A California dentist license check is a free search on the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) License Search. The search confirms 4 things about a dentist: whether the license is current, the license number with its issue and expiration dates, any other licenses or permits the dentist holds, and any disciplinary action filed against the license. The lookup takes about 2 minutes and needs only the dentist’s name or license number.
A license check protects a patient in 3 ways. It confirms the person in the chair holds a California license. It shows the permits a dentist needs for sedation and other added procedures. And it shows public disciplinary records before you book. This guide covers the agency that licenses dentists, the 5 steps of the lookup, what each part of the record means, the license types for dentists and dental assistants, what the Dental Board does and does not handle, and how to file a complaint.
Who licenses dentists in California?
The Dental Board of California (DBC) licenses and regulates dentists and dental assistants in the state. The DBC works under the Department of Consumer Affairs and enforces the Dental Practice Act, the state law that sets the rules for dental practice. The Act gives the Board the power to investigate complaints and take disciplinary action against licensees.
The Board’s Enforcement Program handles those investigations. Enforcement staff look into complaints about licensees whose conduct is unsafe or puts the public at risk. The Board acts when it can gather clear and convincing evidence of a violation of the Dental Practice Act.
The DBC covers 3 license categories:
| License | Who holds it |
|---|---|
| Dentist (DDS) | A dentist licensed to practice dentistry in California |
| Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) | A dental assistant licensed for a set list of duties |
| Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF) | A dental assistant licensed for added duties beyond the RDA list |
How do you check a dentist’s license in California?
Check a dentist’s license in 5 steps on the DCA License Search:
- Open the DCA License Search in any web browser.
- Choose the Dental Board of California as the board.
- Choose the license type, for example Dentist.
- Enter the dentist’s last name and first name, or the license number.
- Open the matching record and read the license status, the dates and any disciplinary actions.
Search by license number when the dentist has a common name, and ask the dental office for the number by phone. Search by name when the number is not at hand, then match the address of record to the office you plan to visit.
What does a California dental license record show?
A California dental license record shows 4 groups of facts, according to the Dental Board’s consumer guidance:
- License status and discipline. The record shows whether the dentist holds a current license and whether disciplinary actions were filed against it.
- License number and dates. The record lists the license number, the issue date and the expiration date.
- Other licenses and permits. The record lists the additional licenses the dentist holds.
- Address of record. The record gives the dentist’s current address of record with the Board.
Read the status first. A current license with no disciplinary action is the result most patients expect to see. Read the expiration date second, since a license that lapsed is not a current license. Compare the address of record with the practice address third. A dentist with more than one office can list one address of record and still work at others.
Which permits does a California dentist need for sedation and other procedures?
California dentists need a separate permit for each added procedure on the Board’s permit list. The Board’s license and permit categories include 12 permits and certificates for dentists:
- Additional Office Permit
- Conscious Sedation Permit
- Elective Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit
- Fictitious Name Permit
- General Anesthesia Permit
- Medical General Anesthesia Permit (for physicians)
- Mobile Dental Clinic Permit
- Moderate Sedation Permit
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Permit (for dentists who are licensed physicians too)
- Oral Conscious Sedation Certificate (for sedation of adult patients)
- Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit
- Special Permit (for professors at dental colleges)
Check the permit list on the record before any appointment that uses sedation. Ask the office which permit covers the sedation it plans to use, then find that permit on the record. The Fictitious Name Permit matters for a practice that works under a business name, such as “Smile Center”, rather than the dentist’s own name.
Dental assistants hold 2 permits of their own: the Orthodontic Assistant Permit and the Dental Sedation Assistant Permit.
How do you find disciplinary action against a California dentist?
Disciplinary action against a California dentist appears on 2 public sources. The first source is the license record on the DCA License Search, which shows disciplinary actions filed against the license. The second source is the Board’s Hot Sheets page, which summarizes the Board’s enforcement actions and lists filed accusations.
Complaints themselves are confidential. A complaint against a dentist is not public record unless the Board files an accusation. So a clean record means no public action was taken, not that no patient ever complained. Some information becomes public record once the Board or a court takes disciplinary or criminal action.
What does the Dental Board of California not handle?
The Dental Board of California does not handle 5 kinds of complaints, since they fall outside the Dental Practice Act:
- General administrative procedures of the dental office.
- Fee and billing disputes.
- Insurance coverage disputes.
- Reimbursements or financial compensation.
- Rude behavior by dentists and dental staff.
Send a billing or fee dispute to the dental office first, then to your insurance company. Refunds and money claims are beyond the Board’s authority. The Board points patients to a private attorney, small claims court or the Better Business Bureau for those.
