Mississippi Joins Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact - 10 to 1 Public Relations
Back To The American Association of Dental Boards Press Room

Mississippi Joins Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact

Becomes the second state to adopt a licensure model built to protect public health and preserve board authority

CHICAGO, Ill. (March 24, 2026) – The American Association of Dental Boards (AADB), a leading organization focused on dental licensure standards and public protection, announced that Mississippi has joined the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure (IDDHL) Compact. The IDDHL Compact gives qualified dental professionals a path to practice across state lines while preserving state authority over licensing and discipline. It also keeps core safeguards in place to protect patients and uphold professional standards.

The action makes Mississippi the second state to join the IDDHL Compact after Louisiana adopted the measure last year.

“This is definitely a win-win solution, both for the dental practitioners providing care and the public having access to care,” said Rhonda Harper, RDH, from Pass Christian, MS. “I believe this will lead to significantly more dentists and dental hygienists coming to practice in our state because the IDDHL Compact allows for a more streamlined path to licensure, while still maintaining our state’s authority in the licensing process.”

The IDDHL Compact offers a voluntary pathway for dentists and dental hygienists who meet uniform standards. States can join at no cost, with expenses covered by fees paid by professionals who choose to seek compact privileges. The model also uses the AADB Repository to verify licensure records and share disciplinary information among member states.

“This momentum shows that more states see the value of an approach that protects the public while respecting the authority of each dental board,” said Dr. Clifford Feingold, Chair of the AADB. “We are building on last year’s progress, and Mississippi’s action shows there is growing support for a licensure compact that keeps strong standards at the center.”

The IDDHL Compact sets participation standards that almost every state requires, such as graduation from a CODA-approved school, criminal background checks for all applicants and full reporting of disciplinary actions. Each state keeps full authority over licensing decisions and enforcement within its borders.

“This effort fits the larger mission of making licensure more workable without weakening the protections patients count on,” added Dr. Feingold. “As more states move forward, we can expand access to care, support workforce mobility and still let each state maintain its own public health standards.”

The measure is also already under consideration in Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts, with legislation now introduced in Kentucky. That growing list reflects rising interest in a compact model that improves mobility for qualified professionals while keeping public protection and state oversight intact.

Learn more at aadbcompact.org.

What is the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact?
The IDDHL Compact is a voluntary licensure pathway that allows qualified dentists and dental hygienists to practice across state lines without duplicating the full licensure process in each state. The American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) developed the model to improve workforce mobility while keeping state boards in control of licensing and discipline. More information is available at aadbcompact.org.

Which states have joined the IDDHL Compact so far?
Louisiana was the first state to join the IDDHL Compact in 2025, followed by Mississippi in March 2026. The AADB reports that Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Kentucky have either introduced or are considering legislation to join.

How does the IDDHL Compact protect patients?
The IDDHL Compact requires graduation from a CODA-approved school, criminal background checks for all applicants and full reporting of disciplinary actions. Each state retains full authority over licensing decisions and enforcement within its own borders. The AADB built the model so that stronger public protection standards, not weaker ones, are a condition of participation.

Does joining the compact mean states give up control over their dental boards?
No. The IDDHL Compact preserves each state’s authority over licensing and discipline. States that join do not surrender regulatory power. They simply agree to share verified licensure records and disciplinary data through the AADB Repository so boards can make more informed decisions.

What does it cost states to join the IDDHL Compact?
There is no cost to states that join the IDDHL Compact. Expenses are covered by fees paid by dental professionals who choose to seek compact privileges, making it a self-sustaining model that does not burden state budgets or taxpayers.

How is the IDDHL Compact different from other interstate dental licensure efforts?
Unlike some compact models, the IDDHL Compact requires a hands-on clinical skills exam, criminal background checks and disciplinary reporting as conditions of participation. The AADB designed it to set a high bar for entry so that mobility does not come at the expense of patient safety or state oversight.

What role does the AADB play in the IDDHL Compact?
The American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) developed and supports the IDDHL Compact as part of its mission to advance dental licensure standards and public protection. The AADB also operates the AADB Repository, which member states use to verify licensure records and share disciplinary information across state lines.

How can a state legislature move forward with joining the IDDHL Compact?
States join the IDDHL Compact by introducing and passing the model legislation developed by the AADB. Several states, including Kentucky, Missouri and Pennsylvania, have already introduced legislation. Visit aadbcompact.org to learn more about the process and track current legislative activity.