Healthy Communities

Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners

Military Licensure

 

**New Fees Begin July 1, 2023

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 Location
Dwight Duckworth, DDS, President Springdale
Robert Carlisle, DDS, Vice President Benton
Cara Jones, DDS, Secretary/Treasurer Little Rock
Jeffrey Wisener, DDS Rogers
Charles Garrett Taylor, DDS Pine Bluff
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

Board meetings are open to the public and are held in the Main Street Mall building on the corner of 6th and Main Streets in downtown Little Rock. The meetings begin at 8:30 am. The public is welcome. View the calendar for a complete list of upcoming board meetings.

Resources & Links

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:

Minutes:

Office Address Phone
Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners 101 East Capitol Ave.
Suite 111
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-682-2085

Public Health Accrediation Board
Arkansas Department of Health
© 2017 Arkansas Department of Health. All Rights Reserved. www.healthy.arkansas.gov
4815 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205-3867
1-800-462-0599