New Hampshire Board of Dentistry

The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners operates within the Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (OPLC) and is responsible for protecting the public by governing and regulating the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in New Hampshire. Under RSA 317-A:1, any person practicing or offering to practice dentistry in the state must be licensed by the Board. The Board examines, licenses, and registers qualified applicants and adopts rules governing the conduct of licensed dentists and dental hygienists.

Under RSA 317-A:2, the Board consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Executive Council: 6 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, and 1 public member. One of the dentist members must hold a current permit to administer general anesthesia and deep sedation. Members serve 5-year terms and may not be appointed to more than 2 consecutive terms. The public member may never have been a member of the dental profession, their spouse, or had a material financial interest in dental services. The Board also maintains a Dental Hygienists Committee (RSA 317-A:2-a) and an Anesthesia and Sedation Committee (RSA 317-A:2-b).

As of this writing, the Board's president is Mark D. Abel, DMD, MD, and its vice president is Virginia Kapetanakis Moore, RDH. One public member seat is currently vacant. The full member directory, with terms and appointment dates, is published at oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examiners-member-directory.

The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners licenses and permits the following credential types:

• Dentist (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) — full scope of dental practice under RSA 317-A:20
• Dental Hygienist (R.D.H.) — preventive, diagnostic, and periodontal services under RSA 317-A:21-c, practicing under the supervision of a licensed dentist
• Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) — a certification permitting hygienists or assistants to perform additional restorative duties
• Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist (CPHDH) — authorizes hygiene services in public health settings under reduced dentist supervision
• Hygienist Nitrous Oxide Permit — required for a dental hygienist to administer nitrous oxide/oxygen minimal sedation
• General Anesthesia / Deep Sedation / Moderate Sedation Permits (including a Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit) — required for a dentist to administer sedation beyond local anesthesia
• Facility Permit and Facility Hosting Permit — required for an office or facility where sedation or general anesthesia is administered

The Board also issues temporary licenses for education programs and voluntary dental or dental hygiene services, at the discretion of OPLC in consultation with the Board (RSA 317-A:8, III–IV).

New Hampshire participates in New Hampshire's universal licensure recognition law (RSA 310:17, implementing HB 594). Under Plc 313.22, an applicant currently licensed in good standing as a dentist or dental hygienist in a qualifying jurisdiction — nearly all other U.S. states — may obtain a New Hampshire license by endorsement rather than by full examination.

New Hampshire initial dental license applications are submitted on paper, not online. Applicants complete the Universal Application for Initial Licensure plus the credential-specific application (Dentist Application for Licensure or Dental Hygienist Application for Licensure) and any relevant addenda, then mail the package with payment to:

Payment for paper applications is accepted by personal check, money order, or cashier's check, made payable to "Treasurer, State of New Hampshire."

Education requirements

Under RSA 317-A:8, dentist applicants must be graduates of a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) holding a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree, be of good professional character, and be at least 18 years old. Under RSA 317-A:21, dental hygienist applicants must be graduates of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program of at least 2 years in an institution of higher education. Applicants educated outside the United States must be graduates of a CODA-accredited general dentistry program of at least 2 years that awards a D.M.D. or D.D.S. degree (Den 301.02(i)).

Jurisprudence examination

All applicants must pass the New Hampshire Dental/Dental Hygienist Jurisprudence Examination, administered by Prov, Inc. Key details:

• Fee: $69.00, paid directly to Prov at the time of registration
• May be taken remotely (PC, Mac, or approved Chromebook — tablets and iPads are not supported) or at a Prov testing center
• Register and schedule at provexam.com/register
• Official results are emailed and reported to OPLC within 1–3 business days of testing

Reciprocity and out-of-state licensees

Under RSA 310:17 and Plc 313.22, an applicant currently licensed in good standing as a dentist or dental hygienist in a qualifying jurisdiction may apply for New Hampshire licensure by endorsement. Qualifying jurisdictions include the large majority of U.S. states for both credential types. See oplc.nh.gov/new-changes-reciprocity-new-hampshire for the current jurisdiction list and required documentation, including proof of licensure in good standing and a criminal history records check.

New Hampshire dental licensees must complete continuing education (CE) each biennium as a condition of license renewal. Requirements are set out in Board rule Den 406, which was rewritten and became effective December 2, 2025, alongside a companion rewrite of the license renewal rule, Den 401, effective December 5, 2025.

