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Virginia Board of Dentistry

Find Virginia dental board contact information, licensing requirements, continuing education, and how to file complaints against dentists.

Information verified May 2026

Virginia dental board & association

Agency
Virginia Board of Dentistry
Website
https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/
License Verification
Verify a dentist's license →
File a Complaint
File a complaint →
Association
Virginia Dental Association
Website
https://www.vadental.org

About the Virginia Board of Dentistry

The Virginia Board of Dentistry is housed within the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP). The Board consists of a 10-member Board, along with administrative, enforcement, licensing, and support staff. DHP regulates health professionals across many disciplines to protect the public's health and safety.

The Board regulates a broad range of dental credential types and holds authority to license, discipline, and set practice standards for dental professionals practicing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Scam alert The Virginia Board of Dentistry has learned of scammers attempting to defraud licensees by posing as Department of Health Professions investigators and/or the Executive Director. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to be from DHP, contact the Board directly at denbd@dhp.virginia.gov to verify its legitimacy before taking any action.
New law — effective July 1, 2026 Virginia's HB 1036 and SB 282, which permit the Board of Dentistry to license dental hygienists who were eligible to practice dentistry outside the United States, are enrolled and set to become law effective July 1, 2026.

License types issued by the Board

The Virginia Board of Dentistry issues licenses, permits, registrations, and certifications for the following credential types:

  • Dentist
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Dental Assistant II
  • Dental Faculty and Dental Hygienist Faculty
  • Dental Temporary Permit and Dental Hygienist Temporary Permit
  • Restricted Volunteer
  • Dentist Volunteer
  • Dentist-Temporary Resident
  • Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon
  • Cosmetic Procedure Certification
  • Mobile Dental Facility / Portable Dental Operation Registration
  • Moderate Sedation Permit
  • Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia Permit

Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia law (HB 1036/SB 282) will permit the Board to license dental hygienists who were eligible to practice dentistry outside the United States, creating a new pathway for internationally trained dental professionals.

Tip Applications for new licenses, out-of-state practitioners, and license reinstatements are available at dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/ApplicantResources/Applyforalicense/.

Applying for a Virginia dental license

Virginia dental license applications are processed through the Department of Health Professions. The DHP's applicant resources page provides applications for recent graduates, professionals licensed outside Virginia, and those seeking to reinstate a license:

dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/ApplicantResources/Applyforalicense/

Licensed practitioners can renew their Virginia dental license online at dhp.virginia.gov/PractitionerResources/RenewOnline/.

The Virginia interactive license lookup at dhp.virginiainteractive.org/Lookup/Index serves as primary source verification of the credential issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and meets the requirements of the Joint Commission.

Laws and regulations Laws and regulations of the Virginia Board of Dentistry are available at dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/LawsRegulations/.

Fees and license renewal

Virginia dental license fees and renewal periods are administered by the Department of Health Professions. Licensed practitioners renew their credentials online at dhp.virginia.gov/PractitionerResources/RenewOnline/.

Verify current fees Current fee schedules for initial applications and license renewals are maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Professions. For current amounts, visit the Board's page at dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/ or contact the Board at denbd@dhp.virginia.gov.

Continuing education requirements

Virginia dental licensees are subject to continuing education requirements as a condition of license renewal. The Board of Dentistry's rules define the required hours, approved course categories, and documentation standards for compliance.

Verify CE requirements Current continuing education requirements for Virginia dental licenses are available at dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/ContinuingEducation/. For credential-specific requirements, contact the Board at denbd@dhp.virginia.gov.

Scope of practice

The Virginia Board of Dentistry regulates a broad range of dental practice activities through its licensing authority. Notable scope-defining credentials include:

  • Dental Assistant II — expanded function dental assisting credential
  • Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon — specialist registration beyond general dentist licensure
  • Cosmetic Procedure Certification — for practitioners performing cosmetic procedures within the scope of dental practice
  • Mobile Dental Facility / Portable Dental Operation Registration — for practitioners providing dental services in mobile or portable settings
  • Moderate Sedation Permit and Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia Permit — required for the administration of sedation beyond nitrous oxide
  • Restricted Volunteer and Dentist Volunteer credentials — for practitioners providing volunteer dental care

Current laws and regulations governing scope of practice are available at dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/LawsRegulations/.

New pathway — effective July 1, 2026 HB 1036 and SB 282 create a new pathway for internationally trained dentists to become licensed dental hygienists in Virginia. The law is enrolled and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Filing a complaint

The Virginia Department of Health Professions investigates complaints about healthcare practitioners who may have violated a regulation or law. This includes dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other credential holders regulated by the Virginia Board of Dentistry.

