A criminal record does not automatically prevent you from becoming or remaining a dentist or dental hygienist in Colorado. The Colorado Dental Board can consider certain convictions, including felonies and drug offenses, but they are not always disqualifying.Applicants should also expect a fingerprint-based background check.
- Applying with a conviction: The Board generally takes into account any convictions (or resulting incarcerations) in the last three years. It may consider older convictions directly related to dental practice.
- Already licensed: Discipline can result from a felony conviction, a qualifying controlled substance conviction, or criminal conduct related to dental practice.
- Reporting: Licensed dental professionals must update their Health Care Professions Profile within 30 days of certain felony or moral turpitude crime convictions or pleas.
- Possible outcomes: The Board may decline to discipline, impose conditions or a fine, reprimand or censure, suspend, or revoke a license.
A criminal case and a licensing investigation may proceed at the same time. We advise dental professionals to preserve the court papers and Board correspondence early so the dates, allegations, and required responses can be checked together.
In this article, our Denver criminal defense attorneys discuss how criminal convictions affect dental licenses in Colorado.
- 1. Colorado Dental Board
- 2. Applying with a Criminal Record
- 3. Convictions Leading to Discipline
- 4. Board Complaints
- 5. Practicing with No License
- 6. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Colorado Dental Board
The Colorado Dental Board licenses and regulates dentists, dental hygienists, and dental therapists. In 2026, its 13 members include seven dentists, three dental hygienists, and three public members. Its membership is scheduled to change in 2031.1
The Board is at 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202. Its telephone number is 303-894-7800. For program and discipline questions, the Board lists [email protected]. For applications and renewals, it lists [email protected].
2. Applying with a Criminal Record
A conviction alone does not automatically disqualify a dental license applicant in Colorado.
Under HB24-1004, the Board generally may consider a conviction for three years from the conviction or end of incarceration, whichever is later, if there has been no other conviction during that period. Afterward, it may consider an older conviction that is directly related to dentistry.
If it considers a conviction, the Board must apply the statutory standards governing rehabilitation, ability to perform the work, and public safety.2
Applicants whose records may affect eligibility can ask the regulator for a determination before applying. Depending on the circumstances, a conditional license may also be available.
Applicants should review the current application questions carefully and disclose the information they request. If your criminal record has been sealed, consult with an attorney about your options before revealing that information.
Fingerprints are required for dentist and dental hygienist applicants.3
3. Convictions Leading to Discipline
Discipline by the Colorado Dental Board may result from:
- a conviction (including deferred sentences) for a felony or crime violating the Dental Practice Act;
- certain controlled substance convictions; and
- criminal conduct related to the licensee’s dental practice.
The Board can investigate the facts and decide whether discipline is appropriate. It may impose probation or practice conditions, reprimand or censure, suspend or revoke a license, and in applicable cases impose a fine. A conviction does not necessarily trigger an investigation or suspension automatically.4
Reporting Duties
In Colorado, licensed dental professionals generally must update their Health Care Professions Profile within 30 days of a final felony conviction or plea arrangement, or a misdemeanor conviction or plea arrangement involving moral turpitude. A routine misdemeanor DUI generally is not on that list, although a felony DUI is reportable. Failing to report in time is a potential ground for discipline.
It is a disciplinary ground to fail to report to the Colorado Dental Board, within 90 days after final disposition, the surrender of a license to, or adverse action taken against a license by, a licensing agency in another state, territory, or country, a governmental agency, a law-enforcement agency, or a court for conduct that would be grounds for discipline under the Dental Practice Act.
The Colorado Dental Board also has a 90-day reporting requirement for specified malpractice judgments and settlements.
Other possible grounds include improper prescribing or diversion of controlled substances, false billing, inadequate patient records, failure to meet clinical standards, and failure to respond honestly and promptly to a complaint.5
4. Board Complaints
The Colorado Dental Board’s disciplinary process begins with a complaint or other information suggesting a violation. The Board must notify the dental professional and may investigate, seek records or a response, and decide whether to pursue formal action. Failure to respond honestly, materially, and on time is itself a possible ground for discipline.
If a complaint is filed against you, contact an attorney to help you review the allegations, preserve records, identify the actual response deadline, and provide an accurate account. In cases we handle, useful evidence may include court dispositions, treatment or rehabilitation records, proof of compliance with criminal court orders, practice records, and testimony about safe patient care.
Eventually, formal matters can proceed to a Board hearing panel or an administrative law judge. Some cases are resolved by an agreed order. An emergency restriction may involve different procedures. Public disciplinary orders may affect your credentialing and practice opportunities, so it is vital to have an attorney fighting any disciplinary consequences.6
A civil malpractice claim and a Board matter can also overlap, and statements in one proceeding may possibly affect the other.
