District of Columbia Board of Dentistry

DC Board of Dentistry

The DC Board of Dentistry is the dental regulatory authority in the District of Columbia, operating within DC Health (the Department of Health). The Board regulates the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in the District, issues and renews licenses, and takes disciplinary action against licensees who violate applicable laws and regulations.

The Board is located at DC Health, 2201 Shannon Place SE, Washington DC 20020. The DC Health Processing Center is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, and Wednesday from 9 am to 3:30 pm (except holidays). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 am to 4:45 pm.

The Board holds hybrid meetings — both in-person and virtual. In-person meetings are held at 2201 Shannon Place SE. All licensing applications in the District are submitted online; DC Health no longer accepts paper applications (effective June 14, 2021).

License types in the District of Columbia

The DC Board of Dentistry regulates the following dental credential categories in the District of Columbia:

• Dentist — licensed to perform the full scope of dental procedures authorized under District law and Board regulations.
• Dental Hygienist — licensed to perform preventive, diagnostic, and periodontal services within the scope defined by Board regulations.
• Dental Assistant — credentialed to perform dental assisting functions under dentist supervision as defined by DC regulations (17 DCMR 90).
• Teaching License (Dentistry and Dental Hygiene) — credential for dental professionals in academic or teaching roles (17 DCMR 92).

Sedation and general anesthesia permits are also issued to qualified dentists and dental facilities under DC Municipal Regulations 17-107.

Applying for a DC dental license

In the District of Columbia, dental license applications are submitted online through the DC Health licensing portal. DC Health no longer accepts paper applications (effective June 14, 2021).

Application resources

• Online application portal — apply for a new license, or renew, reinstate, or reactivate an existing license at dohenterprise.my.site.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.
• Application documents — required documents for each credential type are listed on the Board's page at dchealth.dc.gov/service/board-dentistry-dentistry-licensing.
• Regulations — the Health Occupations Revision Act (HORA) and DC Municipal Regulations for Dentistry (17-42), Dental Hygienists (17-43), and Dental Assistants (17-90) govern practice in the District.

Fees and license renewal

In the District of Columbia, all professional dental licenses use a birth-month renewal cycle. Effective June 16, 2024, DC Health transitioned all professional licenses to expire on the last day of the holder's birth month. This applies to all new and renewal applicants.

Birth-month renewal cycle

• Your license expiration date will always fall on the last day of your birth month.
• If your birthday is in an odd year, your future renewals will occur in odd years (and the same for even years).
• Applies to all new and renewal applicants as of September 2024.

Renewal transition CE adjustment

During the transition period, all Boards have approved acceptance of 50% of the CE requirements for licensees who have received less than two years on their license term. License holders are still responsible for the two LGBTQ Cultural Competency hours and the 10% Public Health Priorities requirement.

Renew online

All renewals in the District are submitted online at dohenterprise.my.site.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.

Continuing education requirements

The DC Board of Dentistry requires licensed dental professionals to complete continuing education (CE) as a condition of license renewal. The Board has established specific mandatory CE topics in addition to general clinical requirements.

Mandatory CE topics

• LGBTQ Cultural Competency — licensees must complete 2 hours of LGBTQ Cultural Competency CE each renewal period.
• Public Health Priorities — 10% of total CE hours must address Public Health Priorities as identified by DC Health in its annual public notice (effective October 1, 2025).

Approved CE providers

The Board approves CE from the following providers, among others: Achieve CE, the American Dental Association, the DC Dental Society, Net CE, and Proctor and Gamble CE.

Scope of practice

In the District of Columbia, dental practice law and the Health Occupations Revision Act (HORA) define the authorized scope of activities for each dental credential category. These definitions govern what procedures each credential holder may legally perform and under what conditions — protecting patients by ensuring that clinical services in the District are rendered only by appropriately licensed or credentialed practitioners.

Dentists licensed in the District hold authority to perform the full range of dental services authorized under their training and DC regulations (17 DCMR 42). Dental hygienists perform preventive, diagnostic, and periodontal services within the scope established by DC regulations (17 DCMR 43) and HORA. Dental assistants perform supporting clinical functions under dentist supervision as defined by DC regulations (17 DCMR 90).

Filing a complaint

The DC Board of Dentistry investigates complaints alleging violations of dental practice laws and regulations by dental professionals licensed in the District of Columbia. Complaints may concern substandard care, unprofessional conduct, unlicensed practice, or other violations of Board rules and applicable DC law.

The Board reviews submitted complaints, may request supporting documentation, and takes appropriate action — ranging from informal resolution to formal disciplinary proceedings. Substantiated violations can result in sanctions including license suspension, revocation, probation, or civil penalties under DC law.

How to file a complaint

File a complaint against a DC dental professional at dchealth.dc.gov/node/192802.

District of Columbia Dental Society

The District of Columbia Dental Society (DCDS) is the premier professional association representing dentists in the Nation's Capital. In existence since 1866, the DCDS is the American Dental Association (ADA) chapter for the District of Columbia, serving dental professionals and supporting oral health in the community.

Member benefits and programs

• ADA chapter membership — DCDS membership connects dentists in the District to the ADA tripartite network, providing access to national resources, CE, and advocacy at the local, national, and federal levels.
• Continuing education — the Society provides CE opportunities including Tooth Talks, the Mid-Atlantic Dental Meeting, to help members meet renewal requirements and advance clinical knowledge.
• Public health education — the DCDS Foundation makes available a series of short oral health education videos for the public.
• Professional community — the DCDS connects dentists practicing in the District with colleagues locally and nationally through ADA programs and events.

Disciplinary actions and license verification

Disciplinary records for dental professionals licensed in the District of Columbia are publicly accessible through DC Health's online licensing tools. When the DC Board of Dentistry takes formal action against a dental professional, that action is reflected in the Health Professional Profile database.

How to look up a DC dental license

• Visit the DC Health Professional Profile Search to search for a licensed dental professional in the District and review their credential status.
• To request an official verification of a DC dental license, visit dchealth.dc.gov/node/173822.

Disciplinary actions

Published disciplinary actions against DC dental licensees are available at dchealth.dc.gov/node/1679911.

Other state dental boards