Texas Board of Dentistry

About the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners performs four core functions that define its relationship with the public and the profession:

• Evaluating and issuing licenses to qualified dentists, dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, and dental laboratories
• Investigating complaints filed by patients and others against licensed practitioners within its jurisdiction
• Conducting disciplinary proceedings and imposing sanctions on licensees who violate Texas dental practice rules
• Providing peer assistance programs and related information services to licensees and their patients

The board's stated mission is to protect the public health and safety and promote high quality and safe dental care through enforcement, licensing, peer assistance, and related information services. The TSBDE has jurisdiction over licensed dentists, dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, and dental laboratories practicing in Texas.

One important boundary on the board's authority: the TSBDE does not have jurisdiction over fee disputes between patients and dental providers. Patients seeking resolution of billing disagreements are directed to consult a legal professional or appropriate consumer protection resources.

License management — including new applications and renewals — is handled through the State of Texas Licensing System (vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov). The board can be reached at its Austin office: 1801 Congress Ave., Suite 8.600, Austin, TX 78701.

Texas dental license types

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners licenses and regulates the following dental professional categories in Texas:

• Dentist — general practice license for qualified graduates who have met Texas education, examination, and background requirements.
• Dental hygienist — license for preventive and clinical hygiene services; separate licensing track from the dentist license.
• Registered Dental Assistant — Texas's licensed dental assistant credential, recognized under board jurisdiction.
• Dental laboratory — the TSBDE regulates dental laboratories in addition to individual practitioners.
• Anesthesia permits — dentists who administer anesthesia or sedation must hold an active Texas Dental License before applying for an anesthesia permit. The anesthesia permit is a separate, additional credential.

The board also administers a peer assistance program for licensees — a resource for practitioners addressing substance use or behavioral health concerns as an adjunct to or alternative from disciplinary action in appropriate circumstances.

Applying for a Texas dental license

Texas dentist license applications are submitted by mail to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Once a complete package is received, allow approximately 4–6 weeks for processing. Any identified deficiencies are communicated by email to the address on the application.

Required documentation

• One 2×2 passport photo
• Copy of driver's license, naturalization papers, or passport
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification, including hands-on skills demonstration
• Official sealed transcript from a CODA-accredited dental school
• National Boards Parts I and II or INBDE scores (electronically validated by TSBDE)
• Clinical examination results — TSBDE currently validates scores from ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA
• TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment for dentists without sedation (dated within one year prior to submission)
• National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query (valid for 60 days; original sealed envelope required)
• American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) self-query report
• HHS-approved Human Trafficking Prevention course certificate (required effective October 1, 2021)
• Proof of practice (cannot be completed by the applicant)

All documents issued in a foreign language must be translated to English. Name changes since any licensing exam or out-of-state licensure require supporting documentation.

Licensure by credentials

Texas offers a licensure pathway for dentists already licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or a US territory, provided that licensure followed successful completion of a general dentistry clinical examination from another state or regional examining board. Additional requirements for the credentials pathway include:

• Active license in good standing in another jurisdiction
• Practiced dentistry for a minimum of three of the five years immediately preceding application — or as a dental educator at a CODA-accredited dental school for the five years immediately preceding application
• Completion of 12 hours of CE taken within the preceding 12 months (at least 8 hours technical/scientific, up to 4 hours risk management, up to 4 hours self-study)

After approval: activating your license

When a Texas dentist license is first issued, its status is Expired. To activate it and begin practice, you must complete the initial renewal process by paying a prorated activation fee through the State of Texas Licensing System (vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov). Your first license may be valid for 18–30 months. A renewal postcard reminder is mailed to the address on file.

Fees and license renewal

Texas dental boards set licensing fees through formal rule-making processes, and those fees fund board operations. License renewal for Texas dental practitioners is handled through the State of Texas Licensing System (vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov).

For newly licensed dentists, an initial renewal ("activation") process is required after the license is first issued. Until the activation fee is paid online, the license status remains Expired. After activation, subsequent renewals follow the board's standard renewal cycle. A renewal postcard reminder is mailed to the address on file with the board.

