The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners voted to grant an exception to board rule for candidate 20 26 q1 DDS2 after a lengthy discussion about the applicant’s out‑of‑state training and remediation.

The applicant, Dr. King, told the board she completed remediation at Meharry and then a two‑year pediatric residency at Case Western in Cleveland, Ohio, where she said she “did hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of crowns, fillings, extractions, pulpit therapy” and completed full‑mouth rehabilitation. Dr. King said she now lives in Dallas and is ready to begin practicing in Texas.

Board members raised two primary concerns: whether time away from hands‑on practice might erode clinical skills for a recent graduate, and whether the candidate’s out‑of‑state licensure route would meet Texas requirements. Miss Sanchez noted that the licensure‑by‑credentials pathway under the Dental Practice Act requires showing at least three years of practice before application, which could make that route unavailable for a candidate who is not currently practicing out of state.

Staff and members also discussed documentation of remediation. Licensing staff said the applicant’s letter lacked details about the remediation’s scope and duration and flagged a discrepancy between a letter describing a two‑month timeframe and the applicant’s account of a two‑week simulation lab before the fourth exam attempt. A staff member told the board that, under a recently adopted rule, “we would have … approved that remediation prior to her taking the exam the fourth time.”

The board first considered a motion to deny the applicant’s request; that motion failed on roll call. Doctor McNeil then moved to grant an exception to the board rule for candidate 20 26 q1 DDS2; Doctor Burke seconded. During the approval roll call, Mister Garcia announced an abstention; other voting members recorded support and the motion passed. Board staff said licensing staff will reach out to the applicant to complete follow‑up steps.

The board’s action reflects earlier precedent: a board member reminded colleagues that similar, “very similarly situated” applicants had been granted exceptions at an August meeting. Board members also emphasized that Texas issues general licenses first and that specialties are recognized after licensure.

Next steps: licensing staff will contact the applicant to complete any remaining documentation and to implement the exception granted by the board.