5. Practicing with No License
Practicing, offering, or attempting to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene without an active license in Colorado is generally a class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 120 days in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both.
Someone who practices or offers to practice dentistry while intentionally and fraudulently representing themselves as licensed can instead face a class 6 felony, carrying 12 to 18 months in prison and/or fines of $1,000 to $100,000. (A prior unauthorized-practice conviction does not, by itself, establish this felony offense.)7
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become a Colorado dentist with a felony conviction?
Possibly. A felony is relevant to the Board’s review, but it does not automatically bar licensure. The Board must apply Colorado’s criminal history standards, including the three-year rule and its exception for crimes directly related to dentistry.
In our experience, it helps to gather the final court disposition and evidence of rehabilitation before answering application questions, so the Board sees an accurate record and the applicant’s current qualifications.
Does a dentist have to report every arrest or conviction?
Licensed dental professionals generally must update their Health Care Professions Profile within 30 days of a reportable final felony conviction or plea, or a misdemeanor conviction or plea involving moral turpitude, occurring after they were first licensed to practice their health-care profession. The Dental Practice Act imposes a separate 90-day deadline for certain adverse actions against a license and for specified malpractice matters.
Can a DUI cause a Colorado dentist to lose their license?
Potentially, depending on whether the conviction or underlying conduct fits a statutory ground for discipline and what the evidence shows. A single DUI does not automatically revoke a dental license. A felony DUI is reportable and may provide grounds for discipline.
Do Colorado dental license applicants need fingerprints?
Yes. DPO‘s current fingerprinting instructions list both dentist and dental hygienist applicants for state and national criminal-history checks. Follow the instructions for the license type and approved vendor.
We recommend checking DPO’s current enrollment instructions immediately before applying because vendor procedures and codes can change.
Can I respond to a Board complaint without a hearing?
Yes. An inquiry may close without formal discipline or be resolved through an agreement; contested matters may proceed to a hearing. The Board’s written notice and the procedural stage determine the available response and deadlines.
We tell clients to preserve the complaint, records, and correspondence before drafting a response because an early factual mistake can be difficult to correct later.
Can a Colorado dentist regain a suspended or revoked license?
Reinstatement or a return to unrestricted practice depends on the order, applicable statutes and rules, and proof that the conditions for practice are met. It is not automatic.
It is vital to read the actual order and identify each condition and deadline before assembling proof of compliance.
Additional Resources
- Colorado Dental Board – Oversees dental licenses, rules, and discipline.
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations dental applications and forms – Provides licensing applications, forms, and instructions.
- Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations criminal-history licensing information – Explains how criminal convictions may affect license applications.
- Colorado Dental Association – Professional association of dentists.
- American Society for Geriatric Dentistry – Organization dedicated to promoting oral health and well-being for older adults through education, advocacy, collaboration, and accessibility to dental care across all settings.
- American Dental Association (ADA) – Largest national association representing over 163,000 dentists committed to improving oral healthcare through advocacy, education, research, promotion of professional standards, and providing resources to advance the profession.
- American Association of Endodontists (AAE) – Membership organization representing over 8,000 endodontists globally dedicated to excellence in endodontic care through advocacy, education, research, and professional development.
Legal References
- C.R.S. 12-220-105 (Dental Board and composition).
- C.R.S. 12-20-206(1)–(3) (criminal-history review and the three-year rule); HB24-1004; DPO, Ex-Offenders Practice in Regulated Occupations.
- DPO, Fingerprinting and Background Check (dentist and dental hygienist enrollment instructions).
- C.R.S. 12-220-202 (disciplinary actions). Lee v. State Board of Dental Examiners (Colo. 1982) 654 P.2d 839 (the court upheld a negligent-malpractice finding but rejected two other disciplinary findings and sent the case back for reconsideration of the sanction).
- C.R.S. 12-220-201(1)(b), (d), (q), (r), (dd), (ff), (jj) (disciplinary grounds and reporting); C.R.S. 12-30-102(4)(g), (8)(a), (9)(c) (Health Care Professions Profile reporting and discipline for noncompliance).
- C.R.S. 12-220-203 to -204 (disciplinary proceedings and panels). Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners v. Norton (Colo. App. 2000) 9 P.3d 1182 (a dentist must receive adequate notice of the allegations and an opportunity to address them).
- C.R.S. 12-220-211; 12-20-407(1)(a)(V)(J), (1)(e)(IV); C.R.S. 18-1.3-501 (misdemeanor penalties).