The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners is an agency of the Government of North Carolina. Its purpose is to regulate the dental industry in the state. Its headquarters are in Morrisville in the Research Triangle area.
In 1879, the North Carolina General Assembly created the State Board of Dental Examiners to license dentists in the state. At its inception, members of the board were elected by the North Carolina Dental Society. Legislation giving the board regulatory authority over dental hygienists was enacted in 1945. In 1961, legislation was passed making the body the only licensing board in the state to have its members elected by all license holders in the state.
The State Board of Dental Examiners has eight members. Six of the members are dentists. They serve three year-terms, with two such members being elected by licensed dentists in the state every year. One dental hygienist is elected by licensed hygienists every three years and a consumer advocate is appointed by the governor. The board retains a 14-member staff. Its activities are mostly funded through the collection of licensing fees.
The board is responsible for licensing dentists and dental hygienists to practice in North Carolina, creating rules to govern those practices, and investigating violations. The board cannot file criminal charges against a person suspected of misconduct but does give evidence to local prosecutors.