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.