{"id":39757,"date":"2026-07-20T12:49:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/?page_id=39757"},"modified":"2026-07-20T19:33:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:33:41","slug":"facing-a-complaint-before-the-georgia-board-of-dentistry-a-dentists-starting-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/facing-a-complaint-before-the-georgia-board-of-dentistry-a-dentists-starting-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry: a dentist\u2019s starting guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"39757\" class=\"elementor elementor-39757\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9686d90 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9686d90\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-477d36a elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"477d36a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n<!-- Healthcare Ethics Courses \u2014 US Knowledge & Support \u2014 Georgia Dentists\r\n     Article: Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry: a dentist&rsquo;s starting guide\r\n     Paste into an Elementor Custom HTML block. 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20px;}\r\n  }\r\n  <\/style>\r\n\r\n  <nav class=\"crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\r\n    <ol>\r\n      <li><a href=\"\/us\/\">Home<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li class=\"sep\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&rsaquo;<\/li>\r\n      <li><a href=\"\/us\/knowledge-support\/\">Knowledge &amp; Support<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li class=\"sep\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&rsaquo;<\/li>\r\n      <li><a href=\"\/us\/knowledge-support\/\">Georgia Dentists<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li class=\"sep\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&rsaquo;<\/li>\r\n      <li aria-current=\"page\">Facing a complaint<\/li>\r\n    <\/ol>\r\n  <\/nav>\r\n\r\n  <header class=\"head wrap\">\r\n    <h1>Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry: a dentist&rsquo;s starting guide<\/h1>\r\n    <div class=\"meta\"><span>6 min read<\/span><span class=\"dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&bull;<\/span><span>Last updated July 2026<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <p class=\"lead\">Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry is unsettling, but a complaint is only the start of a defined process &mdash; and most never reach a hearing. This starting guide explains who can complain, what the Board can and cannot act on, and what happens first.<\/p>\r\n  <\/header>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"takeaways wrap\">\r\n    <h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>The Georgia Board of Dentistry investigates complaints through its Compliance and Investigations Division under the Dental Practice Act (O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 11).<\/li>\r\n      <li>Complaints must be in writing; the Board accepts anonymous complaints only where there is enough evidence to act without the complainant&rsquo;s identity.<\/li>\r\n      <li>The Board first decides jurisdiction; fee disputes, rudeness, and employer disputes fall outside its authority.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Investigative materials are confidential and privileged by statute and are released only to other licensing or enforcement agencies.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Grounds for discipline are set out in O.C.G.A. \u00a7 43-11-47 and the Board&rsquo;s unprofessional-conduct rule, Ga. Comp. R. &amp; Regs. 150-8-.01.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"body wrap\">\r\n    <h2>Who handles complaints in Georgia?<\/h2>\r\n    <p>The Georgia Board of Dentistry (GBD) enforces and regulates the Georgia Dental Practice Act (O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 11) and the Board&rsquo;s rules. Complaints are investigated by the Board&rsquo;s <strong>Compliance and Investigations Division<\/strong>, which reviews the allegations to determine whether they may violate the laws and rules governing dentistry. The Board&rsquo;s jurisdiction is limited to an individual&rsquo;s license to practice &mdash; it can only discipline where it finds a violation of those laws and rules.<\/p>\r\n    <h2>Who can file &mdash; and how<\/h2>\r\n    <p>A complaint must be in writing, submitted through the Board&rsquo;s online portal or on its complaint form by mail or fax. Supporting documentation &mdash; records, correspondence &mdash; strengthens a complaint. The Board <strong>does<\/strong> accept anonymous complaints, but only where there is sufficient evidence, absent the complainant&rsquo;s identity, for the Board to determine that a violation may have occurred. One practical detail: a complaint about a dentist&rsquo;s failure to provide records must include proof of the request, and patients must allow 30 days for the records to be produced.<\/p>\r\n    <h2>What the Board can&rsquo;t act on<\/h2>\r\n    <p>Several common grievances fall outside the Board&rsquo;s authority and are better directed elsewhere:<\/p>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Rudeness, poor chair-side manner, or customer-service complaints about office staff.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Fee, billing, insurance, or refund disputes &mdash; although allegations of improper or predatory billing will be reviewed.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Employee&ndash;employer disputes, such as wrongful termination.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Complaints against non-dentists, or against facilities, labs, assistants, mobile or online dental companies &mdash; which must name the Georgia-licensed dentist responsible.