Continuing education requirements

Continuing education is required for dental license renewal in Texas. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners sets the required hour count, accepted subject areas, and approved provider standards through its rules governing CE (Chapter 104 of TSBDE Rules).

CE subject areas for Texas dental licensees typically include clinical practice updates, infection control, and risk management. Texas requires completion of a Human Trafficking Prevention course as part of the application process (effective October 1, 2021); check with the board whether this training also counts toward CE renewal credit.

For dentists applying by licensure by credentials, a specific 12-hour CE requirement applies to the application itself (12 hours taken within the preceding 12 months, with at least 8 technical/scientific hours). This is the credentials application CE requirement — the standard renewal CE requirement is documented separately at tsbde.texas.gov.

Scope of practice in Texas

Scope of practice for dental professionals in Texas is defined by the state dental practice act and the TSBDE's rules. The board's jurisdiction covers four practitioner/entity categories, which aligns with its licensing scope: dentists, dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, and dental laboratories.

Within each category, scope of practice — what procedures each practitioner may perform, under what level of supervision, and in what settings — is detailed in the dental practice act and the board's rules. Supervision requirements for dental hygienists and registered dental assistants differ from each other, and from the dentist's independent practice scope.

The TSBDE also regulates anesthesia and sedation in dental settings: dentists who administer general anesthesia or sedation must hold an active Texas Dental License and a separate anesthesia permit before providing those services.

Filing a complaint in Texas

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners investigates complaints alleging quality of care problems, sanitation violations, professional conduct issues, patient abandonment, and failure to comply with TSBDE rules. The TSBDE also assists local law enforcement with investigations of unlicensed practice. The board does not have jurisdiction over fee disputes.

Submitting a complaint

All complaints must be submitted on the official TSBDE Complaint Form (downloadable from tsbde.texas.gov/complaints). Anonymous complaints are not accepted. Complaints may be submitted in three ways:

• By email — complaints@tsbde.texas.gov
• By fax — 512-649-2732
• By mail — Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, Attn: Investigations Division, 1801 Congress Ave., Suite 8.600, Austin, TX 78701

What to expect after filing

Once received, the complaint is reviewed to determine whether it falls within the TSBDE's jurisdiction and whether sufficient information is available to open an investigation. Accurate and complete information on the complaint form expedites this intake review. After that, the board's investigators gather information from all parties and make a recommendation for board disposition.

Complainants are notified in writing of case status at least quarterly, and again when final action is taken. The board may order limited restitution — restricted to actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred during treatment — only where treatment fell below the standard of care. Complainants seeking other forms of damages should consult a private legal professional.

Texas Dental Association

The Texas Dental Association (TDA) is the statewide professional membership organization for Texas dentists, representing more than 9,200 members through 26 local component dental societies grouped into four geographic divisions across the state. The TDA is part of the tripartite membership structure that includes the American Dental Association at the national level and component societies at the local level.

TDA connects dentists with each other, with patients, and with career resources. The association provides practice management support, advocacy on legislative and regulatory matters affecting Texas dental practice, and access to national ADA resources for members at all career stages.

Membership in organized dentistry through the TDA and its component societies gives practitioners a voice in statewide advocacy efforts and access to continuing education, peer networks, and mental health support resources. The TDA's member center offers news, event listings, and professional development programming throughout the year.

Disciplinary records and license verification

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners maintains a public license verification system that also surfaces disciplinary history. The board certifies its public license search as a secure, primary source for license verification and performs daily updates to keep information current.

How to look up disciplinary records

Two tools are available for license and disciplinary searches:

• TSBDE Public License Search (ls.tsbde.texas.gov) — search by name or license number; displays current license status and any public actions taken by the board. All disciplinary actions and remedial plans are searchable through this tool.
• State of Texas Licensing System (vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov) — the broader state licensing portal that also carries TSBDE licensee data.

The board's data is managed solely by TSBDE employees; website visitors cannot edit or modify the information. Employers, credentialing organizations, and patients can use the public search to verify a practitioner's current license status and check for any public board actions on record.

Other state dental boards