regulation, tort liability, or risk management
• Up to 3 hours annually of practice management
• At least half of all CE hours must relate directly to the practice of dental hygiene
• Up to 4 hours of credit for pro bono charitable work performed within Alabama under a licensed Alabama dentist's supervision

Alabama law and Board Rule 270-X-3-.10 (Duties of Allied Dental Personnel) define what dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians may each perform, and under what level of supervision:

• Dentists — full diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions; final examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning authority for all procedures performed by supervised staff.
• Dental Hygienists — preventive and periodontal services including scaling, root planing, periodontal probing, sealant placement, and (with a permit) infiltration anesthesia, generally under a dentist's supervision.
• Dental Assistants — chairside and radiographic support, impressions, temporary restorations, and other delegable duties listed in Rule 270-X-3-.10, always under a dentist's direct supervision.
• Dental Laboratory Technicians — no intra-oral duties beyond assisting a dentist with tooth-color determination.

Full rule text is available from the Alabama Secretary of State's Administrative Code, Title 270, and the Alabama Dental Practice Act.

The Board investigates complaints alleging that a dentist or dental hygienist violated the Alabama Dental Practice Act or Board rules. The Board does not have jurisdiction over fee disputes, personality conflicts, or rude behavior.

Step 1: Complete the Complaint Form

• Complaints must be submitted in writing on the Board's Complaint Form, with every question answered thoroughly and any supporting documentation attached.
• The completed form must be notarized.
• Complaints must be filed by the person directly affected, unless that person is a minor or otherwise unable to file due to mental or physical impairment, or by another practitioner or health care provider.

Step 2: Investigation

Once a complaint is filed, the dentist or hygienist is asked to respond to the allegations, and staff investigators may conduct interviews. A complaint review team evaluates the evidence and determines whether the Dental Practice Act was violated. The Board then votes on disposition; a hearing may be held, and the complainant may be asked to testify. The Board describes this process as taking several months depending on complexity.

Step 3: Board action

If the Board finds a violation, it may impose a fine, reprimand, license suspension, probation, or revocation. The Board cannot order a refund of fees to the patient — compensation for personal damages is outside its authority and must be pursued in civil court.

License status and disciplinary history for Alabama dental professionals can be searched through the Board's BDEAL Individual License Lookup portal at bdeal.igovsolution.net/Online/Lookups/Individual_Lookup.aspx.

• Select a License Type from the dropdown (Dentist, Dental Hygienist, or a specific permit type such as Controlled Substance, OCS, General Anesthesia, or Hygiene Infiltration), or leave it blank to search all types.
• Search by License Number, or by Last Name and First Name.
• Enter the verification code shown on screen and submit the search.
• Click the print icon next to a result to view that licensee's complete record.

Separately, the Board publishes named, dated Consent Orders directly on its Board Disciplinary Orders/Actions page, including the licensee's name, license number, and the specific Code of Alabama section violated — for example, a February 13, 2026 Consent Order for violating Code of Alabama (1975) § 34-9-18(a)(7) (employing an unlicensed person), and an April 17, 2026 Consent Order for violating § 34-9-18(a)(6)a (negligence).