A. No person shall practice dentistry or dental hygiene without first applying for and obtaining a license from the Board of Dentistry.
B. Application shall be made to the Board in writing and shall be accompanied by the fee established by the rules of the Board, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant:
1. Is of good moral character;
2. Is twenty-one (21) years of age, or over, at the time of making application to practice dentistry or eighteen (18) years of age, or over, if the applicant is to practice dental hygiene;
3. Has passed a written theoretical examination and a clinical examination approved by the Board; and
4. Has passed a written jurisprudence examination over the rules and laws affecting dentistry in this state.
C. An application from a candidate who desires to secure a license from the Board to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in this state shall be accompanied by satisfactory proof that the applicant:
1. Is a graduate of an accredited dental college, if the applicant is to practice dentistry;
2. Is a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene program, if the applicant is to practice dental hygiene; and
3. Has passed all portions of the National Board Dental Examination or the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
D. Pursuant to Section 328.15 of this title, the Board may affiliate as a member state, and accept regional exams from the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), or the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) if the following requirements are included:
1. For dental licensing the following components:
2. For dental hygienists licensing the following components:
E. When the applicant and the accompanying proof are found satisfactory, the Board shall notify the applicant to appear for the jurisprudence examination at the time and place to be fixed by the Board. A dental student or a dental hygiene student in their last semester of a dental or dental hygiene program, having met all other requirements, may make application and take the jurisprudence examination with a letter from the dean of the dental school or director of the hygiene program stating that the applicant is a candidate for graduation within the next six (6) months.
F. The Board shall require every applicant for a license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene to submit, for the files of the Board, a copy of a dental degree or dental hygiene degree, an official transcript, a recent photograph duly identified and attested, and any other information as required by the Board.
G. Any applicant who fails to pass the jurisprudence examination may apply for a second examination, in which case the applicant shall pay a reexamination fee as established by the statutes or rules of the State Dental Act.
H. A dentist or dental hygienist currently licensed in another state having met the qualifications in paragraphs 1 through 3 of subsections B and C of this section may apply for a license by credentials upon meeting the following:
1. A dentist holding a general dentist license in good standing and having practiced for at least five hundred (500) hours within the previous five (5) years immediately prior to application and having passed a regional examination substantially equivalent to the requirements for this state may apply for licensure by credentials;
2. A dental hygienist holding a dental hygiene license in good standing and having practiced for at least four hundred twenty (420) hours within the previous five (5) years immediately prior to application and having passed a regional examination substantially equivalent to the requirements for Oklahoma may apply for licensure by credentials. Applicants for credentialing must include:
3. An applicant applying for a dental or dental hygiene license by credentials shall only be required to pass the jurisprudence portion of the examination requirements as set forth in paragraph 4 of subsection B of this section; or
4. A dental hygienist applying for credentialing for advanced procedures by providing proof of passage of the advanced procedure in a CDCA, WREB or CRDTS exam.
I. There shall be two types of advanced procedure available for dental hygienists upon completion of a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) approved program or course that has been approved by the Board:
1. Administration of nitrous oxide; and
2. Administration of local anesthesia.
J. All licensees and permit holders shall display their current permit or license in a visible place within the dental office or treatment facility.
K. The Board shall have the authority to temporarily change requirements of an examination due to availability or changes in the examination format, not to exceed one (1) year.
L. During a year in which governmental officials have declared a health pandemic, a state or federal disaster, or other natural or man-made disaster, the Board shall have the authority through a resolution to change or make allowances in requirements of all candidates for licensure and issue temporary licenses for extended periods of time or as needed until the event passes. The resolution shall have a beginning and an end date and shall automatically expire no less than thirty (30) days after the end of the disaster is declared by governmental officials.
Added by Laws 1970, c. 173, § 21, eff. July 1, 1970. Amended by Laws 1981, c. 216, § 2; Laws 1999, c. 280, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 172, § 5, emerg. eff. May 5, 2003; Laws 2013, c. 405, § 5, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2015, c. 229, § 7, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 397, § 3; Laws 2021, c. 566, § 2, emerg. eff. May 28, 2021.