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.

The Board employs an executive director and three other employees. The Board participates in the Southern Regional Testing Agency with five other states; this agency administers clinical examinations to dentists and dental hygienists. The Board members who are dentists and the dental hygienist Board member participate with other professional examiners at sixteen examinations each year. The Board also holds individual examinations for applicants in the dental specialty fields.

More than 5,000 individuals hold a current license or permit issued by the Board of Dental Examiners.