As the State's dental regulatory agency, the Board is responsible for
protecting the public by ensuring that dentists and dental hygienists practice in a competent manner. The Board
accepts and investigates complaints against dentist and hygienists.
The Board DOES NOT have jurisdiction over the following: • Fee disputes
• Personality conflicts or rude behavior
• Scheduling (or lack of scheduling) of appointments
Before
filing a complaint with the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, you may wish
to pursue your complaint through the North Carolina Dental Society "Peer Review"
Program. Through peer Review, your complaint will be reviewed by a committee of
dentists and an attempt will be made to mediate your complaint and to resolve the issues
to the satisfaction of both parties. This option is available
if you have not yet filed a complaint with the North Carolina Board
of Dental Examiners. If a complaint is filed with the Board,
Peer Review is no longer an option. Decisions made by Peer Review are non-binding
and do not prevent you from making a formal complaint to the North Carolina State Board of
Dental Examiners should your complaint not be resolved.
If you are interested in requesting mediation with Peer Review, please call the North
Carolina Dental Society at 1(800) 662-8754 or visit their website a www.ncdental.org. The North
Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners is a state regulatory agency and is not
affiliated with the North Carolina Dental Society or its Peer Review Program.
To File a Complaint:
If you wish to file a complaint with the NC State Board of Dental
Examiners, you may download a complaint form from this web page, or
you may contact the Board office and have a form mailed directly to
you. Complaints are accepted only in writing and on the Consumer
Complaint Form provided by the Board. All questions on the
form should be answered as thoroughly and as accurately as possible,
attaching any relevant paper work.
The Process:
The Board
investigates all complaints thoroughly and as expeditiously as possible. The entire
process, however, can take from two (2) months to two (2) years, depending upon the
complexity of the issues involved.
Once you
file a complaint with the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, the complaint is
sent to the dentist or hygienist and a response is requested. A copy of this response is
provided to the complainant. Interviews are then conducted by staff investigators. With
this information, a panel (1 Board member, 3 staff members, and the Board's attorney)
determines if any dental law appears to have been violated. If the evidence tends to show a
violation, a hearing may be held and you may be asked to testify as a witness.
Action That May Be Taken By the Board:
The Board
has the authority to discipline the dentist or hygienist. The Board action may be in the
form of a reprimand, license suspension, probation or revocation. The Board does not have
the authority to make a dentist refund money, but a refund might be a condition of a
consent agreement. Compensation for personal damages is not within the Board's authority.
Official complaint forms may be downloaded from this site using Adobe Acrobat
Reader.
The Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from this site.Here's
How to do this!
• Applications by mail may also be requested by
Email: info@ncdentalboard.org
Pick up at 507 Airport Blvd., Suite 105 •
Morrisville, NC 27560
Office: 919-678-8223 or Fax: (919) 678-8472
Download Consumer Complaint NOW