Ark. Code Ann. § 17-82-301 (2026)
License required — Penalty
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- No person shall practice dentistry or dental hygiene or attempt or offer to practice either within the State of Arkansas without first having been authorized and issued a regular license by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners.
- No person shall practice dentistry or dental hygiene or attempt or offer to practice either within the State of Arkansas during any period of suspension of his or her license by the board or after revocation by the board of any license theretofore issued to the offending person.
- The board is entitled to the equitable remedy of injunction against any person who practices dentistry or dental hygiene or attempts or offers to practice either in violation of subsection (a) of this section.
- Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a Class D felony and shall be subject to imprisonment not to exceed six (6) years in the Division of Correction or a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. Each unauthorized act constitutes a separate offense.
History. Acts 1955, No. 14, §§ 7-9; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 72-540 — 72-542; Acts 1987, No. 497, § 1; 2019, No. 910, § 972.
Amendments. The 2019 amendment substituted “Division of Correction” for “Department of Correction” in the first sentence of (c).
Case Notes
Denturists.
In enacting subchapters 1-3 of this chapter and § 4-29-401 et seq., the General Assembly meant to preclude denturists, acting in concert with licensed dentists, from owning or managing dental facilities where nonlicensed persons would make impressions for dentures. Brazil v. Ark. Bd. of Dental Exam'rs, 593 F. Supp. 1354 (E.D. Ark. 1984), aff'd, 759 F.2d 674 (8th Cir. 1985).
Injunction.
Where missionary training school clearly violated portions of this section relating to the unlawful practice of dentistry, the board had an absolute right to an injunction against the unlawful practice. Missionary Supporters, Inc. v. Ark. State Bd. of Dental Exmrs., 231 Ark. 38, 328 S.W.2d 139 (1959).
Unlawful Practice.
Trained practical dentists practicing dentistry and dental hygiene without having been licensed by the State Board of Dental Examiners were in violation of this section. Missionary Supporters, Inc. v. Ark. State Bd. of Dental Exmrs., 231 Ark. 38, 328 S.W.2d 139 (1959).
Cited: Miller v. Reed, 234 Ark. 850, 355 S.W.2d 169 (1962); Brazil v. Ark. State Bd. of Dental Exmrs., 279 Ark. 41, 648 S.W.2d 476 (1983).