Dental CE Requirements for Missouri Dental Professionals

Detailed Breakdown

Dentists (Renewal Cycle: 2 years, 50 hours required)

• Basic Requirements:
  • Complete 50 hours of approved continuing education (CE); no minimum classroom hours required.
  • Maintain active CPR/BLS certification with a practical skills component.
  • Mandatory Topics: None specifically required.
• Unique Details:
  • Opioid Management Training: One-time requirement for all dentists, regardless of prescribing status. The Board provides resources and approved course links.
  • Diverse CE workshops and events offered by the Missouri Dental Board for dentists.
  • Online courses accepted with specific interaction and assessment requirements.
  • Board actively reviews course quality and approves CE providers.

Dental Hygienists (Renewal Cycle: 2 years, 30 hours required)

• Basic Requirements:
  • Complete 30 hours of approved CE; no minimum classroom hours required.
  • Maintain current CPR/BLS certification with practical skills training.
  • Mandatory Topics: An infection control course must be completed every renewal cycle.
• Unique Details:
  • Dedicated CE resources for hygienists are available through the Board website.
  • Expanded duty hygienists must complete 40 hours of CE every two years.
  • Annual CE symposium hosted specifically for hygienists.
  • Online courses accepted with specific criteria for participation and evaluation.

Dental Assistants (Renewal Cycle: 5 years, 16 hours required)

• Basic Requirements:
  • Complete 16 hours of approved CE; no minimum classroom hours required.
  • CPR/BLS certification with hands-on components must be maintained throughout the cycle.
  • Mandatory Topics: None specified.
• Unique Details:
  • Expanded function dental assistants have additional CE requirements depending on certification.
  • A dedicated FAQ section for assistants is available on the Missouri Dental Board website.
  • Online CE courses accepted under specified interaction guidelines.

Important Update: Missouri Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) Pilot Program

In early 2024, Missouri launched a pilot program to introduce the role of Oral Preventive Assistants (OPAs). This new category allows qualified dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling procedures under a highly regulated framework.

Key details about the OPA pilot program include:

• Didactic training began in early 2024, followed by clinical training starting December 2024.
• OPAs may remove plaque and calculus above the gumline under strict supervision by a licensed dentist or dental hygienist.
• The program is experimental — its continuation will depend on outcome data evaluating patient safety and clinical effectiveness.

Additional Notes:

• All CE certificates and documentation must be retained for six years after submission.
• Continuing education must be “directly related to the practice of dentistry” to be counted.
• The reporting deadline is December 31st of the renewal year.
• An easy-to-use online CE reporting system is available through the Missouri Dental Board portal.