California Dental License Defense Attorney

Why You Need a Dental License Defense Attorney

When you sought out your dental license you were following your passion. It is our passion to keep you doing what you want to do with your career and your life. Medical professionals like dentists and dental hygienists invest a good deal of time and expense in pursuit of their careers – and their livelihoods. Building a thriving dental career is a journey, not an event, and while earning a dental license and treating patients is an extremely rewarding and worthwhile endeavor, your career can be dashed by one investigation from either the Dental Board of California or the Dental Hygiene Board of California. If you are facing a licensure dispute, defending your rights, your dental license, and your future is paramount, and an experienced California dental license defense attorney has the drive and skill to help.

Dental License Applications, Denials and Statement of Issues

You may apply to the dental board in a number of ways. You may complete the WREB examination, the ADEX examination, via licensure by credential, license by residency, and licensure by portfolio. Information about all of these methods is available on the Dental Board website.

Applying for your license is exciting because it is one of the last hurdles before you can begin your career. For many the application process is straightforward and simple. However, for some, past criminal convictions or other issues can lock them up. The attorneys at Unlock Legal will complete and file your application on your behalf to make sure that you have the best chance of having it granted.

If you have submitted your application and it has been denied, you are not locked out of your career. A denial of your application is called a Statement of Issues. We will defend you to the Dental Board with the intention that you are granted your license free and clear. If you must be on probation, we will negotiate the best possible terms and conditions. A part of your defense may be cleaning up any past criminal issues to show your rehabilitation to the licensing body.

Common Charges Brought by the Dental Board of California

While the Board can levy a wide range of charges, and no two cases are ever identical. Some of the most common charges fall into the following broad categories:

• Negligence in terms of the quality of care provided
• Unprofessional conduct, including boundary violations
• Sexual misconduct
• Abandonment of patients
• Inadequate maintenance of patient files
• Non-therapeutic drug prescribing
• Chemical dependency and diversion issues
• Drug law violations
• DUIs
• Criminal charges, arrests, and convictions
• Tax evasion
• Failure to meet continuing education requirements
• Continuing education was not accepted by the board
• Accused of continuing education fraud

If you’re being investigated by the Board, taking a proactive stance is always in your best interest.

The Dental Board of California Purpose

The Dental Board of California both monitors and regulates dental practices throughout the State of California, and its reach is considerable. The Board’s Enforcement Unit handles reports related to both administrative and criminal violations, which it substantiates or disproves via a thorough investigative process. The Board – upon its findings – can conclude investigations that identify wrongdoing in any of the following ways:

• Referring dental licensees for administrative or criminal prosecution
• Revoking or suspending dental licenses
• Putting licensees on professional probation for violations of the Dental Practice Act or any other applicable regulations or legal statutes

Dental Board Investigations

If someone files a complaint against you with the Dental Board, the board may instigate an investigation against you. The attorneys at Unlock Legal will request a copy of the complaint, assist you in preparation of any statement, prepare you for the investigation interview, and represent you at the interview with the investigator. It is important to have experienced counsel with you at an investigation interview to assist you in answering any questions appropriately, and advising you when not to speak. With the right advice and counsel an investigation may end at the interview stage. If not, your licensing body may choose to file a formal complaint against you called an Accusation.

Dental Board Accusations

An Accusation is a formal complaint drafted by the Attorney General’s office. It alleges various causes of action against you which may stem from conviction of a crime, and/or allegations of other bad acts like substance abuse, or deviation from the standard of care. You have only 15 days to send a Notice of Defense once you have been served with an Accusation. If you miss the deadline a default order may be rendered against you resulting in the revocation of your license.

It is imperative that you hire experienced counsel to represent you if an Accusation has been filed against you. Time is of the essence, and your career and livelihood is at stake.

Defense Strategies

The best defense strategy focuses on the unique circumstances of your case, but several common approaches include:

• Providing mitigating evidence that refutes the allegations levied against you or that denies the justification of disciplinary action
• Employing standard-of-care expertise in denial of negligence or misconduct on your part
• Employing a defense investigator who compiles evidence such as eyewitness testimony, computer metadata, evidence at the scene, subpoenaed records, and more in the creation of a comprehensive defense report
• Developing a rehabilitation strategy – which may include treatment, professional counseling, or both – if chemical dependency is a concern
• Developing a mental health rehabilitation strategy in response to considerable stress, situational depression, tragic loss, domestic violence, or any other challenge that life throws our way.

It’s important to note that the Board is invested in both mitigation and diversion as means of protecting the public while bolstering licensees’ recovery, and if you meet the eligibility requirements, this investigative outcome may be available to you.

Petition for Reinstatement of Dental License or Reduction of Penalties

If you have lost your license you are not locked out of the career of your choice. After a certain amount of time you are eligible to ask the board to grant your license again. In addition, you can generally request that the terms and conditions of probation be modified or terminated early. The legal team at Unlock Legal has filed petitions for reinstatement for many clients who made one mistake, and who have paid the price. We love to demonstrate mitigating circumstances and rehabilitation to the board to get our licensees back in the dental office as soon as possible!

Look to an Experienced California Dental License Defense Attorney for Focused Legal Guidance

If your dental license is on the line, the formidable California dental license defense attorneys at Unlock Legal have a wealth of proven experience guiding claims like yours toward advantageous outcomes that help protect our clients’ reputations, licensure, and livelihoods. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 949-997-1482 today.