Idaho Board of Dentistry

The Idaho State Board of Dentistry operates within the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) and is established under Idaho Code § 54-907. Under a 2026 law (House Bill 935, 2026 Idaho Session Laws ch. 298), effective July 1, 2026, the Board expanded from eight to nine members: five dentists, two dental hygienists, one licensed denturist (or, if none is available, a person experienced in denturitry), and one public consumer member. Each professional member must hold a current, active Idaho license, and members are appointed by the Governor to five-year terms, serving at the Governor's pleasure (Idaho Code § 54-909).

Idaho law states that the practice of dentistry is a privilege, not a natural right, and that the Board's purpose is to protect public health, safety, and welfare through the licensure and regulation of dentists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists (Idaho Code § 54-900). The Board's powers include setting examination and licensure standards, approving accredited dental schools, investigating complaints, and disciplining licensees (Idaho Code § 54-912) — authority that now extends to denturitry following the same 2026 law, which also created a full licensure framework for that profession under the Board.

General licensing inquiries can be directed to DOPL's health professions licensing team by email at HP-Licensing@dopl.idaho.gov or by phone at (208) 334-3233. The Board's website at dopl.idaho.gov/bod/ provides statutes, rules, meeting agendas and minutes, and the online licensing portal.

The Idaho State Board of Dentistry licenses the following practitioner types. Applications and renewals are processed through DOPL's online portal at edopl.idaho.gov/OnlineServices/.

• Dentists and dental specialists
• Dental hygienists — may also earn a restorative endorsement to place, carve, and adjust certain direct restorations under a dentist's direct supervision
• Dental therapists — under Idaho Code § 54-902A, dental therapy practice in Idaho is currently limited to federal and tribal health settings, such as the Indian Health Service or a tribal health program operating within a reservation's exterior boundaries
• Denturists — a newly established license category as of July 1, 2026, under the 2026 law that moved denturist regulation under the Board
• Sedation permits — required in addition to a dental license for dentists who administer moderate sedation, general anesthesia, or deep sedation

Idaho Code §§ 54-916A, 54-916B, and 54-916C allow the Board to issue a license without further examination (licensure by credentials) to a qualified applicant already licensed in another state.

New applicants and existing licensees complete transactions through DOPL's online portal at edopl.idaho.gov/OnlineServices/, which supports applications, renewals, and requests for licensure history letters.

Examination requirements

Under Idaho Code § 54-918, applicants must pass the examinations in dentistry, dental therapy, dental hygiene, or denturitry approved by the Board. Dentists and dental hygienists take the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) or National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE); dental therapists complete a Board-approved written exam. Applicants for general dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental therapy must also pass a Board-approved clinical examination, valid for licensure for five years from the date of successful completion. Applicants for initial licensure must provide proof of current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and practicing licensees must maintain current BLS certification (IDAPA 24.31.01).

Out-of-state licensees (licensure by credentials)

Under Idaho Code §§ 54-916A, 54-916B, and 54-916C, the Board may issue a license without further examination to an applicant who holds an active out-of-state license in good standing with no pending disciplinary proceedings, has been in clinical practice at least five years (a minimum of 3,500 hours) immediately before applying, graduated from a CODA-accredited program, and has passed the applicable national board exam and a Board-approved clinical examination.

Reinstating a lapsed license. A license lapsed for less than two years may be reinstated by submitting a reinstatement application and the applicable fees through the online portal. If a license has been lapsed for more than two years, contact the Board directly before applying, as additional requirements may apply.

Verification for other states. Two options are available through the portal: a free Letter of Good Standing containing public license information, or, for states requiring exam scores or other non-public information, a Certified Licensure History Letter, which carries a $10.00 fee.

Under IDAPA 24.31.01.100.06, a licensee renewing an active-status Idaho dental license — dentist, dental specialist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist — must report 30 hours of oral health or health-related continuing education (verifiable CE or volunteer practice) for each renewal period. The Board's published FAQ confirms this reflects an increase for dental hygienists, whose requirement rose from 24 to 30 hours per two-year renewal period under a 2025–2026 rule change.

• 30 hours of oral health/health-related CE (verifiable CE or volunteer practice) per renewal period for dentists, dental specialists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists
• Practicing licensees must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Sedation permit holders must complete a minimum of 25 CE hours in sedation, which may include medical/office emergency training, to renew their permit every five years
• Reinstating a canceled or surrendered sedation permit requires an average of 5 CE hours in sedation for each year since the permit was canceled or surrendered

CE requirements can change between renewal cycles. Confirm current hour requirements and approved course categories at dopl.idaho.gov/bod/ or by contacting the Board at HP-Licensing@dopl.idaho.gov.

Idaho law separately defines the scope of practice for each credential type the Board regulates (Idaho Code §§ 54-901, 54-902, 54-902A):

• Dentists — examination, diagnosis, treatment, extraction, repair, and administration of anesthetics or medicaments related to the teeth, gums, jaws, and adjacent tissues
• Dental hygienists — cleaning, polishing, and removing stains; nonsurgical periodontal therapy; administering prescribed anesthetics or medicaments; applying preventive agents; and other services a supervising dentist assigns, unless prohibited by Board rule. Hygienists with a restorative endorsement may also place and finish certain direct restorations under a dentist's direct supervision.
• Dental therapists — identifying oral and systemic conditions, dental prophylaxis, dispensing certain prescribed non-narcotic medications, applying preventive agents, and direct restorations on primary and permanent teeth as authorized by a supervising dentist. Under Idaho Code § 54-902A, dental therapy practice in Idaho is currently limited to federal and tribal health settings, such as the Indian Health Service or a tribal health program operating on a reservation.
• Denturists — fabrication, fitting, and repair of full removable prosthetic dental appliances, a license category newly established under the Board effective July 1, 2026

Dental hygienists may practice under general supervision when a supervising dentist has diagnosed the condition and authorized the treatment, or, in an extended access oral health care setting, has issued written orders for specific hygiene procedures (Idaho Code § 54-904).

Complaints against Idaho dental licensees are filed electronically through DOPL's online services portal at edopl.idaho.gov/OnlineServices/. Before filing, you can confirm a practitioner's current license status using the public search tool at edopl.idaho.gov/OnlineServices/?link=PubSearch.

How a complaint is handled

Under DOPL's published Complaint Resolution Process, once a complaint is filed, the investigation team opens a case and determines whether the allegation is jurisdictional and actionable. If the Board finds a violation occurred, it may resolve the matter informally — through a non-public letter of concern, or an agreement in lieu of discipline that can include continuing education, monitoring, mentoring, or a corrective action plan — or pursue formal discipline.

Formal discipline can include a public reprimand, administrative fines and costs, license restrictions such as probation or suspension, or revocation; formal actions are recorded on the licensee's public license record and reported to national licensing databases. If a licensee does not accept an offered stipulation and consent order, the Division's prosecution staff may file a formal administrative complaint, which can proceed to a contested hearing before a hearing officer and a final Board order. A licensee may seek judicial review of a final order within 28 days.

License status and disciplinary history for Idaho dental professionals can be searched through DOPL's Public Individual License Search at edopl.idaho.gov/OnlineServices/?link=PubSearch. The tool returns real-time results and can be filtered by board and license type, license number, or name (individual, business, or DBA), plus license status (active, canceled, expired, inactive, lapsed, not granted, pending, retired, revoked, suspended, or unlicensed), specialty, privilege, discipline (yes/no), and original issue date range.

Individual Search results display license history and discipline details where applicable. Under the Division's Complaint Resolution Process, informal outcomes such as a non-public letter of concern do not appear on the public license record, while formal disciplinary actions — public reprimands, agreements in lieu of discipline, license restrictions, suspensions, and revocations — are recorded on the public license and reported to national licensing databases.

Licensees can also use the portal to request a free Letter of Good Standing, or, for a $10.00 fee, a Certified Licensure History Letter for states that require exam scores or other non-public information.