New Hampshire Dental Society (NHDS)
Your guide to organized dentistry in New Hampshire: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the New Hampshire Dental Society
The New Hampshire Dental Society (NHDS), headquartered in Concord, is the ADA constituent (state) dental association for New Hampshire. It represents nearly 1,000 dentists - more than 73% of the state's practicing dentists. Its stated mission is "to assist its members in providing and promoting the highest professional levels of oral health care for the citizens they serve and to disseminate knowledge pertaining to the advancement of health."
The NHDS operates within the ADA's tripartite structure: a New Hampshire dentist who joins belongs simultaneously to a local component society, the NHDS (state), and the ADA (national). The society is composed of nine component dental societies that form the foundation of the constituent society and play a critical role in providing direction for the entire organization. New Hampshire dentistry has had national prominence - an NHDS member was elected ADA President-Elect, underscoring the state society's standing within organized dentistry.
For members, NHDS provides continuing education, legislative/regulatory advocacy at the State House, peer networking, member resources, and public oral-health programs. It is governed by an executive committee and board of trustees. The organization is a registered nonprofit (EIN 02-0230365).
Annual Meeting: NHDS Annual Meeting
Late May; Lakes Region. The 2026 Annual Meeting is May 28-30, 2026 at Church Landing at Mill Falls in Meredith, NH.
The Annual Meeting is the society's flagship CE-and-networking event, combining lecture courses, exhibits, and member governance/social activities at a New Hampshire resort venue. The CE theme centers on the connection between oral health and whole-body health.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the NHDS typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.New Hampshire has 9 component societies:
Greater Concord Dental Society
Concord/capital region
Grafton Sullivan Dental Society
Grafton & Sullivan counties (Upper Valley/western NH)
Greater Manchester Dental Society
Manchester metro
Lakes Region Dental Society
Laconia/Lakes Region
Greater Nashua Dental Society
Nashua metro
Greater Salem Dental Society
Salem/southern border region
Greater Southeast Dental Society
Seacoast/southeastern NH (Portsmouth/Dover area)
Monadnock Dental Society
Keene/Monadnock region
North Country Dental Society
northern NH (Berlin/Gorham/White Mountains)
Licensing Board
New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (administered by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the NHDS, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
www.oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examinersCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 40 hours
- Cycle: Biennial (2-year)
- Mandatory topics: Includes 2 hours infection control and 2 hours medical emergency training; at least 30 of the 40 hours must be clinical. Max 50% online, max 20% by correspondence. Dentists with a DEA number/PDMP registration must provide 3 CEUs in pain management and/or addiction disorder (or pass an online exam) every two years. Moderate-sedation permit holders must document 12 cases or 4 hours of sedation CE biennially.
Always verify current requirements with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (administered by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC) before renewal.
New Hampshire Dental Market Snapshot
- Small New England state; mix of suburban metro practices (Manchester, Nashua, Salem near the Massachusetts border) and rural/northern offices.
- Major metros: Manchester (largest), Nashua, Concord (capital), Portsmouth/Dover (Seacoast). Strong commuter/cross-border ties to Massachusetts.
- Predominantly English-speaking; relatively low non-English demographic share, but Seacoast and southern-border practices serve some Massachusetts-overlap and growing immigrant populations.
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New Hampshire Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do New Hampshire dentists need to renew a license?
New Hampshire dentists must complete 40 hours, biennial (2-year). Mandatory topics include Includes 2 hours infection control and 2 hours medical emergency training; at least 30 of the 40 hours must be clinical. Max 50% online, max 20% by correspondence. Dentists with a DEA number/PDMP registration must provide 3 CEUs in pain management and/or addiction disorder (or pass an online exam) every two years. Moderate-sedation permit holders must document 12 cases or 4 hours of sedation CE biennially.. Always confirm current rules with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (administered by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC).
What is the difference between the NHDS and the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (administered by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC)?
The New Hampshire Dental Society is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (administered by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, OPLC) is the government body that licenses dentists and enforces regulations. Membership in the association is optional; licensure through the board is mandatory to practice.
Sources
- www.nhds.org/ — NHDS homepage.
- www.nhds.org/about-us — mission, membership (~1,000 / 73%), nine component societies.
- www.nhds.org/member-center/nh-component-societies — list of the nine NH component societies.
- www.nhds.org/about-us/officers-and-staff — current president (Dr. Jeffrey Vachon, 2025-2026); executive committee/trustees.
- www.nhds.org/nhds-2026-annual-meeting — 2026 Annual Meeting (May 28-30, Meredith).
- www.oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examiners — NH Board of Dental Examiners (OPLC).
- www.oplc.nh.gov/board-dental-examiners-education-and-training — dentist/hygienist CE requirements.
- www.ada.org/about/press-releases/new-hampshire-dentist-voted-president-elect-by-the-american-dental-association — NH member elected ADA President-Elect.
- projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/20230365 — NHDS nonprofit record (EIN 02-0230365).
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