Maryland Board of Dentistry

About the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners

Maryland's dental professionals are regulated by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners, operating within the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). The Board's statutory authority is established under Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 4-202, and its administrative rules are codified in COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 44 (Board of Dental Examiners).

Board members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maryland Senate. The Board conducts a balloting process to fill dentist and dental hygienist member vacancies when they arise. The Board oversees initial licensure, license renewal, continuing education compliance, and disciplinary proceedings for all dental credentials issued by the state.

Maryland law requires that each owner of a dental practice hold an active Maryland dental license. Operating a dental practice without a valid license is a felony under Maryland law; the Board publishes a document detailing unlicensed dentistry penalties.

Dental credential types in Maryland

Maryland issues a broader range of dental credentials than most states. All credential types are administered by the Board under COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 44:

Primary licenses

• Dentist — general practice license for graduates of accredited dental programs.
• Dental Hygienist — license for clinical hygiene procedures including preventive care.
• Specialty — issued in ADA-recognized dental specialties for dentists meeting specialty training requirements.
• Limited Dental — restricted-scope dental license for defined clinical settings or limitations.
• Dental Teacher — for dentists with faculty appointments at Maryland dental schools.
• Dental Pediatric Fellow — for dental pediatrics fellowship training programs.
• Foreign Trained Dentists (UMDS) — specific pathway for internationally trained dentists.

Auxiliary credentials

• Expanded Function Dental Assistant – General (EFDA-Gen)
• Expanded Function Dental Assistant – Ortho (EFDA-Ortho)
• Qualified Dental Assistant – General (QDA-Gen)
• Qualified Dental Assistant – Ortho (QDA-Ortho)
• Qualified Dental Assistant – General/Ortho
• Dental Radiation Technologist — for personnel operating dental radiographic equipment.

Permits and specialty authorizations

• Local Anesthesia (In-State and Out-of-State) — separate permits for dentists authorized to administer local anesthesia.
• Nitrous Oxide — permit for nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation.
• Full Drug Dispensing Permit and Limited Drug Dispensing Permit — for practices dispensing medications.
• Letter of Recognition — a recognition credential for specific qualified practitioners.

Retired credentials

• Retired Dentist and Retired Volunteer Dental Hygienist — credentials for retired practitioners providing volunteer services in Maryland.

Applying for a Maryland dental credential

Maryland dental license applications and renewals are processed through the Board's online credentialing portal at mdbod.mylicense.com. This portal handles new applications, renewals, and credential verifications for all credential types the Board issues.

Before applying

• Review the credential requirements for your specific license type on the Board's page at health.maryland.gov/dental before beginning your application.
• Gather required documentation — examination results, school transcripts, background check materials, and proof of good standing from any state where you currently or previously held a dental credential.
• Dentists who intend to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must comply with Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) requirements, which are administered separately from the Board credential.

Anesthesia and sedation permits

Dental practices and practitioners administering anesthesia or sedation in Maryland require separate anesthesia/sedation permits. The Board publishes renewal applications for these permits annually (2026 renewal applications are available on the board's page).

Credential fees and renewal in Maryland

Maryland dental credential fees and renewal cycles are administered by the Board and are subject to periodic revision. Always verify current fee amounts and renewal deadlines on the Board's official portal before submitting payment.

Renewals

Credential renewals are processed through mdbod.mylicense.com. The portal lists the current renewal fee, credential expiration date, and any continuing education attestation requirements for your credential type.

Anesthesia and sedation permit renewals

Anesthesia and sedation permit renewals follow a separate schedule from standard credential renewals. The Board publishes dedicated renewal applications for these permits annually; 2026 renewal application documents are available on the Board's homepage.

Continuing education for Maryland dental credentials

Maryland requires continuing education for dental credential renewals. The Board maintains an annual approved course listing, with CE courses classified by subject-matter category. Approved course listings for 2023 through 2026 are available on the Board's homepage.

Implicit bias and structural racism training

Maryland requires dental licensees to complete implicit bias and structural racism training as part of the continuing education requirements for license renewal. This requirement reflects Maryland's health equity obligations and applies across health care disciplines regulated by the Department of Health.

