Nevada Board of Dental Examiners: Authority, Enforcement, and Discipline
Board authority
The Nevada Board of Dental Examiners is the licensing and disciplinary body for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. It adopts regulations, administers examinations and licenses, investigates complaints, inspects offices, issues subpoenas, and holds hearings. Its authority is statutory; it cannot invent penalties outside the Act.
Enforcement process
A complaint may come from a patient, colleague, insurer, or the Board's own inspection. The Board screens it, investigates, and may dismiss, settle, or file formal charges. The licensee receives notice and an opportunity to respond and be heard. Discipline can include reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, fines, CE, and practice restrictions. Interim orders may protect the public while a case proceeds.
Cooperation and impairment
Licensees must cooperate with lawful Board investigations. Failure to respond, falsifying records, or practicing while impaired can become independent grounds for discipline. Self-reporting an impairment or arrest may be required by regulation; hiding it usually worsens the outcome.
Worked example
A hygienist receives a Board letter asking for patient records. She ignores it because the patient complained informally. The failure to cooperate supports a separate disciplinary charge even if the clinical care was defensible.
Traps
Do not confuse a malpractice claim with Board discipline; both can arise from one event but have different standards. Do not assume a dismissed criminal case ends the Board matter. Do not alter records after a complaint-spoliation is a serious ethics issue.