Tennessee Board of Dentistry

Tennessee Board of Dentistry

State dental boards regulate the licensure and professional conduct of dentists and related oral health professionals. Each board sets minimum competency standards for entry into practice, processes license applications and renewals, investigates complaints, and initiates disciplinary proceedings when warranted — functioning as the primary public-protection authority for the dental professions within their jurisdiction.

Tennessee's dental licensing authority — the Tennessee Board of Dentistry — operates within the Tennessee Department of Health. The Board administers credentials for oral health professionals practicing in the state and maintains ongoing regulatory oversight of their professional conduct.

License types in Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Dentistry issues credentials in three categories. The state's official Tennessee Licensure Verification portal provides the authoritative record of all active licenses, updated daily.

License types

• Dentist — required for all individuals practicing dentistry in Tennessee, including general dentists and specialists across all recognized dental specialties.
• Dental Hygienist — required for individuals providing dental hygiene services under the supervision structure established by Board rules.
• Dental Assistant — covers dental assistants whose permitted duties and supervision requirements are defined by Board regulation.

Each credential carries its own education, examination, and renewal requirements. Applicants should review the Board's current criteria for their specific license type before beginning an application through LARS (License Application and Registration System) at lars.tn.gov.

Applying for a Tennessee dental license

Tennessee processes dental license applications through LARS — the License Application and Registration System — at lars.tn.gov. Applicants create an account in LARS to initiate a credential request, upload required documentation, and track application status through the review process.

Dental licensing applications typically require evidence of passing scores on national and regional board examinations, proof of graduation from an accredited dental or dental hygiene program, and any required background check materials. Specific requirements vary by license type and are published by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry.

Fees and license renewal

Tennessee dental licenses are subject to periodic renewal. License holders are responsible for renewing on time and should maintain current contact information with the Board to receive renewal notices. Late renewals may incur additional fees or require a reinstatement process.

Renewal requirements typically include payment of the applicable renewal fee and completion of any mandatory continuing education hours set by the Board. The renewal cycle and fee schedule are published by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry and are subject to change by rule.

Continuing education requirements

Tennessee requires licensed dental professionals to complete continuing education (CE) as a condition of license renewal. CE requirements are designed to keep practitioners current with evolving clinical standards, infection control protocols, and regulatory developments affecting the dental professions.

The Tennessee Board of Dentistry sets the required CE hours, approved subject areas, and acceptable course formats for each license type. Requirements may differ for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. Courses must come from Board-approved providers or otherwise meet the standards established by the Board's rules.

Scope of practice

Each dental credential in Tennessee carries a defined scope of practice that establishes what procedures a license holder may legally perform and under what supervision conditions. Scope boundaries protect patients by ensuring that procedures are carried out only by appropriately trained and credentialed individuals.

Dentists hold authority to perform the full range of dental procedures authorized under their training and the Board's rules. Dental hygienists work within a scope defined by Board regulations, typically providing preventive and periodontal services under dentist supervision. Dental assistants perform supportive chairside and administrative functions as defined by Board rules, with supervision requirements that vary by the type of task performed.

Filing a complaint

The Tennessee Board of Dentistry investigates complaints alleging violations of dental practice laws and Board rules. Complaints may concern substandard care, unprofessional conduct, unlicensed practice, billing fraud, or other regulatory violations by licensed dental professionals.

Complaints are submitted to the Tennessee Department of Health, which houses the Board. Once received, Board staff review the matter and may conduct a formal investigation, request patient records, and convene a hearing if evidence supports it. Substantiated violations can result in sanctions including license suspension, revocation, probation, or civil penalties.

Tennessee Dental Association

The Tennessee Dental Association (TDA) is the professional membership organization for Tennessee dentists. Founded to advance the art and science of dentistry and improve oral health across the state, the TDA serves its members through advocacy, education, and community-focused programs.

Member benefits and programs

• Advocacy — the TDA represents the dental profession in Tennessee's legislative and regulatory processes, working to ensure that policy decisions reflect professional standards and the public's oral health interests.
• Professional growth — members have access to publications, practice management resources, and networking opportunities that support career development throughout a dentist's tenure in the profession.
• Continuing education — the TDA offers CE courses and events designed to help members fulfill renewal requirements while staying current on clinical advances.
• Community programs — TDA members participate in outreach and volunteer initiatives that extend dental care access to underserved Tennesseans.

Music City Dental Conference

The TDA's signature annual gathering, the Music City Dental Conference, convenes Tennessee dental professionals for continuing education, product exhibitions, and peer networking. The conference is scheduled to return in 2027.

Disciplinary actions and license verification

Disciplinary records for Tennessee dental licensees are publicly accessible through the state's online license verification system. When the Tennessee Board of Dentistry takes formal action against a licensee — including license suspension, revocation, probation, or reprimand — that action is reflected in the licensee's publicly visible profile.

The Tennessee Licensure Verification portal maintains records updated daily, giving patients and employers a reliable way to confirm both the current status of a license and any disciplinary history attached to it.

How to look up disciplinary records

• Visit the Tennessee Licensure Verification portal.
• Search by the dental professional's name, license number, or license type (Dentist, Dental Hygienist, or Dental Assistant).
• Review the license profile for current active status and any disciplinary actions on record.

Other state dental boards