Approved CE providers

The Board maintains an annual list of approved CE course providers. Recognized providers include the Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association (MDHA), the Progressive Dental Study Group, the Maryland chapter of NCADD, and courses offered by ADA-accredited institutions. The Maryland State Dental Association (MSDA) is also an ADA CERP (Continuing Education Recognized Provider) and offers CE courses.

CE for anesthesia and sedation permits

Practitioners holding anesthesia or sedation permits are subject to additional CE requirements specific to their permit type. Verify current requirements when completing your anesthesia permit renewal.

Scope of dental practice in Maryland

Dental practice in Maryland is governed by Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 4-202 and COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 44 (Board of Dental Examiners). These statutes and regulations define the authorized scope of practice for each credential type.

Auxiliary procedures

The Board publishes a Dental Auxiliaries Procedures Chart, which maps which procedures each auxiliary credential type (EFDA-Gen, EFDA-Ortho, QDA-Gen, QDA-Ortho) is authorized to perform under Maryland law. This chart is available on the Board's homepage and should be reviewed by practice owners and supervising dentists.

Practice ownership requirement

Maryland law requires that each owner of a dental practice hold an active Maryland dental license. Operating without this active license constitutes unauthorized practice and is treated as a felony. The Board publishes a document detailing unlicensed dentistry penalties.

Infection prevention and PDMP

Maryland dental practices are required to follow infection prevention and control standards consistent with CDC guidelines. Dentists who prescribe or dispense controlled substances must register with and use Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), administered separately from the Board.

Federal No Surprises Act

The Board posts Federal No Surprises Act guidance relevant to dental practices, covering patients' rights regarding out-of-network charges. Review this guidance on the Board's homepage if your practice treats patients with out-of-network insurance coverage.

Filing a complaint against a Maryland dental provider

Complaints against Maryland dental credential holders are submitted to the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners, which operates a compliance and investigation process under the authority of the Maryland Department of Health. The Board investigates complaints and, when findings warrant, initiates disciplinary proceedings.

How to file a complaint

• Contact the Board directly to obtain complaint forms and submission instructions: (410) 402-8500 or mdh.mddentalboard@maryland.gov.
• The Board's homepage at health.maryland.gov/dental links to complaint submission resources.
• Provide the credential holder's name, license number, dates and details of the incident, and any supporting documentation.

Disciplinary outcomes

The Board may impose a range of sanctions following a formal investigation. Public disciplinary statuses that appear in the license verification system include:

• Probation — active license with conditions.
• Suspended — license suspended pending compliance or hearing outcome.
• Revoked — license permanently revoked.
• Voluntarily Surrendered — credential surrendered by the holder.

Note: per the Board's license verification portal, dental licensure verifications cannot be provided by phone — use the online portal at mdbod.mylicense.com for verification inquiries.

Maryland State Dental Association (MSDA)

The Maryland State Dental Association (MSDA) is the statewide professional association for dentists practicing in Maryland. MSDA membership automatically includes membership in a local component dental society (based on your practice area) and in the American Dental Association (ADA).

Continuing education

MSDA is an ADA CERP (Continuing Education Recognition Program) recognized provider, meaning its CE courses meet national standards for dental continuing education quality. CE registration and course information are available at msda.com/continuing-education.

Member services

• Career center — the MSDA Career Center (jobs.msda.com) connects dental professionals with practice opportunities across Maryland.
• Local society membership — participation in regional dental societies providing networking and advocacy opportunities.
• Member programs — insurance, financial, and practice management resources available through MSDA membership.

For membership information, visit msda.com/join-renew.

Disciplinary actions and credential verification

Disciplinary history for Maryland dental credential holders is available through the Board's public license verification portal. All active disciplinary conditions — including probation, suspension, and revocation — appear as part of the public license record.

How to look up disciplinary records

• Go to mdbod.mylicense.com/Verification/Search.aspx, the Board's official public verification portal.
• Search by the practitioner's name or license number. Wildcard searches using asterisks (*) are supported for partial name lookups.
• The result shows the credential type, current status, and any active disciplinary conditions.

Credential status categories in the verification system include: Active, Deceased, Inactive, Non-Renewed, Probation, Retired, Revoked, Suspended, and Voluntarily Surrendered.

Other state dental boards