There’s a shortage of dentists in the United States—in fact, according to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), 60 million Americans are impacted by a scarcity of dental providers, with 88% of geographical shortage areas in rural regions. The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact aims to address these underserved areas by allowing dental professionals to practice across state lines more easily. While not yet operational, this interstate medical licensing agreement could potentially improve access to care in underserved areas by increasing the mobility of dentists and dental hygienists. In this article, we’ll explore how the compact works and its potential impact on locum tenens dentist work in the U.S.
What is the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact?
The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is a legally-binding interstate medical licensing agreement that allows dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one compact state to practice in another participating state where they don’t have a license.
Here’s how it works: dentists and dental hygienists licensed in a compact state can obtain what’s known as a “compact privilege,” which is legal authorization allowing them to practice in a state where they are not licensed. Once they have that, they are allowed to travel to other compact states to provide critical healthcare services to patients.
The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is activated, but compact privileges have yet to be issued. It’s expected to take 18–24 months for the implementation process to run its course, after which compact privileges will be given out to providers.
Which states are in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact?
As of March 2025, 10 states have enacted the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact legislation: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Here’s a map of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact as of March 6, 2025:
As mentioned earlier, while 10 states have enacted compact legislation, it will take 1.5–2 years for the compact to become operationalized and for compact privileges to begin being issued.
How can the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact help solve the provider shortage?
The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact has the potential to significantly alleviate the provider shortage in several ways:
- Increased mobility: The compact allows dental professionals to practice across state lines more easily, enabling them to work where they’re needed most without the burden of obtaining multiple state licenses.
- Addressing rural shortages: With 88% of dental shortage areas in rural regions, the compact can help bring more dental professionals to these underserved areas by reducing licensing barriers.
- Faster response to demand: The compact enables a more flexible workforce that can quickly respond to changing demands for dental care across different states.
- Encouraging locum tenens work: The compact makes it easier for dentists and dental hygienists to take on temporary assignments in different states, potentially increasing the pool of available professionals for short-term needs.
- Reducing administrative burdens: By streamlining the licensing process, the compact reduces the time and costs associated with obtaining multiple state licenses, making it more attractive for professionals to work across state lines.
- Attracting professionals to shortage areas: The ease of practice across state lines may encourage more dental professionals to consider working in areas they might not have previously due to licensing constraints.
By addressing these aspects, the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact has the potential to significantly improve access to dental care, particularly in underserved and rural areas, thereby helping to alleviate the current provider shortage.
How will the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact impact locum tenens providers?
The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is expected to have a significant positive impact on locum tenens providers. By streamlining the licensing process across participating states, it will make it easier for dental professionals to take on temporary assignments in different locations.
This increased mobility will likely expand opportunities for locum tenens work, allowing providers to fill critical gaps in underserved areas more efficiently. Additionally, the compact may reduce administrative burdens and costs associated with obtaining multiple state licenses, making locum tenens work more attractive and accessible to a wider pool of dental professionals.
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