Filing a Complaint with the Board
If you have knowledge of a potential or actual violation of Oregon law, administrative rule, or doctor-patient relationship, you should contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) and request a complaint form. You are also welcome to call if you have any questions. To a large degree the Board's ability to "protect the public health and safety" is dependent upon the willingness of patients and other licensees to contact the Board regarding concerns of potential unacceptable patient care or unprofessional conduct.
 
While it is not mandatory that complaints be submitted in writing, or on the form provided by the Board, using this form ensures that enough basic information is received in order to initiate a proper investigation. It is also helpful to the investigatory process that you use and sign the Board's form because it contains a release which assists the Board in accessing appropriate dental and medical records. A copy of the Board's Complaint Form is provided below and may be downloaded and filled in by typewriter or legible print and mailed to the Board office.

Complaints filed with the Board are confidential and not subject to public disclosure. The fact that a complaint has been filed against any licensee is not public information. The Board is required by law to keep confidential, to the greatest extent possible, the identity of the complainant and the respondent (licensee) involved. Every effort is made to abide by this requirement, while at the same time conducting a fair and thorough investigation.

Complaints are assigned to an investigator and an initial summary of the issues involved is to the Board at its next scheduled meeting. However, due to the workload of the investigative staff and the complexity of many of the complaints received, it is not always possible to begin the investigative process immediately unless the issues involved constitute an immediate danger to the public or to the respondent. Most case investigations are completed and the Board makes a determination on the matter within about six months are the initial complaint is received.
 
When a complaint is received, it is assigned a number and the person submitting the complaint will receive a letter from the Board advising them of the case number and that they will be contacted during the course of the active investigation. A staff investigator sends a letter to the licensee (respondent) who is the subject of the complaint requesting a copy of patient records where appropriate and a response to the allegations in the complaint. Once the information is received, the investigator reviews the records, interviews the respondent, interviews the person filing the complaint, interviews any prior and subsequent treating dentists, and interviews any other witnesses as may be necessary to elicit sufficient information for a fair and accurate inquiry into the issues raised. The Board also utilizes the services of expert consultants in especially complex or specialized situations where independent evaluations are necessary.
 
The investigative report describing the facts and findings of the investigator is presented to the Board for consideration and action. ORS 676.165 and 676.175 specify that the information gathered during the investigation and the investigative report are confidential and not subject to public disclosure except that the Board may provide sufficient summary to the complainant to explain the action the Board took in the matter.
 
Disposition of cases can result in finding of no violation, issuance of a warning (Letter of Concern), or a determination that disciplinary action is warranted. Approximately 18% of cases result in disciplinary action.

• Investigative and Disciplianary Action Report 1999-2009
• Investigative Caseload by Biennium 1999-2009

Notices of Proposed Disciplinary Action and final disciplinary actions (Orders, Consent Orders, Stipulated Agreements, Emergency Suspensions) taken against licensees are public record and available upon request.

You may submit your complaint to the Board by printing the form that follows and providing the requested information. If this form does not print for you, please call us at 971-673-3200 or e-mail to information@oregondentistry.org.

• Download Complaint Form (pdf format)