Board of Dentistry

South Carolina Dental License Defense Attorneys

Defending Your Right to Professional Practice

The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation regulates the practice of dentistry in South Carolina. Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental technicians are licensed by the South Carolina Board of Dentistry. The Board of Dentistry is also charged with protecting the public interest which requires it to investigate complaints filed with the agency.

Receiving notice that a complaint has been initiated against your South Carolina dental license is overwhelming. If your license is under investigation with the South Carolina Dental Board, our statewide dental license defense team is here to help.

We believe that a proper defense to a dental license investigation begins the moment you receive notice of the complaint. If your license is under investigation, we strongly suggest that you consider retaining an attorney to defend your interest and protect your right to continued practice.

Our attorneys are routinely retained by professional liability carriers to defend licensed dental professionals facing a malpractice claim. Our experience defending licensed professionals will prove valuable to defending your South Carolina dental board complaint. If you carry professional liability insurance, we are happy to work directly with your carrier on your behalf. Our professional licensing attorneys offer an initial consultation to discuss the facts of your case and the LLR administrative process.

Common South Carolina Board of Dentistry Complaints Include:

  • Failure to meet the minimum standard of care or providing care that contributed to a negative outcome;
  • Failure to properly account for controlled substances;
  • Prescribing controlled substances without basis or sufficient documentation;
  • Working under the influence of alcohol or drugs and/or an allegation of an impairing substance use or mental health related concern;
  • Inadequate documentation;
  • Improper billing practices; and/or related to
  • Information disclosed, or failure to provide required information, on an application or renewal paperwork.

Defending a South Carolina Dental License Investigation

If a complaint has been initiated against your South Carolina Dental License your defense begins at the investigative stage. If you have been served with a temporary suspension order ("TSO"), an aggressive defense is even more important.   During the investigative process, the assigned investigator (after providing the licensee notice of the allegations of the complaint) works to obtain the facts, facts which will be summarized and ultimately provided to the Investigative Review Committee (IRC) for review and consideration.

The statement you provide to the assigned investigator is the first opportunity for you to present your defense. If the complaint involves patient care, your statement should include a thorough analysis of the care provided.

The assigned investigator may request that you meet with him/her to discuss the nature of the allegations and to answer questions regarding your care. Depending upon the situation, you may also be provided an opportunity to review supplemental records related to treatment provided following the allegation presented. In these instances, a supplemental statement can be critically important.  

Preparing for a South Carolina Dental Board Hearing

Your dental license is critical to your professional livelihood. If you have been offered a proposed public consent agreement, we strongly recommend that you request a hearing and appear before the South Carolina Board of Dentistry. Preparing for a South Carolina Dental Board Hearing is extremely important. Although the state bears the ultimate burden of proof, it is critical to understand the importance of proper preparation.  You have the right to retain a professional license defense attorney to challenge the evidence against you, help you make the remedial efforts necessary to prepare for an LLR board appearance, and to have an attorney appear and advocate on your behalf.    

Our team will work aggressively to defend your South Carolina Dental license and fight against proposed public disciplinary action. If you have received notice of a dental board complaint or have been scheduled to appear before the South Carolina Board of Dentistry, it is worth your time to speak with us before discussing the complaint with the assigned investigator or making an appearance before the Dental Board.  Our team has handled hundreds of LLR related matters.  Call us today to speak directly with a dental license defense attorney. 803-227-4239.