Eight states—Oklahoma, Missouri, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania—are taking steps toward improving workforce mobility by introducing legislation to participate in the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact (IDDHLC), the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) has announced. This move aims to streamline the licensing process, maintain high patient safety standards, and preserve state authority over dental regulations. Further bills are expected in additional states soon.
“The IDDHLC upholds the highest standards of patient safety and professional competence while establishing a uniform criteria for dental standards, just like medical standards,” said Arthur Chen-Shu Jee, DMD, President of the Board of Directors of AADB. “By maintaining rigorous standards, including the notoriously challenging hand-skills examinations, we’re ensuring that only qualified dental professionals can practice across state lines.”
A survey conducted from December 30, 2024, to January 9, 2025, among 1,863 registered US voters revealed that 82% of respondents agreed that hand-skills examinations are essential for assessing a dentist’s ability to perform procedures safely. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 2.28 percentage points.
Key elements of the IDDHLC include addressing workforce shortages while maintaining quality of care by facilitating mobility for qualified professionals, with the aim being improved access to dental care in participating states. The compact also strives to allow operating without imposing additional costs on states, as fees from dental professionals seeking compact licenses cover all expenses, thus helping to ensure no burden on taxpayers. Additionally, full reporting of disciplinary actions and criminal history is required; this enables state boards to have comprehensive information to protect patients and maintain public trust in the profession.
“The IDDHLC preserves state authority, allowing dental boards to maintain control over licensing and disciplinary actions within their jurisdictions,” Dr. Jee stated. “This approach respects individual state laws while creating a uniform standard that enhances regulatory consistency across member states.”
Legislation that would opt states into the IDDHLC is pending in the following states:
Texas – HB 1799 was introduced in the Texas House of Representatives.
Oklahoma – SB 765 was introduced in the Oklahoma Senate and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Missouri – SB 109 was introduced in the Missouri Senate and referred to the Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee.
Maryland – HB 0534 was introduced in the Maryland House of Representatives and cross-filed with SB 0538 in the Senate.
Massachusetts – SD 2010 was introduced in the Massachusetts Senate and cross-filed with HD 3459 in the House of Representatives.
Mississippi – HB 674 was passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives without opposition and has been sent to the Mississippi Senate.
Kentucky – HB 762 was introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives, sponsored by Representative Chris Freeland.
Pennsylvania – HB 787 was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and referred to the professional licensure committee.
For more information about the IDDHLC, visit https://aadbcompact.org/.
Source: 10 to 1 Public Relations
