Arkansas Board of Dentistry

About the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners

The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners was established by act 144 of 1887 to help protect the interest of Arkansas citizens and has been in continuous existence since that time. The Board operates under the Arkansas Department of Health. Currently, Act 14 of 1955, known as the Dental Practice Act, governs Board operations.

The Board is composed of six practicing dentists, one practicing dental hygienist, and two consumer representatives — one of whom represents the senior citizens of the state. Members are appointed by the Governor for five-year terms, and officers are elected annually. The Board meets eight or more times per year and conducts disciplinary hearings in conjunction with those meetings.

The Board regulates the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental assisting by examining applicants for competency and issuing licenses to candidates meeting the requirements of the state and the Board. More than 5,000 individuals hold a current license or permit issued by the Board.

The Board is entirely self-supporting. Application fees, renewal fees, permit fees, disciplinary fines, and penalties fund all Board operations.

License types issued by the Board

The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners issues the following license and permit types:

• Dentist license — by examination or credentials; specialty licenses available for dentists with post-graduate training who successfully complete an examination
• Dental Hygienist license — by examination or credentials; local anesthesia permits available for hygienists with qualifying special training
• Dental Assistant expanded duties permit — for assistants who have qualified for expanded duties
• Anesthesia permits — issued to dentists with special training who wish to use general anesthesia or conscious sedation in their offices
• Dental corporation registration — for entities providing dental services in Arkansas

The Board prescribes by rule and regulation those acts, services, procedures, and practices that define the practice of dentistry, and those that can be performed by dental hygienists and dental assistants.

Applying for an Arkansas dental license

Arkansas dental license applications are processed through the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. Applications are available through the Board's page on the Arkansas Department of Health website at healthy.arkansas.gov. Application fee schedules and a frequently asked questions document are also available there.

License renewals for dentists and dental hygienists are processed online through the Board's renewal portal at renew.statesolutions.us/asbde/.

Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

Arkansas enacted SB111 – Act 395, establishing participation in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. The Compact, promoted by the U.S. Department of Defense and endorsed by the American Dental Association, allows for licensure portability among licensed dentists and hygienists who can practice in other participating states without securing local licensure. Providers who violate the practice act in any participating state will be disciplined in the state where the infraction occurred and stand to lose privileges in all participating states.

Fees and license renewal

Arkansas dental license fees and renewal schedules are set by the Board and funded entirely through licensee fees, renewal fees, and permit fees — the Board receives no general fund appropriations.

Continuing education requirements

Arkansas dental licensees are subject to continuing education requirements as a condition of license renewal. The Board's rules define required hours, approved course categories, and documentation standards for CE compliance.

Scope of practice

The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners, by rule and regulation, prescribes those acts, services, procedures, and practices that define the practice of dentistry, and those acts, services, procedures, and practices that can be performed by dental hygienists and dental assistants.

Key scope distinctions under Arkansas rules:

• Dentists may apply for anesthesia permits authorizing the use of general anesthesia or conscious sedation in their offices, provided they have qualifying special training
• Dental hygienists may obtain local anesthesia permits if they complete training that meets Board criteria
• Dental assistants may obtain expanded duties permits upon qualifying

Specialty licenses are also available for dentists who complete post-graduate training and successfully pass an examination. The Dental Practice Act (Act 14 of 1955) is the governing statute for dental practice in Arkansas, and the Board holds authority to promulgate rules and regulations and to conduct disciplinary hearings under the Administrative Procedures Act.

Filing a complaint

If you have a complaint concerning patient care, the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners accepts formal complaints through its online complaint form at healthy.arkansas.gov.

Alternatives to filing a formal complaint

• Discuss the issue directly with the dentist
• Small claims court for monetary disputes
• Mediation through the Arkansas State Dental Association's Peer Mediation Committee
• Contact the Better Business Bureau

What to expect when filing

When you file a complaint with the Board, the information you provide will be shared with the practitioner you are complaining against. By submitting a complaint, you authorize the Board to obtain your dental records to investigate your complaint. Your complaint may also be referred to other agencies when appropriate. The Board will investigate complaints involving potential violations of the Dental Practice Act, the Dental Corporation Act, or the Board's rules and regulations.

Arkansas State Dental Association

The Arkansas State Dental Association (ASDA) is the professional membership organization for Arkansas dentists, affiliated with the American Dental Association. ASDA advocates on behalf of the profession at the state legislature and provides members with CE programming, professional networking, and resources for dental practice.

ASDA was instrumental in tracking several significant legislative developments in recent years, including:

• SB111 – Act 395: Established Arkansas's participation in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, allowing licensure portability among participating states without requiring local licensure in each state
• SB347: A new Medicaid fee schedule, injecting $6.9 million in state funds to draw down an estimated additional $16 million in federal funding, effective September 1, 2025
• Lyon College School of Dental Medicine: The new dental school received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation in February 2025, with its inaugural class starting in June 2025

ASDA also highlights the Arkansas Medical Foundation's Physician Help Program, which offers confidential support to dentists and dental professionals experiencing burnout, mental health challenges, substance abuse issues, and other difficulties.

More information is available at arkansasdentistry.org.

Disciplinary actions and license verification

License status for Arkansas dental professionals can be searched through the Board's online verification portal at search.statesolutions.us. Searches can be performed by license number, last name, city, or zip code.

The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners holds authority to revoke or suspend any license or permit it has issued, place a licensee or permittee on probation, impose fines, or apply a combination of these sanctions. Disciplinary hearings are conducted under the Administrative Procedures Act and are held in conjunction with regular Board meetings.

Other state dental boards