Dental Board of California

Dentist License Defense

Each year, the Dental Board of California receives more than 3,000 complaints from patients, law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and other professionals. If the investigatory process substantiates criminal or administrative violations, the board may initiate administrative prosecution or refer the license holder to law enforcement for criminal prosecution.

If you’re a dentist facing a board investigation or disciplinary proceeding, our dentist license attorneys have the experience and resources to provide you with expert representation.

Complaints and investigations

Common allegations investigated by the board include:

Billing and insurance fraud
Drug violations
Patient battery
Unlawful sexual conduct with patients
Unlicensed practice of dentistry

The board employs a team of trained investigators who are sworn peace officers to uncover and prosecute alleged violations by dental professionals. While the facts of each investigation vary, it is generally wise to engage an attorney to represent you before responding to investigators or requests for information.

Following an investigation, the board’s enforcement division may close the investigation, refer the matter to law enforcement for criminal prosecution, issue a citation to the dental professional, or refer the matter for disciplinary action. The California Office of the Attorney General may file an accusation or, in the case of an applicant, a statement of issues, which initiates a formal hearing process under the California Administrative Procedures Act.

How we can help

Our attorneys are well-versed in Dental Board of California processes and can assist you in effectively responding to the board, often resulting in the investigation being closed without a formal accusation or statement of issues being filed. We help you provide the board with all relevant information needed to minimize the discipline that may eventually be imposed. Often, we can negotiate a resolution with the board’s attorney, avoiding the risk, time, and expense of a contested hearing. When needed, our attorneys also have the expertise and knowledge to aggressively defend you at a contested hearing.

Whether you have been wrongfully accused of misconduct by a patient or former employee or made an uncharacteristic mistake leading to disciplinary action, our attorneys have the skill, experience, and resources to defend you before the board.