To file a complaint against a dentist in Texas, send a written complaint to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) by mail, fax, or email. The board reviews the complaint, investigates if it falls within its jurisdiction, and must schedule an informal settlement conference within 180 days of opening a formal investigation. Outcomes range from a warning to license revocation. The board does not award you money.
What the TSBDE Handles
The TSBDE enforces the Texas Dental Practice Act. That covers conduct like performing procedures beyond a dentist’s training, practicing without a proper license, failing to maintain adequate records, and treatment that falls below the accepted standard of care.
It does not handle fee disputes, personality conflicts, or general dissatisfaction with cosmetic results when the dentist otherwise met professional standards. Purely financial disputes belong in small claims court or with your insurer. And if you’re looking for compensation for an injury, a TSBDE complaint won’t get it: the board disciplines dentists, it doesn’t award damages. A malpractice lawsuit is a separate track, and you can pursue both.
Get Your Dental Records First
Before you file, request copies of your records from the office in question. Texas rules require a dentist to provide copies within 30 days of your request, and the dentist cannot withhold records because you owe money.1Legal Information Institute. 22 Texas Administrative Code 108.8 – Records of the Dentist
Copy fees are capped. Expect no more than $25 for the first 20 pages and $0.15 per page after that. X-ray duplication is also capped: $15 for a full-mouth series, $15 for a panoramic radiograph, $5 for a single intra-oral film, and $30 for a CBCT scan.1Legal Information Institute. 22 Texas Administrative Code 108.8 – Records of the Dentist
Make your request in writing. If the dentist ignores it or refuses to hand over copies, that refusal is itself a violation you can include in your complaint.
What to Put in the Complaint
The TSBDE has a complaint form on its website. You’ll need to provide:
- Your name, address, phone number, and email
- The dentist’s full name, practice name, and office address
- A written description of what happened, with dates and the procedures involved
Write the description in chronological order and stick to facts. “Dr. Smith extracted the wrong tooth on March 15” gives an investigator something to work with. “The whole experience was terrible” does not. Name any witnesses.
Attach supporting documents: your dental records, billing statements, written communications with the office, and photographs of visible injuries or damage. Stronger documentation makes it easier for the board to move your complaint past preliminary review.
How and Where to Submit
Complaints must be in writing. The TSBDE accepts them by mail, fax, and email. There is no online submission portal.2Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Complaint Form
- Mail: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, 1801 Congress Ave., Suite 8.600, Austin, TX 78701
- Fax: 512-649-2732
- Email: complaints@tsbde.texas.gov
Email is not a HIPAA-compliant way to transmit protected health information, and the TSBDE flags this on its complaint form and leaves the choice to you.2Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Complaint Form If your attachments contain sensitive medical details, mail or fax is the safer choice. Questions about the process go to the Enforcement Division at 737-363-2320.3Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Agency Contacts
What Happens After You File
Preliminary Review
Staff first check whether the complaint falls within the board’s jurisdiction and describes a potential violation of the Dental Practice Act. A committee of board employees can dismiss complaints that clearly fall outside the board’s scope or negotiate an agreed settlement for less serious matters without a full hearing.4Legal Information Institute. 22 Texas Administrative Code 107.63 – Informal Disposition and Mediation
Investigation
Complaints that pass preliminary review go to an investigator, who gathers evidence. That can include interviewing you, the dentist, and witnesses, reviewing records, and consulting expert reviewers on standard-of-care questions.
Informal Settlement Conference
Texas law requires the board to schedule an informal settlement conference no later than 180 days after opening a formal investigation, unless the board can show good cause for delay. Both you and the dentist can present your side. A board legal counsel or attorney general representative advises the panel, and staff present the facts they believe they could prove at a formal hearing. The dentist responds and offers evidence. The panel then recommends closing the investigation or proposes a resolution.5State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code OCC 263.007
The board prioritizes scheduling conferences for dentists previously subject to discipline, so repeat offenders move through faster.5State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code OCC 263.007 You can check any Texas dentist’s license status and public disciplinary history on the TSBDE’s Public License Search tool before you file.6Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Public License Search
Possible Outcomes
The board’s disciplinary options include:
- A warning or reprimand
- An administrative penalty or fine
- Probated suspension, where the license stays active under specific conditions
- Enforced suspension for a set period
- License revocation
- A remedial plan requiring continuing education, community service, or supervised practice as an alternative to more severe discipline4Legal Information Institute. 22 Texas Administrative Code 107.63 – Informal Disposition and Mediation
If Billing Fraud Is Involved
If the dentist billed Medicare or Medicaid for services never performed, upcoded procedures, or took kickbacks for referrals, the TSBDE complaint covers only part of the problem. Federal healthcare fraud falls under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which runs a hotline and online portal for tips.7U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Fraud An OIG report does not replace a TSBDE complaint. File both if the situation warrants it.
If You Want Money Back
A board complaint can end a dentist’s license but will never compensate you for your injuries, lost wages, or corrective dental work. Financial recovery requires a dental malpractice lawsuit, which has its own procedural rules and deadlines separate from the board process. Pursuing a complaint does not extend the deadlines for suing, so if compensation matters, consult a malpractice attorney early rather than waiting for the board to finish.