Problems with a dental health maintenance organization (HMO) plan go to the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). Call the DMHC at 1-800-400-0815 or follow the DMHC complaint steps.
What kinds of complaints does the Dental Board investigate?
The Dental Board investigates complaints about violations of the Dental Practice Act. The Board lists 6 common types of violation:
- Gross negligence or incompetence, which covers the quality of care.
- Substance use during the practice of dentistry.
- Improper advertising.
- Fraud.
- Unsanitary conditions.
- False or fictitious name use.
File a complaint about a dirty dental office. The Board reviews it and can inspect the office for violations of the Dental Practice Act. Report a dentist you believe uses drugs or alcohol at work in writing, and contact the Board at once. Call local law enforcement first, then file a complaint with the Board, if a dentist physically abused you.
How do you file a complaint against a dentist in California?
File a complaint against a California dentist in 1 of 2 ways. The first way is online through DCA BreEZe Online Services, the Department of Consumer Affairs complaint portal. The second way is the Consumer Complaint Form, in English or Spanish, sent to the Board by email or regular mail. Use the Board’s complaint instructions and form links to choose either option.
The complaint process has 5 stages, according to the Board:
- Receipt. The Board confirms receipt in writing within 10 business days.
- Review. A Consumer Services Analyst (CSA) decides whether the complaint falls under the Board’s jurisdiction.
- Records. The CSA requests your dental records from the dentist named in the complaint and from any dentist who treated you for the same problem. List those dentists’ contact details in your complaint.
- Consultant review. An independent dental consultant reviews the records for violations of the Dental Practice Act. The case closes when no violation is found, and you are told.
- Investigation. A Board investigator takes the case when the evidence supports formal disciplinary action. Unlicensed or criminal activity goes to the local district attorney for prosecution.
Keep up the treatment you need while the complaint is open. The Board advises patients to seek care from another provider in the meantime, since the review can take a long time. Call the Board at (916) 263-2300 with questions about a complaint.
Can you report someone practicing dentistry without a license?
Yes. Report unlicensed dental practice to the Dental Board of California. The Board has disciplinary authority over its licensees only, but it investigates allegations of unlicensed practice in some cases. Board investigators open a case and forward it to the local district attorney’s office for criminal prosecution, if they find enough evidence.
How do you get a copy of your dental records in California?
Request a copy of your dental records from your dentist in writing. California Health and Safety Code section 123110 requires the dentist to give you a copy of your records. The office can charge a fee for copying. Keep a copy of your records before you change dentists or file a complaint, since the Board requests the same records during a review.
How does a license check fit into choosing a dentist?
A license check is 1 of 4 checks to make before a first visit. The other 3 are the office’s hours, the services it offers and its Google rating with the number of reviews behind it.
- License. Confirm the license and any permits on the DCA License Search.
- Hours. Match the office’s posted hours to your week, and confirm them by phone.
- Services. Confirm the practice offers the work you need, from cleanings to implants. Our guide to types of dentists explains which specialist handles each kind of care.
- Reviews. Read the rating together with the review count. A 4.8 rating from 600 reviews tells you more than a 5.0 rating from 4.
Every listing on Best Dentist California’s directory shows the practice’s posted hours, phone number, stated services and Google rating. The directory does not verify licenses, so run the DCA License Search on any dentist before your first appointment. Browse dentists by city or by type of dentist, then check the license of the 2 or 3 practices you shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Is the California dentist license lookup free? Yes. The DCA License Search is free and open to anyone at search.dca.ca.gov, with no account needed.
Can I see complaints filed against a dentist? No. Complaints are confidential unless the Board files an accusation. Filed accusations and enforcement summaries appear on the Board’s Hot Sheets page.
Does the Dental Board help with refunds? No. Refunds and money claims are beyond the Board’s authority. A private attorney, small claims court or the Better Business Bureau handles those.
Can a dentist refuse treatment if I refuse X-rays? Yes. A dentist can refuse treatment without the X-rays needed for a diagnosis, according to the Board, since treatment without necessary radiographs counts as negligence. You keep the right to refuse any treatment a dentist proposes.
Summary
A California dentist license check runs on the DCA License Search and shows 4 things: license status and discipline, the license number with its dates, other licenses and permits, and the address of record. The Dental Board of California licenses dentists and dental assistants, investigates violations of the Dental Practice Act and posts enforcement actions on its Hot Sheets page. Fee disputes, insurance disputes and rude behavior fall outside the Board’s authority, and dental HMO problems go to the DMHC. Run the license check on every dentist you shortlist, then compare hours, services and reviews before you book.