Whether you are starting a dental practice or purchasing an existing one, dental licensing is important. You and your fellow dentist must maintain your dental license through the Dental Board of California. Dental assistants must keep their certifications updated, and you’ll need to ensure your practice is licensed with the state board.
Managing a dental practice can be challenging. In addition to providing excellent patient care, dentists must ensure that all licensing for their practices is up to date and in order. The attorneys at Mahan Law are here to help you with all of the licensing requirements for your practice.
Maintaining Your Dental License in California
California dentists must ensure that their licenses and those of all staff members are up to date. If a dentist practices dentistry without a license in California or with an expired license, they could face significant fines and punishment from the Dental Board of California.
Even if you or another dentist in your practice has a dental license in another state, you will still need to apply for one in California. The Dental Board of California clearly states that performing dentistry or any other type of limited duties as a dentist with a canceled, expired, or inactive license will be considered a criminal offense.
Keeping a Dental License Current in California
When managing a dental practice, it can be easy to forget about notices you’ve received in the mail, such as the need to renew your dental license. However, keeping your dental license current and those of partners in your dental practice or employees is crucial. At a minimum, the dentist must update their license every two years. The expiration date for your license will be based on your birth month and birth year. Your license or permit will expire on the last day of your birth month in the first even or odd year corresponding with your birth year. To renew your dental license and actively practice dental care, you will need to complete the following requirements:
- Submit a completed, signed, and dated renewal form
- Provide a payment for the renewal
- Complete twenty-five (25) Continuing Education units satisfactorily
- Complete the Dental Healthcare Workforce Survey
- Fulfill the fingerprinting requirements
You must also fully disclose any licensing discipline imposed by a government agency or relevant disciplinary body. Similarly, you will need to disclose any criminal conviction that has happened since the last dental license or permit renewal. The experienced attorneys at Mahan Law are prepared to help you navigate any issues that arise with obtaining and renewing your dental license. Working with an attorney can help you resolve dentist licensing issues more quickly and efficiently than trying to navigate the process alone.
Defending Your Dental License
Violations of the rules that govern dentist licenses in California can result in significant personal, professional, and criminal consequences. If the California Dental Board has contacted you about a potential violation, speaking to an attorney as soon as possible can help you protect your career and reputation.
The attorneys at Mahan Law are prepared to help you proactively fight and defend yourself to keep your dental license. The board has the authority to suspend the licenses of dentists and dental assistants, and criminal charges can be imposed for some types of conduct violations. Some of the most common examples of complaints filed against dentists and dental assistants include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Practicing dentistry while intoxicated
- Criminal conduct
- Practicing medicine beyond the authorized scope of dental practice
- Negligence
- Allowing duties to be performed by unauthorized staff members
- Abusive of patients
- Failure to maintain proper records
Dental Assistant Certifications in California
As the owner of a dental practice in California, We’ll need to ensure that all of your dental assistant’s licenses are current.To obtain a license as a registered dental assistant (RDA) in California, dental assistants must obtain formal education or training, complete board-approved courses in coronal polishing and radiation safety, and complete a board-approved course in the Dental Practices Act within five years of their license application.
They will also need to complete a board-approved, 8-hour course in infection control within five years of application and a basic life support course. They must provide fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation and pass the RDA general and Law and Ethics Written exam.
The Dental Board of California will send out a postcard to remind every license and permit holder to renew their license or permit within 90 days. Licenses expired during the second year of a two-year term. There is no grace. For a late renewal, even if you don’t receive a reminder postcard, you are responsible for renewing your license.
If you practice with an expired license, you could face heavy fines and potentially lose your license. Criminal charges could also be imposed. Dental practice owners should have a system to audit the dentist and dental assistant licenses, ensuring the practice has documentation that the licenses are up to date.
Registration of the Dental Practice with the State Board
In California, dentists are required to register their places of business with the Dental Board of California. They must submit the appropriate form provided by the board and notify the board of any changes, such as a change to the place of business. Dentists are required to register all changes within a month of them happening. Staying on top of any issues regarding registering your dental practice can help your practice run smoothly and help you avoid fines and other serious penalties.
Contact a Dental Practice Attorney in California
If you own a dental practice and have questions about your licenses, speaking to an attorney as quickly as impossible can help you protect yourself. At Mahan Law, we help dentists with a wide range of legal issues, including licensing. Don’t hesitate to contact Mahan Law to schedule a complimentary case evaluation.
