STATE LICENSE

1. Keep a copy in office. Keep original in safe place. For multiple offices, keep a copy in each offices.
2. Renewal is Dentist's Responsibility, it’s due LAST DAY of the birth month.  Every other year (odd or even)
corresponding to your birth year.  Send Renewal and appropriate fee to:

State Board of Dental Examiners
1432 Howe Ave., Ste. 85B
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 263-2300

3. Required: 50 hours Continuing Education, CPR update and payment fee. Monthly continuing education
courses are provided by SGVDS. Call the office for current schedule.

4. Must notify State Dental Board of change of office address within 30 days.

5. Additional office permit – prior to opening of any additional office, make application to the board, pay
required fee, and receive permission in writing from the board to have an additional place of practice.

6. Dental practice act
•  Keep copy in office
•  Be aware of updates & changes
•  Observe carefully limits on auxiliaries
•  Post auxiliary duties

 LOCAL LICENSE

1. Business- City Hall of city your practice address
•  May be based on gross income and /or the number of professionals in your practice
•  Usually a fixed annual fee

2. Fictitious name permit from the county, if required. May not be required if an employee or associate

•  May be required from the State Dental Board of Examiners. Please call (916) 263-2300
for requirements.

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

1. To request an application form to obtain DEA license contact:

Drug Enforcement Agency
450 Golden Gate Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 436-7905

2. Classification of drugs, “schedules” Keep in mind there are different types of forms depending on
the schedule of drugs you want to prescribe.

3. Required to write most prescriptions

4. Obtain prescription blanks from a professional printer, Triplicate forms obtained from DEA

5. Keep a copy of your DEA license in office

•  Keep original in safe place

•  Multiple offices; contact DEA

6. Renewal

•  Dentist's responsibility

•  Renewable every 3 years

•  Valid state dental license is required
...( DEA continued )

7. Must notify DEA of change of office address within 30 days

8. Keep all Triplicate form, used and unused; UNUSED Triplicate forms must be returned to DEA if
moving office location or upon expiration date.

9. You MUST keep a log of all controlled drugs dispensed directly to patients out of your office

 

X-RAY EQUIPMENT REGISTRATION

1. Must have an operator certificate. To obtain, contact:

Radiologic Health Branch

601 N. 7 th St.

P.O. Box 942732

Sacramento, CA 94234

(916) 445-0931 ..(top)

2. Renewal of equipment can vary from 12-24 months depending on individual account

3. Renewal cost depends on equipment, type of practice and other variables

 

OSHA

OSHA Compliance
CAL-OSHA
3 Waters Park Drive, #230
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 573-3864

 

FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS

1. Obtain services of CPA or public accountant as soon as you begin your own practice

2. Obtain independent financial advise

3. Seek counsel regarding ANY contracts to be signed

4. Develop a relationship with a banker or financial institution

 

INSURANCE

1. Malpractice

•  Determine limits, i.e., 1-3M aggregate recommended

•  Know what's NOT covered

•  Multiple office coverage

•  Multiple dentists in one office (include dentists doing hygiene)

2. Worker's Compensation

•  Required for your employees and possibly yourself

•  TDIC or your insurance agent can supply

3. Liability

•  General liability, office equipment, personal injury

•  If leasing, coverage for equipment/ contents loss

4. Hazards: fire, theft, and earthquakes

5. Income protection (overhead coverage)

•  Check for earthquake coverage

•  Cover your practice during the “wait” period in Disability Insurance

6. Disability

•  Statistics indicate a moderate chance of you becoming disabled

•  TDIC or your insurance agent can supply

•  Check out several policies having increase options, “own” occupation clauses, etc.

7. Health, i.e., medical, hospitalization, etc.

8. Life insurance- whole/term

9. Auto, if used in business

TAXES

1. Know the tax implications for Independent Contractor/ Employee, if applicable

•  Contact a CPA

2. As an employee

•  Withheld by employer

•  Receive annual W4 form from employer

3. Self-employed

•  Obtain Federal and State Tax ID numbers

IRS Taxing information- (800) 829-1040

Franchise Tax Board  - (800) 852-5711

b. Need experienced CPA

•  Estimates and quarterly payments necessary

•  Payroll taxes (withholding on employees); Federal & State income tax, Social Security, Medicare

•  State disability and State unemployment taxes

PATIENT INFORMATION

1. Retention of records

•  Required to retain for 7 years unless minor. Retain longer if space permits
PARTNERSHIPS

1. Obtain help from CPA, attorney

2. Tax considerations

•  IRS forms ........
•  Tax consequences

3. Agreements, i.e., changing from associate to partner

4. Contracts – Consult with legal counsel regarding specifics

•  Is previous doctor winding down, illness, then what?

•  Specific property rights

•  Consider management styles (two bosses?)

•  Life insurance to cover buy-out if death occurs

5. Consult an attorney before signing any contract

PURCHASE / SELF-EMPLOYED

1. Tax Responsibilities

•  Consult experienced CPA

•  Estimates, quarterly payments, penalties

2. Leasing ...........(top)

•  New Lease or maintain current lease? Assumability of lease?

•  Contract details needed

•  Insurance considerations

•  Time: Length of contract, Renewable, Bail-out, Sub-let or transfer

•  Total cost over time, Annual rate of increase

•  Practical considerations

•  How to select?

•  How to pay fairly- Dental Economics has surveys

•  How to organize staff

•  Employee handbook

Employment Development / Labor

Commissioner- (909) 383-4333


Patient access to records / X rays

•  Health & Safety Code Section of Assembly Bill 610 prohibits withholding patient records from
a patient or the legal representative of a patient, even if the patient has failed to pay for services
rendered.

•  The health care provider can insist on a written request to inspect the records and has five working
days following receipt of the request to comply. If the patient requests copies of the records, they
must be transmitted within 15 days. Copies of X-rays need not to be provided if the original X-rays
are transmitted to another health care provider at the patients request.

•  The patient can be charged “reasonable clerical costs” incurred in locating making the records
available. The cost should not exceed the cost of copying them. Cost can include administrative
staff time. 

Patient Abandonment
Abandonment of the patient by the licentiate is unprofessional conduct. A 30 day written dismissal
may be forwarded to the patient notifying him/her that you will be available for emergency care only
during this period and provide the Society's number for referral to another dentist. A patient cannot
be dismissed mid-treatment.

Peer Review
If you are unable to obtain insurance benefits for your patient for which you think coverage should
be provided, you may contact SGVDS Peer Review Committee for assistance.