Find your state's board of dentistry website

Navigating the Internet in search of government information can often be difficult. Usually the state board of dental examiners will make it easy to find the pertinent information you need, but there are a couple of other Internet resources that can also be of help in your search. Also, if you are thinking about relocating your practice to another state, it would be wise to check out the requirements of the other state dental licensing board before making any final decisions.

I recommend: Look at lists of state dental licensing boards throughout the country. Dental Watch, a website run by two dentists, offers links to all of the state dentist licensing boards. A more official source of information is the American Association of Dental Examiners which has a map with links to the state licensing boards for dentists, as well as contact details for their administrators and the attorneys for each individual board of dentistry.

Be familiar with the requirements of the state dental licensing boards in which you practice

Some states are rigorously regulated by their dental licensing boards while others may have less demanding regulations. To protect your license, and the licenses of your staff, know what your state requires, and what kind of support they offer dentists and other dental professionals to meet their requirements.

I recommend: Every state board of dental examiners differs in how they present information to their affiliates. For example, the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners not only has all of their forms online in an interactive format, they also have handy links to legislation and news of interest to dentists, in addition to providing the ability to translate their web page into eight different languages. Whereas, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration website has less information, but it does provide all of the necessary forms needed for dentists to renew a license or to report continuing education credits.

Make sure hygienists are properly licensed by their state's dental hygiene licensing board

Be sure to know if your dental hygienists also need to be licensed so as not to jeopardize your practice. Most licensing information for hygienists can be found in the same place as the dental licensing board for your state. Specifically, look for a section of links to associated professions on the board of dentistry web page.

I recommend: If you have difficulty finding what you are looking for, check out the American Dental Hygienists' Association website to see if your state even has a dental hygiene licensing board, and to see what educational opportunities and support are available to your staff. If your hygienist happens to need further education, the American Dental Association provides a national board exam.