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n    <h2>The jurisdictional decision<\/h2>\r\n    <p>The first thing the Board does is decide whether it has authority to act. If the complaint is determined to be jurisdictional and a possible violation appears to have occurred, it is referred for further investigation, a case is opened, and it is assigned to an investigator. If the matter is outside the Board&rsquo;s authority, the complainant is directed to other avenues.<\/p>\r\n    <h2>What counts as a violation<\/h2>\r\n    <p>The grounds for discipline are set out in O.C.G.A. \u00a7 43-11-47 &mdash; among them fraud in obtaining a license, fraudulent or deceptive representations in practice, a felony or crime of moral turpitude, inability to practice with reasonable skill and safety, impairment, and violating a statute or rule regulating dentistry or a prior Board order. The Board&rsquo;s unprofessional-conduct rule (150-8-.01) adds specifics, including sexual misconduct, delegating restricted duties to unqualified staff, and &mdash; importantly &mdash; falsifying, altering, or destroying treatment records in contemplation of an investigation.<\/p>\r\n    <h2>Confidentiality &mdash; and what happens first<\/h2>\r\n    <p>Once a case is opened, all investigative materials become a permanent part of the Board&rsquo;s files and are confidential and privileged by statute; they may be released only to other licensing or enforcement agencies. For the dentist, an investigator may or may not make contact to request a written statement or documents. The safest first steps are to note any deadline, preserve the complete record exactly as it stands &mdash; never alter it &mdash; and consider counsel; many malpractice policies include license-defense coverage.<\/p>\r\n    <p>For what the investigation involves, see <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/georgia\/investigation\/\">what to expect during a Georgia Board of Dentistry investigation<\/a>. For the response stage, see <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/georgia\/discipline\/\">responding to the Georgia Board of Dentistry<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"courses wrap\">\r\n    <h2>Related courses<\/h2>\r\n    <p class=\"intro\">If you are facing a complaint, these courses help you build the documented insight and record-keeping the Board looks for:<\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"clist\">\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/courses\/dealing-with-a-complaint-or-investigation-professionally\/\"><span class=\"cn\">Dealing with a Complaint or Investigation Professionally<\/span><svg class=\"arw\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><polyline points=\"12 5 19 12 12 19\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/courses\/professionalism-and-professional-standards-for-dentists-and-dental-professionals\/\"><span class=\"cn\">Professionalism and Professional Standards for Dentists<\/span><svg class=\"arw\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><polyline points=\"12 5 19 12 12 19\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/courses\/documentation-for-healthcare-professionals\/\"><span class=\"cn\">Documentation for Healthcare Professionals<\/span><svg class=\"arw\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><polyline points=\"12 5 19 12 12 19\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/courses\/insight-for-fitness-to-practice\/\"><span class=\"cn\">Insight for Fitness to Practise<\/span><svg class=\"arw\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><polyline points=\"12 5 19 12 12 19\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <p class=\"caveat\">These are structured ethics and professional-development courses that issue a certificate of completion &mdash; they are not accredited continuing education (CE), and completion does not resolve a Board matter. Their value is as documented evidence of insight, reflection, and remediation, which the Georgia Board of Dentistry weighs in mitigation when deciding an outcome.<\/p>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"siblings wrap\">\r\n    <h2>More on the Georgia Board of Dentistry<\/h2>\r\n    <div class=\"slist\">\r\n      <a class=\"scard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/what-to-expect-during-a-georgia-board-of-dentistry-investigation\/\">What to expect during a Georgia Board of Dentistry investigation<\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"scard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/responding-to-the-georgia-board-of-dentistry-how-to-build-your-defense\/\">Responding to the Georgia Board of Dentistry: how to build your defense<\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"faq wrap\">\r\n    <h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\r\n    <div class=\"fitem\">\r\n      <button class=\"fq\" onclick=\"hecTF(this)\"><span>Who investigates dental complaints in Georgia?<\/span><svg class=\"ic\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><line x1=\"12\" y1=\"5\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"19\"\/><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"fa\"><div class=\"fa-in\">The Georgia Board of Dentistry&rsquo;s Compliance and Investigations Division reviews and investigates complaints to determine whether the allegations may violate the Dental Practice Act or the Board&rsquo;s rules.<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"fitem\">\r\n      <button class=\"fq\" onclick=\"hecTF(this)\"><span>Can a complaint be anonymous?<\/span><svg class=\"ic\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><line x1=\"12\" y1=\"5\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"19\"\/><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"fa\"><div class=\"fa-in\">Yes, the Board accepts anonymous complaints &mdash; but only where there is sufficient evidence, absent the complainant&rsquo;s identity, for the Board to determine that a violation may have occurred.