Oregon Board of Dentistry

About the Oregon Board of Dentistry

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) is the independent state regulatory body responsible for licensing and overseeing dentists, registered dental hygienists, dental therapists, and other dental credential holders practicing in Oregon. The Board holds regular public meetings; agendas, meeting notes, and newsletters are published at oregon.gov/dentistry.

Oregon Wellness Program

The Oregon Wellness Program (OWP) provides Oregon dental licensees — dentists, registered dental hygienists, and dental therapists — with access to mental health support that is non-reported, urgently available, and complimentary. OWP contracts with licensed and credentialed mental health providers who have a minimum of five years of experience serving healthcare professionals. Benefits include:

• Up to three complimentary sessions (a one-time benefit that can be spread across multiple years)
• Appointments generally available within three business days
• Care without a "paper trail" or reporting to insurance or professional boards

Health Professionals' Services Program (HPSP)

At its June 14, 2024 meeting, the Board voted to withdraw from HPSP effective July 1, 2025, unless funding became available from other sources. Licensees previously enrolled in HPSP were to have plans made for continued care. The Oregon Wellness Program is the Board's current wellness resource for active licensees.

License types in Oregon

The Oregon Board of Dentistry licenses and regulates the following credential types:

• Dentist — full-practice license for qualified dental graduates who meet Oregon's examination and application requirements.
• Registered dental hygienist — license for dental hygiene practice in Oregon; referenced alongside dentists and dental therapists in the Oregon Wellness Program materials, confirming this as a primary OBD credential type.
• Dental therapist — Oregon is among the states that authorize dental therapists. Dental therapist licensure is by examination and requires a Verification of Collaborative Agreement. Rules governing dental therapy practice took effect July 1, 2022 following the passage of HB 2528.
• Anesthesia permits — the Board issues anesthesia permits for qualifying dental practitioners as a separate credentialing step beyond the base dental license.

Applying for an Oregon dental license

Oregon dental license applications are submitted through the Oregon Board of Dentistry's online portal at online.oregondentistry.org. The portal is described as "a new application and renewal portal" and handles initial applications, renewals, and license status changes.

How to register and apply

• New applicants — complete a one-time registration before logging in. Click "Register," enter all required information, and submit. A temporary password is sent to the email address used during registration; you will be prompted to change it on first login.
• Active licensees — log in with your existing username (the email address used during registration) and password to renew or apply for an additional license type.
• Inactive licenses — if you hold an Oregon license that is no longer active (resigned, retired, expired) and wish to reapply or apply for a new license type, email information@obd.oregon.gov before using the portal.

Dental therapist applicants

Dental therapy licensure is by examination. Applicants must also submit a completed Verification of Collaborative Agreement — a required document available on the Board's Dental Therapy page. The application and the Collaborative Agreement verification are both processed through the OBD online portal.

Anesthesia permits

Dentists seeking anesthesia permits must follow a separate application process documented on the Board's Anesthesia Permits page at oregon.gov/dentistry.

Fees and license renewal

Oregon dental license renewals are processed through the OBD online portal at online.oregondentistry.org. The Board's Welcome page posts renewal notices for upcoming expiration cycles, including late fee schedules and deadlines.

Licensees who have questions about their renewal can email the Board at information@obd.oregon.gov. The Board's Renewal page at oregon.gov/dentistry provides current instructions for the active renewal cycle.

Continuing education requirements

Continuing education is a condition of Oregon dental license renewal. The Oregon Board of Dentistry maintains a dedicated CE Requirements page at oregon.gov/dentistry, listed prominently in its resources for both applicants and active licensees. The Oregon Dental Association's annual Oregon Dental Conference (ODC) is a major CE event for Oregon practitioners; the 2026 conference concluded with CE claims available for attendees.

Oregon dental practitioners typically satisfy CE requirements through OBD-approved providers, professional association programs, and accredited dental school courses. The Board's CE page specifies the acceptable provider categories and documentation requirements for each renewal cycle.

Scope of practice

Scope of practice for Oregon dental professionals is defined by the Oregon Revised Statutes and the Board's administrative rules. The Board maintains a dedicated Scope of Practice page at oregon.gov/dentistry for current rule text and guidance.

