Creation of the Board

The Wyoming Legislature created the Board of Dental Examiners in 1905 to protect the welfare of the public by regulating the practice of dentistry. Wyoming Legislature added the regulation of Dental Hygienists to the practice act in 1921.

The Board is not the same as the Wyoming Dental Association or the Wyoming Dental Hygienists Association. The Board, unlike the associations, does not advocate on behalf of the licensee, but on behalf of the public consumer. While the Board and the Association may collaborate, their roles are different.

Mission Statement

The ultimate responsibility of the Board is to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Wyoming by ensuring that those individuals licensed to provide dental services in the state are duly qualified.

Who must be licensed

Dentists:

"Dentistry" means the healing art practiced by a dentist which is concerned with the examination, diagnosis, treatment, planning and care of conditions within the human oral cavity and its adjacent tissues and structures;

Additional information can be found in W.S. 33-15-114. "Persons deemed to be practicing dentistry; work authorizations from licensed dentist."

Hygienists:

"Dental hygienist" means a person who is supervised by a dentist and is licensed to render the educational, preventive and therapeutic dental services defined in this act, as well as any extraoral procedure required in the practice of a dental hygienist's duties;

Permitting of Dental Assistants:

The Board also requires a permit for dental assistants that take and expose radiographs as well as dental assistants that place pit and fissure sealants.