Quick answer: Use the free Public License Search run by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). Search the dentist’s name, then check that the license type says dentist and the status is active. The same results show whether the board has taken disciplinary action or set a remedial plan.
Every dentist who treats patients in Texas needs a license from the TSBDE. So do dental hygienists. Dental assistants who take x-rays need a board registration. A two-minute lookup tells you if the person working in your mouth holds the right credential and if the board has acted against them. This guide shows how to run the search, how to read the results, how specialist claims work, and how to file a complaint.
In this guide
How to look up a Texas dentist license, step by step
Step 1: Get the dentist’s full name
Use the name on the practice website, your appointment card or the office door. A first and last name works. A middle initial helps when the name is common. Office names and brand names will not show up in the search, so you need the person’s name.
Step 2: Open the TSBDE Public License Search
Go to the board’s Public License Search page and follow the link to the search tool at ls.tsbde.texas.gov. The board calls its website a primary source for license verification and says it updates the data daily. The search is free.
Step 3: Match the right person
Results list the license type, license number, license status, first, middle and last name, city and state. Use the city and middle name to confirm you have the right person. If two records look close, open each one.
Step 4: Read the status and the action columns
Check that the license type fits the job (a dentist license for the dentist, a hygienist license for the hygienist). Then look at two more columns: Disciplinary Actions and Remedial Plans. The board says these now appear in the same search. Open the details to see any posted documents.
Step 5: Call the board if anything is unclear
If you cannot find the person or a result does not make sense, call the TSBDE at 737-363-2320 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or email licensinghelp@tsbde.texas.gov.
License status: what it means
| What you see | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Active | The license is current. This is what you want to see. |
| Expired | Not current. A brand new license can show as expired until the first activation fee is paid. For anyone else, ask the office or call the board before treatment. |
| Canceled | The license is not active. It has to be reinstated through the board before it returns to active status. |
| Retired | The licensee has moved to retired status. Reinstatement is a separate board process. |
| Entry under Disciplinary Actions | The board has taken public action. Open the record and read the order to see what happened and if any limits apply. |
| Entry under Remedial Plans | The board has put a plan in place to address an issue. Read the document to judge how serious it was. |
| No record found | Check spelling and try fewer fields. If you still find nothing, call the board. |
License types: dentists, hygienists and assistants
Dentists (DDS or DMD)
A dentist may have DDS or DMD after their name. Both are dental degrees. Either way, the TSBDE license is what allows them to practice in Texas, and that is the record you should check.
Dental hygienists
Hygienists hold their own TSBDE license. Search them the same way you search a dentist. The license type column will show the hygienist license.
Registered dental assistants (RDA)
Not every dental assistant needs a board credential. But a dentist can only delegate x-rays to an assistant who holds a registration issued by the TSBDE. Monitoring nitrous oxide also takes a separate board certificate for an RDA or hygienist. Texas rules also set training and experience requirements before a dentist can delegate coronal polishing or pit and fissure sealants to an assistant.
Sedation and anesthesia permits
Under Texas rules, a dentist needs a TSBDE permit to give nitrous oxide sedation or Level 1 through Level 4 sedation. The levels run from minimal sedation (Level 1) to deep sedation or general anesthesia (Level 4). If you plan to be sedated, ask which permit level the dentist holds. Board staff can answer permit questions at the main number.
Checking a specialist claim
Texas rules limit who can advertise as a specialist. A dentist may advertise as a specialist only in recognized specialty areas, such as endodontics, pediatric dentistry or periodontics. To use the word, the dentist must be educationally qualified (a specialty program of two or more years) or board certified by a qualifying specialty board. A general dentist can still offer some specialty services but should not imply they are a specialist.
Wording matters. Look for “specialist in” or “practice limited to.” If you are unsure, ask where the dentist did their specialty training. For more on who does what, see our guide to dentist vs dental specialist in Texas.
Discipline and complaints
The TSBDE handles complaints about licensed dentists, hygienists, registered dental assistants and dental labs. It looks at quality of care, sanitation, professional conduct, patient abandonment and rule violations. It also helps local law enforcement with complaints about unlicensed practice.
What the board will not handle
- Fee disputes. The board says it has no jurisdiction over them.
- Damages. Restitution is limited to actual out-of-pocket treatment costs, and only when care fell below the standard. For anything beyond that, the board points people to a lawyer.
How to file
- Download the complaint form from the board’s complaint submission page.
- Send it by email to complaints@tsbde.texas.gov, by fax to 512-649-2732, or by mail to Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, Attn: Investigations Division, 1801 Congress Ave., Suite 8.600, Austin, TX 78701.
- Include dates, names and copies of records or bills. Complete details help the intake review move faster.
The board does not accept anonymous complaints. At the time of writing, it says complainants get written status updates at least every quarter and are told about any final action.
What else to check before booking
- Who does the work. Ask who will clean your teeth, take x-rays and do the procedure. Look up each name.
- Sedation plans. If you will be sedated, confirm the dentist holds the right permit level.
- Price in writing. The board does not settle fee disputes, so get a written estimate first. Our guide to dentist visit costs in Texas without insurance covers typical questions to ask. On Medicaid or CHIP? See how to find a Medicaid dentist.
- Fit for your family. Office hours, location and whether they see kids all matter. See how to choose a family dentist in Texas.
Red flags
- You cannot find the dentist in the TSBDE search, or the status is not active.
- The record shows disciplinary action you have not read yet.
- The office will not tell you the full name of the dentist treating you.
- Someone claims to be a “specialist” but cannot name a specialty program or certifying board.
- You are offered sedation and no one can say what permit the dentist holds.
- You are pushed to pay in full for a large treatment plan the same day.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my dentist is licensed in Texas?
Use the TSBDE Public License Search at ls.tsbde.texas.gov. Search the dentist’s name and confirm the license type is dentist and the status is active. It is free.
Does the license search show discipline?
Yes. The TSBDE says disciplinary actions and remedial plans can be found using its public license search. Open the record to read any posted documents.
Can I check a dental hygienist or dental assistant?
Yes. Hygienists hold TSBDE licenses and registered dental assistants hold TSBDE registrations. Both appear in the same search. Not every assistant is registered, but an assistant needs a board registration to take x-rays.
What is the TSBDE phone number?
The board’s general line is 737-363-2320, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The licensing email is licensinghelp@tsbde.texas.gov and complaints go to complaints@tsbde.texas.gov.
Can the dental board get me a refund?
The TSBDE does not handle fee disputes. Restitution is limited to actual out-of-pocket treatment costs when care fell below the standard. For other damages, the board suggests talking to a lawyer.
Can I file an anonymous complaint against a dentist?
No. The TSBDE does not accept anonymous complaints. You must use the board’s complaint form and send it by email, fax or mail.
How do I know if a dentist is really a specialist?
Texas rules allow a dentist to advertise as a specialist only in recognized specialty areas, and only if they completed a specialty program of two or more years or are board certified by a qualifying board. Ask where they trained.
Looking for a dentist in your city?
We have local pages for Abilene, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Waco and Tyler. Hiring a contractor too? See how to check a plumber license in Texas.
Board procedures, contact details and website features can change. Confirm current details on the TSBDE website before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice.