North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners

Welcome

The purpose of the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners is to ensure that the dental profession merit and receive the confidence of the public and that only qualified persons be permitted to practice dentistry and dental hygiene in the state of North Carolina. Click here for directions to our office.

Table of Contents

1. Notice of Rulemaking
2. Renew Online
3. Emergency Order for Dental Offices Impacted by Hurricane Helene
4. Notice of Emergency Meeting
5. Update to all General Anesthesia Permit Holders Regarding Office Inspections
6. Archive

Notice of Rulemaking

The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners will hold a Public Hearing to consider changes to its rules 21 NCAC 16B, 16C, 16H, 16I, 16Q, 16R and 16W. The hearing will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 6:30 pm. at the Board's offices: 2000 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 160, Morrisville, NC 27560. The public is invited to attend the meeting to make comments or comments may be submitted to Bobby White. To read the proposed rule(s) for publication in the North Carolina Register, click here.

Renew Online

The renewal period for 2025 is now open! The online renewal system is open from November 1 to March 31 each year. A $50 late penalty will be assessed to those renewing after January 31. Beginning February 1, 2025, we are transitioning to a new Licensing and Enforcement system. License renewal will be done online via the new system.

To access the Licensure Gateway, go to the License Renewal page.

Emergency Order for Dental Offices Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Take Notice

The NC State Board of Dental Examiners has issued the attached Order waiving certain facility requirements for dental offices reopening during the state of emergency following Hurricane Helene. In short, certain Board requirements addressing piped water and functioning toilets are waived in dental offices located within the FEMA designated disaster zone. Dentists are instead directed to consult and comply with North Carolina and federal agencies directives for the safe reopening of dental practices after disruption of a water source. Link to the Order: Emergency Order Hurricane Helene Oct 24.

Notice of Emergency Meeting

The NC State Board of Dental Examiners will conduct an emergency meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024. The purpose of the meeting will be to address possible waivers to rules in response to the State of Emergency created in North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Items to be addressed:

• Current sanitation rule 21 NCAC 16J .0101 - .0103 in light of damage to water systems in Western NC.
• Allowing practice in North Carolina by health care professionals that are licensed in other states, but not in North Carolina.
• Allowing students to provide care if they are at an appropriately advanced stage of professional study.
• Allowing retired or inactive health care professionals to provide care.
• Pathway through Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) for dentists and dental hygienists who may wish to provide dental services in the impacted area during the state of emergency.

The public may attend the meeting at the office of the NC State Board of Dental Examiners: 2000 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 160 Morrisville, NC 27560.

Update to all General Anesthesia Permit Holders Regarding Office Inspections

In 2019, at the direction of the State Auditor, the NC State Board of Dental Examiners began the process of implementing a general anesthesia/sedation office inspection program. The stated goal of the program was to ensure each dental office that offers anesthesia or sedation services is inspected at least once every five years. At the onset of the program, the NCSBDE agreed to accept the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (A.A.O.M.S.) inspection for general anesthesia permit holders in lieu of a Board inspection. The acceptance of the A.A.O.M.S. inspection was considered a temporary measure during the COVID-19 State of Emergency so that the Board could focus the program primarily on sedation permit holders who were not subject to on-going inspections by any agency.

Recently, the NCSBDE made the decision to start phasing out the acceptance of the A.A.O.M.S. inspection reports for general anesthesia permit holders and to start phasing in the NCSBDE inspections. This decision was made due to the passing of the COVID-19 State of Emergency and recent court rulings that prohibit state agencies from allowing private associations to fulfill state agency obligations. Therefore, please be advised that Inspector Rick Hetzel will be contacting General Anesthesia permit holders soon to start scheduling these inspections.

The purpose of these inspections is not to initiate disciplinary action, but to make certain all offices meet the training, equipment, and facility requirements of the appropriate rule, and to ensure any necessary corrective action is taken to protect the public.

Offices subject to inspections will receive advanced notice of the proposed inspection. Once an inspection date is agreed upon, a checklist of everything that will be subject to inspection will be provided. Again, this is a safety program that focuses on required equipment, training, and documentation. It will be conducted with as little disruption to your schedule as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Inspector Rick Hetzel at 828-578-4817 or by email at rhetzel@ncdentalboard.org. You may also contact Betty Sines at 919-459-1788 or by email at bsines@ncdentalboar.org.

Archive

Please find archived announcements here.