Utah Board of Dentistry
Find Utah dental board contact information, licensing requirements, continuing education, and how to file complaints against dentists.
Utah dental board & association
- Agency
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) — Dentistry
- Website
- https://commerce.utah.gov/dopl/dentistry/
- Phone
- (801) 530-6628
- License Verification
- Verify a dentist's license →
- File a Complaint
- File a complaint →
- Association
- Utah Dental Association
- Website
- https://www.uda.org
About the Utah Dental Licensing Board
Utah dental licensing is administered by the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) within the Utah Department of Commerce. The Utah Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board is advisory—it sets professional standards, reviews rules, and hears board matters—while DOPL manages day-to-day licensing operations including applications, renewals, and enforcement.
Bureau Manager: Lisa Martin — lmartin@utah.gov
Board Administrator: Brylee Vanderwarf — bvanderwarf@utah.gov
Recent Legislative Updates
- House Bill 372 created certification of Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliaries. DOPL and the Board are working on rules and application forms.
- The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) now requires a one-time 8-hour Medication Assisted Treatment (MATE) Training for all DEA-registered practitioners.
- HB 312 (effective July 1, 2023) requires all healthcare providers using a third-party medical records service to report this to DOPL.
Utah Dental Licensing
DOPL issues dental licenses under several categories. All license types are applied for through the DOPL online system at commerce.utah.gov/dopl/dentistry/apply-for-a-license/.
License Types
- Dentist — standard license for practicing dentistry in Utah
- Dental Hygienist — license for dental hygiene practice
- Dental Hygienist with Local Anesthesia — hygienist authorized to administer local anesthesia
- Dentist – Local Anesthesia Permit — permit for local anesthesia administration
- Dentist – Minimal Sedation, Moderate Sedation, Deep Sedation & General Anesthesia Permit — tiered sedation permits (separate permit for each level)
- Dentist Controlled Substance License — required for prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances
- Volunteer Dentist/Hygienist — license for qualified volunteers providing uncompensated care
To verify an existing Utah dental license, use the DOPL License Lookup (secure.utah.gov/llv).
How to Apply for a Utah Dental License
Utah dental license applications are submitted through My License One (utahdoc.mylicenseone.com), DOPL's online licensing portal. Log in with your UtahID; create one if you don't have one.
- Applications for each license type are available at commerce.utah.gov/dopl/dentistry/apply-for-a-license/
- Applicants with criminal history should review DOPL's Criminal History Guidelines and may request a preliminary determination
- Internationally trained applicants should review DOPL's internationally-trained applicant information
- Active duty military members and spouses may qualify for a fee waiver — contact DOPL at b9@utah.gov
License Fees and Renewal
Utah dental license renewals are due on May 31st of even years. The renewal fee is $73. Renewal requires:
- $73 renewal fee
- Current CPR/BLS certification
- Continuing education hours as outlined in Utah Administrative Rule R156-69-304a
Controlled Substance License Renewal
The Controlled Substance (CS) license renews at the same time as the main dental license and requires:
- $78 renewal fee
- 2 hours of controlled substance prescribing-specific continuing education (Utah Code 58-37-6.5)
How to Renew
- Log in to My License One using your UtahID
- In the "Existing License/Registration Holders" section, find your license and click the three dots under "Actions" to start renewal
- A receipt will be emailed within 2 business days; your renewed license will be emailed within 1–3 business days after approval
Continuing Education Requirements
Utah dentist license renewal requires 30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, as outlined in Utah Administrative Rule R156-69-304a. Additionally, current CPR/BLS certification is required.
CE Requirements by Permit Type
| Permit / License | CE Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dentist (base) | 30 hours per R156-69-304a |
| Minimal Sedation Permit | 30 hours, including at least 2 hours specific to enteral anesthesia-pharmacology and minimal sedation |
| Moderate Sedation Permit | 30 hours, including at least 4 didactic hours specific to moderate sedation/anesthesia + completion of at least 10 sedation cases |
| Deep Sedation & General Anesthesia Permit | 30 hours, including at least 8 didactic hours specific to general anesthesia + completion of at least 30 sedation cases |
| Controlled Substance License | 2 hours of CS prescribing-specific CE (Utah Code 58-37-6.5) |
Scope of Dental Practice in Utah
Utah dental scope of practice is governed by Title 58, Chapter 69 of the Utah Code and administered by DOPL under the Utah Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board. Practice is organized into license and permit tiers:
Dentist Scope Tiers
- General dentist license — full scope of diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the teeth, jaws, and supporting structures
- Local Anesthesia Permit (Class A) — authorized for dentists to administer local anesthetics
- Sedation Permits (Class B–E) — Minimal Sedation through General Anesthesia/Deep Sedation; each level requires a separate permit with specific training and case requirements
- Controlled Substance License — required for prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances
Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliaries (HB 372)
House Bill 372 (2025 session) created certification for Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliaries (EFDA). DOPL and the Board are developing rules and application forms. Utah dentists and auxiliaries should monitor DOPL announcements for implementation details.
DEA and Controlled Substances
DEA-registered practitioners must complete a one-time 8-hour MATE Training (Medication Assisted Treatment). The UDA maintains a list of DOPL-approved CE courses covering opioid prescribing requirements at uda.org.
Filing a Complaint Against a Utah Dentist
Complaints against Utah-licensed dental professionals are handled by DOPL's Investigations division. DOPL investigates complaints of unprofessional conduct or violations of licensing laws.
- File a Complaint with DOPL
- Review the Investigations FAQ and the Investigation Flow Chart (under General Information) to understand the process
- License Probation and Compliance — information on licensees under monitoring
- Disciplinary Actions and Citations database — searchable record of DOPL disciplinary actions
- Disciplinary Newsletters — periodic summaries of DOPL enforcement actions
Utah Dental Association
The Utah Dental Association (UDA) is the state component of the American Dental Association (ADA), representing dentists across Utah. The UDA advocates for dentist-led dental care, promotes oral health, and provides member benefits, CE, and networking opportunities.
- 2026 UDA Convention — annual gathering of Utah dental professionals; see uda.org for dates and registration
- 2026 UDA Spring Seminar — additional CE and networking event
- DOPL-approved CE courses for mandatory opioid abuse CE requirements — available through the UDA CE Course Library
- Radiology course for assistants and other online CE options
- ADA Member Advantage endorsed programs (Best Card, KeyBank, GE Appliances, CareCredit, Compliancy Group, Mercedes-Benz, Panacea Financial, and more)
- UDPAC (Utah Dental Political Action Committee) for state-level dental advocacy
Visit uda.org for membership information, CE registration, and advocacy updates.
Disciplinary Actions and License Verification
Utah DOPL maintains publicly accessible disciplinary records for all licensed professionals, including dentists:
- DOPL License Lookup (LLV) — verify any Utah dental license status, type, and expiration date
- Disciplinary Actions and Citations database — searchable record of DOPL enforcement actions against licensees
- Disciplinary Newsletters — periodic publication summarizing recent enforcement actions across all DOPL-regulated professions
- Probation and Compliance — information about licensees currently under DOPL monitoring or restrictions