Dentists — 40 CEUs per biennium

• At least 30 CEUs in clinical dental care subjects
• Successful completion of a BLS-HCP course with a hands-on component
• At least 2 CEUs in infection control, using a course that includes the CDC's "Infection Prevention and Control's Guidelines and Recommendations"
• At least 2 CEUs in Medical Emergency Training

Dental Hygienists — 20 CEUs per biennium

• At least 15 CEUs in clinical dental hygiene care subjects
• Successful completion of a BLS-HCP course with a hands-on component
• At least 2 CEUs in infection control, using the same CDC-guideline-based course requirement
• At least 2 CEUs in Medical Emergency Training
• Hygienists who have completed the EFDA course must complete an additional 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry, on top of the 20-CEU base requirement

Up to 75% of required CEUs may be earned through audio-visual, online, or live webinar programs. A licensee earns 100% credit for passing the written portion of ADEX or a similar regional/state board clinical or manikin examination. Excess CEUs do not carry forward to the next renewal period, and newly licensed dentists and hygienists are exempt from the CE requirement for their first biennial renewal after initial licensure (Den 406.03(f), (h)).

Licensees in New Hampshire have free access to CE Broker for CE tracking and to search for approved courses. Full CE requirements are published at oplc.nh.gov/dental-continuing-education and the underlying rule text at gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/den.html (Part Den 406).

New Hampshire law defines the authorized scope of practice for each dental credential type under RSA 317-A.

Dentists

Under RSA 317-A:20, a dentist may diagnose, treat, and prescribe for conditions of the oral cavity, teeth, and adjacent structures, and administer dental anesthetics. A dentist or facility that wishes to administer general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation must first obtain the appropriate permit from OPLC, document competence, and meet the Board's continuing education conditions for that permit.

Dental Hygienists

Under RSA 317-A:21-c, dental hygiene services — performed under the supervision of a licensed dentist — include:

• Assessment of medical/dental histories and periodontal charting
• Complete prophylaxis, including scaling, root planing, and polishing
• Administration of local anesthesia, once qualified by the Board through training and a Board-approved examination
• Administration of nitrous oxide/oxygen minimal sedation, once similarly qualified and permitted
• Administration, prescription, and dispensing of fluoride supplements, topical fluoride, and chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse

Dental hygienists may not practice independently of a supervising dentist (RSA 317-A:21-d).

Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA)

A hygienist or assistant certified as an EFDA may perform additional restorative duties as defined in Den 302.07, and must complete 10 CEUs per biennium in restorative dentistry in addition to their base CE requirement.

The OPLC Division of Enforcement handles complaints alleging unprofessional misconduct by New Hampshire dental licensees, including substandard care, unprofessional conduct, and unlicensed practice.

How to file

Complaints are submitted using the OPLC Enforcement Complaint Form, available at the OPLC online complaint portal. A complete complaint should include:

• WHO — the name and profession of the licensee
• WHAT / WHEN / WHERE — the date, time, and location of the conduct
• HOW — a description of what happened, including any witnesses
• Your own name, date of birth, email, mailing address, and phone number
• Whether you have attempted to resolve the matter with the licensee, retained an attorney, or reported it to any other agency

What happens after you file

1. Intake: OPLC's review team compares the reported conduct to the law. If it does not amount to possible misconduct, staff recommend dismissal to the Board; if the Board agrees, the complaint is closed. Otherwise, OPLC opens a preliminary investigation — forwarding the complaint to the licensee for a written response, interviewing the complainant, and subpoenaing relevant records — or refers alleged criminal conduct to law enforcement.
2. Case review: The investigations team reviews the complaint, response, interview, and records to decide whether a full investigation or a report to the Board is warranted.
3. Investigation: An investigator gathers further evidence and submits a written Report of Investigation with a recommendation to the Board.
4. Board determination: The Board may dismiss the complaint (with or without a letter of concern) or vote to adjudicate it at a public hearing.
5. Settlement discussions: If the licensee and the prosecutor reach agreed terms of discipline, the Board must approve the settlement.
6. Disciplinary hearing: If no settlement is reached, an administrative prosecutor presents the case before the Board, which may impose a fine, cost reimbursement, reprimand, suspension, or revocation.

Learn more about the process at oplc.nh.gov/enforcement-complaint-process. Published Board actions for dental examiners are at oplc.nh.gov/dental-examiners-board-actions.

License status and disciplinary history for New Hampshire dental professionals are searched through New Hampshire's Online License Verification portal at forms.nh.gov/licenseverification/.

How to search

• Select "Dental" from the Profession drop-down
• Optionally narrow results with the License Type drop-down (e.g., "Dentist," "Hygienist," "Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Cert")
• Search by first name, last name (partial spellings are accepted), or license number
• Results display the licensee's current status and any published disciplinary documents

The Board of Dental Examiners retains disciplinary documents on the OPLC website for a 7-year period from the date of the action.

Requesting an official verification letter

To request an official verification letter for another state or organization, licensees use VeriDoc, which the Board of Dental Examiners uses for electronic transmission of verifications. Allow 10 business days for processing; VeriDoc cannot accommodate international verification requests or requests for archived (no-longer-active) licenses — those require the paper Verification Letter Request Form submitted directly to OPLC.

Published disciplinary actions against New Hampshire dental licensees, organized by year, are available at oplc.nh.gov/dental-examiners-board-actions.