To run an Arizona dental board license lookup, go to dentalboard.az.gov and click the link labeled “Search for a Dental Professional.” The free public portal pulls directly from the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners (ASBDE) records and shows each provider’s license type, current status, expiration date, and any formal disciplinary history. It takes about two minutes and needs no account.
The ASBDE is the only agency in Arizona authorized to license and discipline dental professionals, so skip third-party directories. They cannot guarantee real-time accuracy. The Board’s portal is available around the clock. If you later need a certified verification letter for an employer or another state board, that service carries a fee; the online lookup does not.
How to Run the Search
You have two ways in. If you already have the provider’s license number, enter it directly for the fastest result. Otherwise, search by last name, spelled exactly as it appears on any paperwork the office gave you. Even a one-letter difference can return an empty result.
The results page lists everyone matching your criteria with their name, license number, and license type. Click the correct person to open the full profile. That profile is where the useful information sits: current status, expiration date, license type, and any disciplinary actions or nondisciplinary orders on file. Screenshot or print it if you want a record.
The portal covers dentists (DDS or DMD), dental hygienists (RDH), dental therapists, and denturists. It also lists registered dental business entities, so you can check whether the practice itself is properly registered, not just the individual clinician.
What Each License Status Means
The status line tells you whether the provider is legally allowed to treat you right now.
- Active. The license is current and in good standing. The provider met continuing education requirements and paid the triennial renewal fee on time.
- Expired. The provider did not renew before the deadline and is not authorized to practice. Arizona licenses expire 30 days after the licensee’s birth month every third year.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 32-1236 – Dentist Triennial Licensure; Continuing Education; License Renewal and Reinstatement; Fees; Civil Penalties; Retired and Disabled License Status
- Suspended. The Board has temporarily barred the provider from practicing, usually as a result of a disciplinary proceeding.
- Revoked. The provider has permanently lost their license and cannot apply for reinstatement for at least five years after the revocation date.2Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners Statutes and Rules – Section 32-1235
- Retired. The provider voluntarily placed the license in retired status and cannot treat patients unless it is reactivated.
If the status reads anything other than Active, do not let that person work on your teeth until you understand why. An expired status shortly after the provider’s birth month may simply mean a missed renewal deadline, but they still cannot legally practice until the Board processes the renewal.
Reading the Disciplinary Record
Below the status line, the profile may list formal disciplinary actions. The Board can impose any of the following, alone or in combination:3Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners Statutes and Rules – Section 32-1263.01
- Censure, a formal public reprimand, sometimes paired with restitution to the affected patient.
- Probation with specific conditions such as added supervision or education.
- Suspension for a defined period.
- Revocation of the license.
- An administrative penalty of up to $2,000 per violation.
- Practice restrictions limiting what procedures the provider can perform.
- Community service or peer review requirements.
Grounds for discipline include unprofessional conduct, a felony conviction, practicing while impaired, and failing to comply with a prior Board order.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 32-1263 – Grounds for Disciplinary Action; Definition Unprofessional conduct is defined broadly and covers having a license disciplined in another state, practicing beyond the authorized scope, and patient abandonment.5Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 32-1201.01 – Definition of Unprofessional Conduct
What Is and Is Not Public
A clean profile does not always mean no complaints. Here is what the record shows and what it hides:
- Final disciplinary actions — censure, probation, suspension, revocation, fines — are public and appear on the profile.
- Letters of concern are nondisciplinary advisories the Board issues when the evidence does not warrant formal discipline but the Board still wants the provider to change course. They are public documents under Arizona law, and the underlying complaint record stays public for five years after the letter is issued.6Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners Statutes and Rules – Section 32-1201
- Dismissed complaints are not available to the public.
- Pending investigations are confidential. You will see no reference to an open complaint on the profile.
So a clean profile means either the Board found no basis for action or an investigation is still underway. It does not necessarily mean zero complaints have ever been filed.
Sedation and Anesthesia Permits
If your procedure involves sedation or general anesthesia, the base license is not the full picture. Arizona requires dentists to hold a separate permit before they can administer sedation, and the ASBDE issues four permit levels: 1301, 1302, 1303, and 1304.7Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Common Pitfalls Each level corresponds to a different depth of sedation, from minimal sedation through general anesthesia.
On the dentist’s profile, look for any listed permits in addition to the base license. A dentist who holds only a standard license without a sedation permit should not be putting you under. If you cannot confirm the permit online, call the Board directly before your appointment.
Filing a Complaint
If the lookup surfaces something concerning, or if your own treatment warrants it, you can file a complaint with the ASBDE. Anyone who believes they were harmed by a licensed dentist, hygienist, or denturist in Arizona can start the process online at the Board’s website.8Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. File a Complaint
You fill out the online complaint form, describe what happened in detail, identify the provider and any other practitioners who treated you before or after, and attach supporting documents such as treatment records or billing statements. Board staff will acknowledge receipt and notify you of the outcome.
The Board encourages you to consider speaking with the provider first or sending a written request for resolution, and the Arizona State Dental Association offers free mediation. Those steps are optional. You are not required to try informal resolution before filing.
Keep in mind that pending complaints stay confidential and will not show on the provider’s public profile. If the Board dismisses the complaint, it stays confidential permanently. Only formal action or a letter of concern becomes part of the public record.