Illinois Board of Dentistry

About the Illinois Board of Dentistry

Dental licensing in Illinois is administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The Illinois Board of Dentistry operates as an advisory body within IDFPR, providing recommendations on licensing standards, disciplinary matters, and regulatory policy. Licensing authority — including the issuance, renewal, and discipline of dental licenses — is exercised by IDFPR, not the Board independently.

IDFPR maintains two offices that handle dental licensing inquiries and administrative matters:

• Chicago Office — 555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
• Springfield Office — 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786

In October 2024, IDFPR launched CORE, a new online licensing system for dental and other professional license applications. New applications for dental professions are now processed through CORE. IDFPR also maintains a separate legacy portal for license renewals and license lookups.

Illinois dental practice is governed by the Dental Practice Act and IDFPR administrative rules. A recent amendment to the Dental Practice Act added a Third-Party Financing Provision requiring dentists, dental employees, and dental agents to provide written notice to patients before discussing or providing applications for financing extended by a third party.

Dental Licensing in Illinois

Illinois issues dental licenses, registrations, and permits across a broad range of dental professions through IDFPR. The following credential types are licensed by IDFPR for dental professionals:

• Dentist, Licensed — standard full dental practice license for graduates of accredited dental schools who satisfy examination and endorsement requirements.
• Dental Hygienist, Registered — license for preventive and clinical hygiene services under dentist supervision.
• Licensed Specialty in Dentistry — license for practitioners who hold board certification in one of the recognized dental specialties.
• Dentist, Temporary — temporary practice authorization for dentists in specific limited circumstances.
• Restricted Faculty License — permits dental professionals affiliated with an accredited educational program to practice in a teaching and clinical capacity.
• Temporary Dental Teacher License — a teaching-focused credential for dental educators in accredited programs.
• Dental Sedation Permit — required authorization for dentists who administer sedation in their practice. Applications processed through the legacy DFPR online portal.
• Dental/Dental Hygiene CE Sponsor — credential for organizations approved to sponsor continuing education for Illinois dental professionals.
• Dentist, Controlled Substance — authorization related to controlled substance prescribing for dentists who require it.

How to Apply for an Illinois Dental License

Illinois dental license applications are submitted through CORE, IDFPR's online licensing system launched in October 2024. New applications for dentists, dental hygienists, and most dental credential types are now processed through CORE at ildfprprod.state-reg-central.tylerapp.com.

Some credential types — including dentist endorsement applications, dental sedation permits, and licensed specialty in dentistry — continue to be processed through the legacy IDFPR online portal at online-dfpr.micropact.com. Check the IDFPR dental professions page for the correct application channel for your specific credential type.

Documentation required for new dental license applications in Illinois generally includes:

• Education credentials — official transcripts from an accredited dental education program.
• Examination scores — national and clinical board examination results from accepted testing bodies.
• Licensure verification — for endorsement applicants, verification of active licensure in good standing in another state.
• Background documentation — as required by IDFPR for the specific credential type.

For license verification, use the license lookup tool at online-dfpr.micropact.com. The lookup supports searches by license type (including DENTAL), license status, license number, and licensee name.

License Fees and Renewal

Illinois dental licenses require periodic renewal through IDFPR. Renewal is administered through the CORE system for most credential types. The IDFPR dental professions page provides links to the renewal portal and reactivation resources for lapsed licenses.

Illinois dental licenses also require completion of continuing education before renewal. IDFPR's dental professions page includes information on CE requirements, approved providers, and the renewal schedule for each credential type.

Licensees whose licenses have lapsed may apply for reactivation through the IDFPR reactivation process. IDFPR provides a dedicated reactivation resource at idfpr.illinois.gov/dpr/reactivate-your-license.html with instructions and any applicable requirements for reinstatement.

Continuing Education Requirements

Illinois dentists and dental hygienists must complete continuing education as a condition of license renewal. IDFPR establishes the CE requirements for each credential type, including the required hours, mandatory subject areas, and approved provider standards.

Illinois maintains a formal CE sponsor approval process: organizations providing CE for dental and dental hygiene licensees must hold a Dental/Dental Hygiene CE Sponsor license from IDFPR. This ensures that CE content meets the standards required for license renewal credit. Applications for board-approved CE sponsor status are submitted through the CORE or DFPR portal.

The Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) and other professional organizations offer CE programs that may qualify for IDFPR renewal credit. Verify provider eligibility with IDFPR before registering for renewal CE.

Scope of Practice

The scope of dental practice in Illinois is defined by the Illinois Dental Practice Act (225 ILCS 25) and the corresponding administrative rules promulgated by IDFPR. These govern what each dental credential type may perform, under what supervisory conditions, and in what settings.

The Dental Practice Act and IDFPR administrative rules are published and searchable at the Illinois General Assembly website (ilga.gov). The Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) publishes the current dental administrative rules alongside other IDFPR regulations.

A recent amendment to the Dental Practice Act added a new requirement: dentists, dental employees, and dental agents must provide written notice to patients or their guardians — in at least 14-point font — when discussing or facilitating applications for financing extended by a third party. This Third-Party Financing Provision is a scope-of-practice-adjacent obligation that applies to financing discussions, not clinical procedures.

The ISDS has also advocated for a Practice Pending License provision in the Dental Practice Act, allowing dental and dental hygiene graduates to practice under the delegation of a licensed supervising dentist while awaiting initial licensure from IDFPR. This provision benefits new graduates in the period between examination completion and license issuance.

Filing a Complaint Against an Illinois Dental Licensee

Complaints about Illinois dental professionals — including dentists, dental hygienists, and other IDFPR-licensed dental credential holders — are filed with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. IDFPR's Division of Professional Regulation receives and investigates complaints under the Dental Practice Act.

How to File a Complaint

IDFPR provides multiple ways to submit a complaint:

• Online form — submit through IDFPR's online complaint portal at idfpr.illinois.gov
• PDF form — download a complaint form from the IDFPR complaints page and submit by mail to the Chicago or Springfield office
• By phone — contact IDFPR using the complaint line listed on the IDFPR complaints page at idfpr.illinois.gov/admin/complaints.html

Complaints should include the licensee's name and license number (if known), a description of the alleged conduct, and any supporting documentation. IDFPR staff review submitted complaints to determine whether the matter falls within its jurisdiction under the Dental Practice Act.

IDFPR maintains offices in both Chicago (555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor) and Springfield (320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor) to serve dental professionals and the public throughout Illinois.

Illinois State Dental Society

The Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) is the professional membership organization representing Illinois dentists. The ISDS advocates for the dental profession at the state level and provides members with practice resources, legislative updates, and community engagement opportunities.

ISDS advocacy efforts have directly shaped Illinois dental law. The ISDS successfully advocated for a Practice Pending License provision in the Illinois Dental Practice Act, which allows newly graduated dentists and dental hygienists to practice under the delegation of a licensed supervising dentist while their initial licensure application is pending with IDFPR. This provision reduces gaps in practice for new graduates navigating the post-graduation licensing period.

ISDS programming and member services include:

• Legislative advocacy — the ISDS monitors Illinois dental legislation and engages legislators on issues affecting the profession and patient access to care.
• Annual meetings and governance — the ISDS House of Delegates meets annually; the 2026 meeting is scheduled for August 28–29 at the Isle Casino Hotel in the Quad Cities.
• Community service — ISDS members volunteer at free dental care events including the RAM Dental Clinic and other Foundation-sponsored clinics serving communities across Illinois.
• Professional resources — regulatory compliance updates, practice management guidance, and continuing education programming.

More information about ISDS membership and events is available at isds.org.

Disciplinary Actions

Illinois dental licensee records and disciplinary information are publicly searchable through IDFPR's license lookup tool at online-dfpr.micropact.com.

The lookup tool allows searches by:

• License type — select DENTAL from the license type dropdown to filter dental-specific results.
• License status — filter for active licenses only or search across all license statuses to identify inactive, suspended, or revoked licenses.
• Name, license number, city, or zip code — multiple search fields allow targeted lookups by practitioner identity or location.

IDFPR may impose disciplinary sanctions on dental licensees for violations of the Dental Practice Act, including license suspension, revocation, probation, fines, and required remediation. Disciplinary actions taken by IDFPR are reflected in the licensee's record accessible through the public license lookup.

Other state dental boards