Dental therapists

Oregon authorizes dental therapists as a licensed credential type. Following the passage of HB 2528, the Board created the Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee and promulgated new rules, which took effect July 1, 2022. Key requirements for dental therapist practice in Oregon:

• Licensure by examination — dental therapists must pass a licensing examination; applications are submitted through online.oregondentistry.org.
• Collaborative Agreement required — a Verification of Collaborative Agreement must be submitted with the application. The OBD provides the required form as a PDF on the Dental Therapy page.
• Dental Therapy Rules — the rules governing dental therapy practice are filed with the Oregon Secretary of State; the current rules SOS filing (effective July 1, 2022, with subsequent changes) is available on the Board's Dental Therapy page.

Anesthesia permits

Dentists who administer anesthesia must obtain a separate anesthesia permit from OBD. The Board's Anesthesia Permits page documents eligibility requirements and the application process.

Filing a complaint

Complaints about Oregon dental professionals are filed with the Oregon Board of Dentistry. The Board requests that all complaints be submitted in writing, preferably on the Board's official complaint form — a fillable PDF available on the complaint page at oregon.gov/dentistry. You may choose to remain anonymous, but the Board asks that you provide enough information to allow follow-through on the complaint.

The Board does not have jurisdiction over: fees, personality conflicts, rude behavior, or the scheduling of appointments.

Confidentiality

Complaints filed with the Board are confidential and not subject to public disclosure. The fact that a complaint has been filed against any licensee is not public information. The Board is required by law to keep confidential, to the greatest extent possible, the identity of both the complainant and the respondent. ORS 676.165 and 676.175 specify that information gathered during the investigation and the investigative report are confidential and not subject to public disclosure — except that the Board may provide sufficient summary to the complainant to explain the action it took.

Investigative process

When a complaint is received, it is assigned a number and the complainant receives a letter acknowledging receipt. A staff investigator then contacts the licensee (the respondent), requests relevant patient records, and gathers statements from all parties. The Board uses expert consultants for complex or specialized matters.

Most case investigations are completed and the Board makes a determination within approximately 10 months after the initial complaint is received, though complex cases may take longer.

Outcomes

Dispositions can result in a finding of no violation, issuance of a warning (Letter of Concern), or a determination that disciplinary action is warranted. Approximately 18% of cases result in disciplinary action. No year is attributed to this figure on the source page.

Notices of Proposed Disciplinary Action and final disciplinary actions — including Orders, Consent Orders, Stipulated Agreements, and Emergency Suspensions — are public record and available upon request.

Oregon Dental Association

The Oregon Dental Association is dedicated to advancing the dental profession and promoting the highest standard of oral health and oral healthcare. Established in 1893, ODA is a voluntary membership organization for Oregon dentists that provides continuing education, advocacy, and other services for dentists and public information to promote good dental health.

ODA is comprised of 16 local dental societies throughout Oregon that provide continuing education and service programs in their local communities. The American Dental Association (ADA), based in Chicago, is ODA's parent organization and provides research, public information, and continuing education programs, representing dentistry through national legislative and regulatory efforts.

ODA programs and resources

• Advocacy — as the voice of Oregon's dentists, ODA advocates on behalf of the profession both in Salem and at the national level through ADA channels.
• ODA Dental Career Connect — the dental community's resource for connections and advancement, available to ODA members at oregondental.org.
• Oregon Dental Conference (ODC) — ODA's annual CE conference. The 2026 conference has concluded; the 2027 Oregon Dental Conference is scheduled for May 13–15.
• Early career dentist dues program — following the passage of Resolution BOT 1-25 at the 2025 Oregon House of Delegates, early-career dentists benefit from a new dues structure for state and local dues, designed to ease the financial transition from student to practitioner.

Dental Foundation of Oregon

The ODA's charitable arm, the Dental Foundation of Oregon (DFO), was founded in 1982 and is dedicated to advancing oral health education, providing charitable care, and coordinating resources for Oregon's children and vulnerable communities.

Disciplinary actions and license lookup

Oregon maintains public records of disciplinary actions taken against licensed dental professionals. The Board's complaint page specifies the following as public records: Notices of Proposed Disciplinary Action, and final disciplinary actions including Orders, Consent Orders, Stipulated Agreements, and Emergency Suspensions. These records are available upon request.

• Credential verifications — the OBD's Credential Verifications page at oregon.gov/dentistry/Pages/Credential-Verifications.aspx is the primary resource for verifying an Oregon dental license, including current status and credential type.
• Public records requests — disciplinary action documents and other Board records can be requested through the OBD's Public Records Request page at oregon.gov/dentistry.

The online portal at online.oregondentistry.org also reflects active licensee status. For consumers verifying a provider's license, the Board's Credential Verifications page is the most direct resource.

Other state dental boards