To file a complaint, use the DHP's online intake form at dhp.virginia.gov/Complaints/. The intake form asks whether your complaint is against an individual healthcare practitioner regulated by DHP or involves the unlicensed practice of a DHP-regulated profession.

Verify current complaint process For the most current instructions on filing a complaint against a Virginia dental professional, visit dhp.virginia.gov/PractitionerResources/Enforcement/ or contact the Board at denbd@dhp.virginia.gov.

Virginia Dental Association

The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) is the professional membership organization for Virginia dentists, affiliated with the American Dental Association. VDA serves members through advocacy, continuing education, member benefits, and resources for dental practice.

Notable VDA member resources include:

  • DIG Tracker: A tool for submitting dental insurance grievances at vadental.org/DIG_Tracker
  • VDA Showcase: VDA's premier annual continuing education event for dental professionals in Virginia
  • The Fulcrum Podcast: Real conversations for Virginia dental professionals
  • VDA Affiliate Membership: Introduced in May 2026 to expand VDA's membership options
  • Virginia Dental Journal: Available at commons.ada.org/vadentaljournal/

VDA tracks legislation affecting dental practice in Virginia and provides members with a 2026 General Assembly recap. More information is available at vadental.org.

Disciplinary actions and license verification

License status and disciplinary history for Virginia dental professionals can be searched through the DHP's interactive license lookup at dhp.virginiainteractive.org/Lookup/Index. The database includes current (unexpired) licensee records as well as records of licensees whose license expired since January 1, 2000.

This lookup serves as primary source verification of the credential issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and meets the requirements of the Joint Commission. Search options include:

  • License number
  • Last four digits of Social Security Number plus last name
  • Occupation type, name, state, zip code, or license status — individually or in combination

Occupation types available in the lookup include Dentist, Dental Hygienist, Dental Assistant II, Dental Faculty, Dental Hygienist Faculty, Restricted Volunteer, Temporary Permit holders, Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon Registration, Cosmetic Procedure Certification, Mobile Dental Facility, and sedation permit holders.

Frequently asked questions

The Virginia Board of Dentistry is a 10-member regulatory board housed within the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP). The Board licenses and regulates a broad range of dental credential types, from dentists and dental hygienists to sedation permits, mobile dental facility registrations, and cosmetic procedure certifications.

The Virginia Board of Dentistry issues licenses, permits, registrations, and certifications for: Dentist, Dental Hygienist, Dental Assistant II, Dental Faculty, Dental Hygienist Faculty, Temporary Permits for dentists and hygienists, Restricted Volunteer and Dentist Volunteer credentials, Dentist-Temporary Resident, Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon registration, Cosmetic Procedure Certification, Mobile Dental Facility/Portable Dental Operation Registration, Moderate Sedation Permit, and Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia Permit.

Virginia HB 1036 and SB 282, which permit the Virginia Board of Dentistry to license dental hygienists who were eligible to practice dentistry outside the United States, are enrolled and set to become law effective July 1, 2026. This creates a new pathway for internationally trained dental professionals to become licensed dental hygienists in Virginia.

Virginia dental license verification is available at dhp.virginiainteractive.org/Lookup/Index. The lookup covers current licenses and records of expired licenses since January 1, 2000. You can search by license number, last four digits of SSN plus last name, or by occupation type, name, location, or license status. This database meets Joint Commission primary source verification requirements.

The Virginia Department of Health Professions investigates complaints about licensed healthcare practitioners, including those regulated by the Board of Dentistry. File a complaint through DHP's online intake form at dhp.virginia.gov/Complaints/ or through the enforcement page at dhp.virginia.gov/PractitionerResources/Enforcement/. You can also contact the Board directly at denbd@dhp.virginia.gov.

The Virginia Board of Dentistry has learned of scammers posing as Department of Health Professions investigators or the Executive Director. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to be from DHP or the Board, do not provide personal information. Contact the Board directly at denbd@dhp.virginia.gov to verify whether the communication is legitimate.

Other state dental boards

Vermont
Vermont Board of Dental Examiners / OPR
Utah
Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) — Dentistry
Washington
Washington Dental Quality Assurance Commission
West Virginia
West Virginia Board of Dentistry

How to file a dental complaint →

Step-by-step guide to filing a complaint against a dentist or dental hygienist.

Verify a dental license →

Find out how to check whether a dentist or hygienist holds a valid, active license.