Our Mission
The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners was established by the Legislature in 1887 to help protect the interest of Arkansas citizens. The Board is authorized by statute to license dentists and dental hygienists by examination or credentials. The Board issues specialty licenses to dentists who have post-graduate training and successfully complete an examination. The Board registers dental corporations. The Board issues permits to dental assistants who have qualified for expanded duties. It issues anesthesia permits to dentists who have special training and wish to use general anesthesia or conscious sedation in their offices. It issues local anesthesia permits to dental hygienists who have special training that meets Board criteria.
The Board by rule and regulation prescribes those acts, services, procedures, and practices which define the practice of dentistry and those acts, services, procedures, and practices that can be performed by dental hygienists and dental assistants.
The Board disciplines its licensees and permit holders if there has been a violation of the Dental Practice Act, the Dental Corporation Act, or the Board’s Rules and Regulations.
The Board is entirely self-supporting. Application fees, renewal fees, permit fees, disciplinary fines, and penalties fund the work of the Board.
Board Members
- Robert Carlisle, DDS, President – Benton
- Cara Jones, DDS, Vice-President – Little Rock
- Jeffrey Wisener, DDS, Secretary/Treasurer – Rogers
- David Keith Jones, DDS – Pine Bluff
- Dwight Duckworth, DDS – Springdale
- Allen Williams, DDS – Scott
- Marcia Cook – Sherwood
Staff
- Meredith Rogers, Executive Director
- Corneshia Harrison, Administrative Analyst
Board History
The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners was created by act 144 of 1887 and has been in continuous existence since that time. Currently, Act 14 of 1955, known as the Dental Practice Act, governs Board operations. The Board regulates the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental assisting, by examining applicants for competency and issuing licenses to candidates meeting the requirements of the State and the Board.
The Board is also vested with the power to revoke or suspend the privilege of practicing professionally under any license or permit issued by it; it may place a licensee or permittee on probation, may impose a fine, or a combination of these sanctions; it has the authority to promulgate Rules and Regulations governing the practice of dentistry; it may conduct disciplinary hearings under the Administrative Procedures Act.
The Board is composed of six practicing dentists, one practicing dental hygienist, and two consumer representatives; one represents the senior citizens of the State. Members are appointed by the Governor for five year terms; officers are elected annually.
The Board meets eight or more times a year and conducts disciplinary hearings in conjunction with those meetings.
More than 5,000 individuals hold a current license or permit issued by the Board of Dental Examiners.
Board Information
Resources & Links
- Renew your dental/dental hygiene license
- Renew your registered dental assisting permit
- Applications
- Application Fees
- Complaint Form
- Dental Practice Act (last updated January 2023)
- Enter Your Continuing Education Hours
- FAQs
- Licensure (Dentists)
- Licensure (Assistants)
- Licensure (Hygienists)
- License Verification (dental license, hygiene license, and dental assisting permit)
Upcoming Board Meetings:
The following meetings will be held at 9am in Main Street Mall (101 E. Capitol Avenue, Little Rock AR 72201) in the Cox Conference Room on the basement level:
- November 8, 2024
- January 10, 2025
- March 7, 2025
- May 2, 2025
- June 6, 2025
Minutes:
