New Hampshire Board of Dentistry

New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners

The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners is responsible for the protection of the public by governing and regulating the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in New Hampshire. Operating within the Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (OPLC), the Board examines, licenses, and registers applicants whom it finds qualified to practice dentistry and dental hygiene. The Board also makes and amends reasonable rules and regulations governing the conduct of all dental examiners.

The Board regulates dentists and dental hygienists. It is located at 7 Eagle Square, Concord NH 03301. The Board's licensing portal, board meeting schedule, laws and rules, and board action records are accessible through the OPLC website at oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examiners.

License types in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners licenses and regulates two principal categories of dental professional in New Hampshire:

• Dentist — licensed to perform the full scope of dental procedures authorized under New Hampshire law and Board rules.
• Dental Hygienist — licensed to perform preventive, diagnostic, and periodontal services within the scope defined by Board regulations.

The Board also issues temporary licenses for limited practice periods. Each credential type carries specific education, examination, and renewal requirements established in Board rules and New Hampshire statutes.

Applying for a New Hampshire dental license

New Hampshire dental license applications are processed through the Office of Professional Licensure & Certification (OPLC). Applications, required documentation, and fee information are published on the OPLC Board of Dental Examiners page.

Application resources

• Dentist applications — requirements and forms at oplc.nh.gov/applications-dentists.
• Dental hygienist applications — requirements and forms at oplc.nh.gov/applications-dental-hygienists.
• Forms and documents — available at oplc.nh.gov/dental-examiners-forms-and-documents.
• Criminal background check — instructions at oplc.nh.gov/obtain-criminal-background-check.
• Temporary licenses — information at oplc.nh.gov/temporary-licenses.

Fees and license renewal

New Hampshire dental licenses require periodic renewal on a schedule set by the Board of Dental Examiners. License holders are responsible for renewing by the applicable deadline and maintaining current contact information with OPLC.

Renewal requirements include payment of the applicable renewal fee and completion of the continuing education hours required by the Board for the renewal period. New Hampshire's Business Gateway provides an online portal for license management and renewal.

Fee schedule

Current license fees for dentists and dental hygienists are published at oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examiners-license-fees.

Continuing education requirements

The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners requires licensed dental professionals to complete continuing education (CE) as a condition of license renewal. CE requirements ensure that dentists and dental hygienists remain current with evolving clinical standards, infection control practices, and regulatory requirements throughout their careers.

CE requirements, approved subjects, and accepted course formats for each credential type are defined by Board rules. Licensees are responsible for obtaining CE from approved providers and documenting completion with their renewal submissions.

Scope of practice

New Hampshire dental practice law defines the authorized scope of activities for dentists and dental hygienists licensed by the Board of Dental Examiners. These definitions establish what procedures each credential holder may legally perform and under what supervision conditions — protecting patients by restricting clinical activities to appropriately licensed practitioners.

Dentists hold authority to perform the full range of dental services authorized under their training and Board rules. Dental hygienists perform preventive, diagnostic, and periodontal services within a scope established by Board regulations and New Hampshire statute, including applicable supervision requirements.

Filing a complaint

The OPLC Office of Professional Licensure & Certification handles complaints alleging unprofessional misconduct by New Hampshire dental licensees. Complaints may concern substandard care, unprofessional conduct, unlicensed practice, or other violations of Board rules and New Hampshire dental practice law.

Filing a complaint

Complaints are submitted using the OPLC Enforcement Complaint Form, available online at the OPLC online complaint form.

Required information

A complete complaint should include:

• WHO — the name of the individual and the profession of the licensed person.
• WHAT / WHEN / WHERE — the date, time, and location where the conduct occurred.
• HOW — a description of what happened, including names and contact information for any witnesses.
• Your information — your full name, date of birth, email address, mailing address, and telephone number.
• State whether you have attempted to resolve the complaint with the licensee, retained an attorney, or reported the conduct to any other agencies.

New Hampshire Dental Society

The New Hampshire Dental Society (NHDS) is the professional membership organization for New Hampshire dentists. The Society's purpose is to assist its members in providing and promoting the highest professional levels of oral health care for the citizens they serve, to disseminate knowledge pertaining to the advancement of health, and to serve as an advocate for the advancement of the dental profession.

Member benefits and programs

• Annual Meeting — the NHDS Annual Meeting offers continuing education courses, networking, and professional development. The 2026 Annual Meeting, "It's All Connected: Dentistry's Role in Whole-Body Health," takes place May 28–29 at Church Landing at Mill Falls in Meredith, New Hampshire, featuring 10 courses and 12.5 CE credits.
• Continuing education — the Society provides CE opportunities, including the Annual Meeting's program of nationally recognized courses, to help members meet renewal requirements and expand clinical knowledge.
• Legislative advocacy — the NHDS represents member interests before the New Hampshire Legislature and regulatory bodies, working to advance sound oral health policy in the state.
• Professional community — the Society connects New Hampshire dentists statewide and nationally through the ADA tripartite membership network.

Disciplinary actions and license verification

Disciplinary records and board actions for New Hampshire dental licensees are publicly available through OPLC. When the Board of Dental Examiners takes formal action against a dentist or dental hygienist, that action is published on the board actions page and reflected in the license verification system.

How to look up a New Hampshire dental license

• Visit the New Hampshire license verification portal at forms.nh.gov/licenseverification/ to check current license status.
• To request an official verification letter for another state or organization, use VeriDoc, which transmits verifications electronically for the Board of Dental Examiners. Allow 10 business days; international and archived license requests require a paper form.

Board actions

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

Other state dental boards