<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"fitem\">\r\n      <button class=\"fq\" onclick=\"hecTF(this)\"><span>What kinds of complaints does the Board not handle?<\/span><svg class=\"ic\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><line x1=\"12\" y1=\"5\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"19\"\/><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"fa\"><div class=\"fa-in\">Rudeness or chair-side manner, fee, billing, and refund disputes (though improper or predatory billing is reviewed), and employee&ndash;employer disputes generally fall outside the Board&rsquo;s authority.<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"fitem\">\r\n      <button class=\"fq\" onclick=\"hecTF(this)\"><span>What are the grounds for discipline?<\/span><svg class=\"ic\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><line x1=\"12\" y1=\"5\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"19\"\/><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"fa\"><div class=\"fa-in\">They are set out in O.C.G.A. \u00a7 43-11-47 and the Board&rsquo;s rule 150-8-.01, and include fraud, impairment, inability to practice safely, criminal convictions, and violations of the laws and rules regulating dentistry.<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"fitem\">\r\n      <button class=\"fq\" onclick=\"hecTF(this)\"><span>Are complaints and investigations confidential?<\/span><svg class=\"ic\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><line x1=\"12\" y1=\"5\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"19\"\/><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"fa\"><div class=\"fa-in\">Yes. Investigative materials become a permanent, confidential, and privileged part of the Board&rsquo;s files and may be released only to other licensing or enforcement agencies.<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"fitem\">\r\n      <button class=\"fq\" onclick=\"hecTF(this)\"><span>What should I do first?<\/span><svg class=\"ic\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><line x1=\"12\" y1=\"5\" x2=\"12\" y2=\"19\"\/><line x1=\"5\" y1=\"12\" x2=\"19\" y2=\"12\"\/><\/svg><\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"fa\"><div class=\"fa-in\">Note any response deadline, preserve the complete record exactly as it stands &mdash; never alter it, which is itself misconduct &mdash; and consider consulting a Georgia license-defense attorney. Many malpractice policies cover the defense.<\/div><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"Article\", \"headline\": \"Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry: a dentist&rsquo;s starting guide\", \"description\": \"Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry: who investigates, who can file, what the Board can't act on, confidentiality, and what happens first.\", \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Dr Shehzad Iqbal\", \"jobTitle\": \"Clinician; MRCS, MRCGP, PG Cert Healthcare Law & Ethics (University of Dundee)\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Healthcare Ethics Courses\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/\"}, \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-01\", \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\"@type\": \"WebPage\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/georgia\/complaints\/\"}, \"about\": \"Georgia Board of Dentistry\", \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"}<\/script>\r\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Knowledge & Support\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/knowledge-support\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"name\": \"Georgia Dentists\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/georgia\/\"}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 4, \"name\": \"Facing a complaint before the Georgia Board of Dentistry: a dentist&rsquo;s starting guide\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/us\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/georgia\/complaints\/\"}]}<\/script>\r\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Who investigates dental complaints in Georgia?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The Georgia Board of Dentistry\u2019s Compliance and Investigations Division reviews and investigates complaints to determine whether the allegations may violate the Dental Practice Act or the Board\u2019s rules.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can a complaint be anonymous?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes, the Board accepts anonymous complaints \u2014 but only where there is sufficient evidence, absent the complainant\u2019s identity, for the Board to determine that a violation may have occurred.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What kinds of complaints does the Board not handle?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Rudeness or chair-side manner, fee, billing, and refund disputes (though improper or predatory billing is reviewed), and employee\u2013employer disputes generally fall outside the Board\u2019s authority.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What are the grounds for discipline?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"They are set out in O.C.G.A. \u00a7 43-11-47 and the Board\u2019s rule 150-8-.01, and include fraud, impairment, inability to practice safely, criminal convictions, and violations of the laws and rules regulating dentistry.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Are complaints and investigations confidential?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. 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