Kansas Board of Dentistry

The Kansas Dental Board is the licensing and regulatory office for dentists and dental hygienists in Kansas, created and empowered under the Kansas Dental Practices Act (K.S.A. Chapter 65, Article 14). The Board's mission is to ensure and protect dental health by enforcement of the Kansas Dental Law, and its stated vision is to balance commitment and focus on public health.

The Board is comprised of 9 members appointed by the Governor: 6 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, and 1 public member. As of this writing the public-member seat is vacant, and the current dentist and hygienist members serve staggered terms expiring between 2027 and 2030.

The Board oversaw 5,310 active licensees statewide in 2024 (2,176 dentists and 3,134 dental hygienists), of whom 4,168 held a Kansas practice location, along with 288 active specialists and 285 active sedation permits, per the Board's published statistics.

The Kansas Dental Board licenses and regulates two primary credential types: Dentists and Dental Hygienists. It also issues several related specialty certificates and permits:

• Specialist certificates in nine recognized branches of dentistry: dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics (K.A.R. 71-2-5)
• Sedation permits — Level I (enteral or combination inhalation-enteral conscious sedation), Level II (parenteral conscious sedation), and Level III (deep sedation and general anesthesia) (K.A.R. 71-5-9)
• Extended Care Permits I, II, and III for dental hygienists practicing under a sponsoring dentist
• Professional Association (P.A.) or L.L.C. certificates for dental practice formation
• Mobile Dental Facility / Portable Dental Operation registration
• Dental Office Administrative Services Provider registration

Every applicant for a Kansas dental or dental hygiene license must complete several steps prior to Board processing:

• Fully completed application — assemble all required documentation before submitting
• Clinical licensure exam — on and after January 1, 2023, all applicants must pass all sections of a patient-based or manikin-based clinical exam; for dentists this includes the Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE), Endodontic, Periodontic, Prosthodontic, and Restorative sections
• Timing — do not submit an application more than 60 days before your graduation date
• Online licensing portal — paper applications are no longer accepted; applications are submitted through the Board's online portal

Licensing pathways

• By Examination — recent graduates, or applicants licensed elsewhere less than 5 years (dentists) or 3 years (hygienists)
• By Credential — applicants licensed and practicing elsewhere for more than 5 years (dentists) or 3 years (hygienists), including active practice during that period
• By Reinstatement — applicants who previously held a Kansas license that is no longer active, and have practiced during the past 5 years (dentists) or 3 years (hygienists)
• Return to Active Status — applicants returning from retired or disabled Kansas license status

Under K.S.A. 65-1426, dentist applicants must be at least 21 years of age, of good moral character, and a graduate of a dental school or college approved by the Board — typically one accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Hygienist applicants must be at least 18 years of age and meet the same good-character and accreditation standards.

Continuing education is a condition of biennial license renewal under K.S.A. 65-1431(d) and Kansas Administrative Regulations Article 4.

• Specialists must complete 40 of their 60 hours (or 20 of 30 for a first renewal) in their certified specialty
• There is no limit on how many hours may be completed online or through self-study
• Courses approved through the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) or the Academy of General Dentistry's Program Approval for Continuing Education (AGD PACE) are automatically recognized
• CPR courses must include a hands-on component; licensees may claim 4 CE hours for completing one

CE providers seeking formal Board approval for a course may submit a CE Course Approval form, available on the Board's website.

The Kansas Dental Board regulates two licensed provider types under the Kansas Dental Practices Act (K.S.A. Chapter 65, Article 14):

• Dentists — full diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions, including any certified specialty practice
• Dental Hygienists — preventive and clinical hygiene services; a hygienist may also hold an Extended Care Permit (Level I, II, or III), which expands the procedures they may perform under a sponsoring dentist's supervision

Sedation and anesthesia procedures require a separate permit tied to the level of sedation administered: Level I (enteral or combination inhalation-enteral conscious sedation), Level II (parenteral conscious sedation), or Level III (deep sedation and general anesthesia), per K.A.R. 71-5-9. A dentist does not need a Board permit to administer nitrous oxide and oxygen alone or combined with a local anesthetic.

The Kansas Dental Board accepts only written complaints — it does not accept complaints by phone. To start the process, complete the Kansas Dental Board Complaint Form and send it to the Board by mail or email. The form is available from the Board's Complaint Form page.

How a complaint is handled

The Board's investigator and a member of the Board's Investigative Committee — both licensed Kansas dentists — first review the complaint to determine whether it involves the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene and alleges facts that could constitute a violation of the Kansas Dental Practices Act. If more information is needed, the Board may request it before opening a case.

Once a case is opened, the Board's investigator conducts a formal investigation, which may include requesting complete dental records and a written response from the named licensee, an on-site office inspection, witness interviews, or consultation with law enforcement. Investigations are confidential under K.S.A. 65-1467, though the Board retains broad authority to obtain information that would normally be considered confidential. The process can take several months depending on the complexity of the allegations.

The Investigative Committee then reviews the investigation with a Board attorney to determine whether evidence supports a violation and decides what action, if any, to pursue — including whether to file a disciplinary petition. A Hearing Officer may issue an initial determination, which the licensee or the Board's attorney can ask the Board to review; either before or after a hearing, the parties may also negotiate a settlement for the Board's approval.

If a violation is established, the Board may revoke, suspend, or restrict a license; impose a fine of up to $10,000 per violation (K.S.A. 65-1436(d)); or grant a period of probation with conditions such as additional education or monitoring.

Board meeting agendas and minutes are posted at dental.ks.gov/about-us/board-information/board-minutes. If you have general questions about the Board's process, call (785) 296-6400.

Disciplinary actions taken by the Kansas Dental Board are published on the Board's website, organized alphabetically by licensee last name into six subcategories:

• Disciplinary Actions A–C
• Disciplinary Actions D–G
• Disciplinary Actions H–J
• Disciplinary Actions K–N
• Disciplinary Actions O–S
• Disciplinary Actions T–Z

License status for individual practitioners can be verified through the Kansas Dental Board License Verification Database, hosted on the state's Kansas.gov portal at kansas.gov/dental-verification/index.do. Searches can be run by practitioner name or license number. The database is updated on the first business day of each week, so contact the Board directly at (785) 296-6400 for more current status. Use of the database is subject to the guidelines of the Kansas Open Records Act.