Choosing a dentist
How to check a dentist’s license in California
Written by the Vetted Dentists team from the sources listed below. Last checked November 9, 2026.
The short answer
Go to search.dca.ca.gov, choose the Dental Board of California, and enter the dentist’s name or license number. The record shows whether the license is current, when it expires and whether the board has taken public disciplinary action. It takes about two minutes and is free.
How to look up a license
Open the state license search
The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) runs one search for every profession it licenses, including dentists. The Dental Board of California is part of DCA, so this is the official record.
Search by name or license number
Pick the Dental Board of California and the dentist license type, then enter a first and last name, or a license number alone.
If the name is common
Use the license number instead. It appears on every profile in this directory, and it returns exactly one record.
Read the record
Open the result to see the license status, the date it was first issued, the expiry date and the address of record. Any extra permits, such as a sedation permit, are listed with the license. If the board has taken public action against the license, the record says so and links to the documents.
What each license status means
| Status | What it means | Can the dentist treat you? |
|---|---|---|
| Current | The license is valid and has been renewed on time. | Yes |
| Delinquent | The license passed its expiry date and has not been renewed. | No, not until it is renewed |
| Inactive | The dentist keeps a license but has chosen not to practice under it. | No, not until it is reactivated |
| Canceled, revoked, surrendered or suspended | The license has ended or been taken away, in some cases through board discipline. | No |
In our own November 2026 check of Orange County, 3,271 of 3,978 dentists in the federal registry held a current license. 318 were delinquent, 79 were inactive and 310 could not be matched to a license at all. Only the current ones are listed here.
What a license check does not tell you
- How good a dentist is, or whether they suit you.
- Which insurance plans the office accepts.
- Whether the office is taking new patients.
A license check answers one question: is this person legally allowed to practice dentistry in California today? It is the first check, not the only one.
If something looks wrong
If a dentist is treating patients without a current license, or you have a concern about care you received, contact the Dental Board of California, which takes complaints from the public. If a listing on this site looks wrong, tell us and we will check it against the record.
Find a licensed dentist near you
Every dentist in this directory is matched to the state license file each month. Start with dentists in Orange County or search by ZIP code.
Questions people ask
Is the California license search free?
Yes. The Department of Consumer Affairs license search is free to use and needs no account.
Does a current license mean a dentist has no complaints?
No. The record shows public disciplinary actions against the license. It does not list every complaint a dentist has received.
Where do I find a dentist’s license number?
Every profile on this site shows it under “License and credentials”. Dentists must also display their license at the office, and you can search the state record by name.
Can I check a dentist licensed in another state?
Each state has its own dental board and its own lookup. The California search only covers California licenses.
Sources
- California Department of Consumer Affairs: DCA License Search
- California Department of Consumer Affairs: Public Information licensee lists
- Dental Board of California
This guide is general information, not dental or medical advice. Ask a licensed dentist about your own situation.