California State Board of Dentistry

What California State Board of Dentistry does

The Dental Board of California is a state regulatory agency operating under the California Department of Consumer Affairs with statutory authority to license, regulate, and discipline the dental profession under the California Business and Professions Code. It oversees approximately 104,000 dental professionals — including dentists, registered dental assistants (RDAs), registered dental assistants in extended functions (RDAEFs), orthodontic assistants, dental sedation assistants, and twelve categories of permit holders spanning sedation/anesthesia and elective facial cosmetic surgery — and additionally sets duties for unlicensed dental assistants. Core operational technology includes the BreEZe online licensing system (used for all license applications, renewals, examinations, and fees, with a 2.3% non-refundable credit card service fee added on January 2, 2025) and CURES, the state Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, which tracks Schedule II–IV prescriptions and migrated to ASAP version 4.2B in August 2024.

The Board derives revenue from four primary streams: initial and renewal license fees, examination fees (administered through PSI Services LLC), the annual CURES fee ($9 per year, paid biennially as $18 by most licensees), and educational program/course approval fees covering RDA/RDAEF programs and continuing education courses. GTM is non-commercial: services are delivered through BreEZe self-service, the Sacramento headquarters, five regional board meeting sites (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Anaheim), YouTube webcasts, and outreach via newsletters and social media. The Board's authority is renewed through periodic Sunset Reviews (most recently 2024 via SB 1453), and AB 82 narrowing CURES reporting of testosterone/mifepristone takes effect January 1, 2026.

Products include License Verification, the BreEZe portal, multiple Dentist Licensure Pathways (WREB, ADEX, Credential, Residency), Dental Assisting Educational Program Approval, CURES Reporting, the Dentist Permit System, Hot Sheets enforcement summaries, and a Workforce Survey mandated by AB 269. Customer-facing segments span licensed dentists (primary), registered dental assistants, dental educational institutions, and California consumers/patients seeking license verification and complaint channels.

Name

California State Board of Dentistry

Legal name

Dental Board of California

Website

https://dbc.ca.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Dental Board of California is a state regulatory agency under the California Department of Consumer Affairs that licenses and regulates approximately 104,000 dental professionals — including dentists, RDAs, RDAEFs, and twelve categories of permit holders — while administering examinations, approving educational programs, and operating the CURES prescription tracking system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing and Regulation

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Licensing, Accreditation & Credentialing Boards (HLAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare Compliance & Enforcement Authorities (HLAJACAB), Regulatory Compliance, Licensing & Enforcement (Public Health) (HLAJAMAE)

Keywords

• Professional licensing
• Dental regulation
• License verification
• Continuing education approval
• Regulatory enforcement

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. License and Permit Fees: The Board generates revenue through various licensing and permit fees including initial license applications, renewals, and specialty permits (anesthesia, sedation, cosmetic surgery). Fees are set by regulation and reviewed periodically.
2. Examination Fees: Fees collected for various examinations including the Dentistry Law and Ethics Examination, RDA General and Law and Ethics Examination, and other specialized examinations administered through PSI.
3. CURES Fee: Annual CURES fee charged to licensees who prescribe controlled substances. As of July 1, 2023, the annual fee decreased from $11 to $9. Most licensees pay $18 biennially due to the renewal cycle.
4. Educational Program/Course Approval Fees: Fees for Board approval of dental assisting educational programs and courses including RDA programs, RDAEF programs, and various continuing education courses.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Dental Board of California is a state regulatory agency that licenses, monitors, and disciplines approximately 104,000 dental professionals including dentists, registered dental assistants (RDAs), and registered dental assistants in extended functions (RDAEFs). The Board issues various permits for anesthesia, sedation, orthodontic assisting, and elective facial cosmetic surgery; approves dental assisting educational programs and courses; administers examinations (Dentistry Law and Ethics, RDA General and Law and Ethics); and enforces the Dental Practice Act through investigations, discipline, and a Diversion Program for impaired practitioners. The Board operates the BreEZe online licensing system and oversees the CURES controlled substance reporting system.

Product overview

The Dental Board of California is a regulatory body that does not offer commercial products but provides government licensing and regulatory services. The board operates the BreEZe online licensing system for applications and renewals, maintains a license verification portal, oversees the CURES controlled substance reporting system, approves dental assisting educational programs and courses, issues various dentist and dental assistant permits, and publishes enforcement action summaries. These services collectively enable licensing, regulation, and public protection for approximately 104,000 dental professionals in California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• License Verification Online portal enabling consumers to search and verify the license status of dental professionals including dentists, registered dental assistants (RDAs), and registered dental assistants in extended functions (RDAEFs).
• BreEZe Online Licensing System State of California Department of Consumer Affairs online system for license applications, renewals, and fee payments. Effective January 2, 2025, a 2.3% non-refundable credit card service fee is charged on all online transactions.
• Dentist Licensure Pathways Multiple pathways for obtaining dentist licensure in California including WREB Examination, ADEX Examination, Licensure by Credential, and Licensure by Residency. Includes pathways for graduates of 7 California-approved dental schools and foreign dental school graduates.
• Dental Assisting Educational Program Approval Board approval process for dental assisting educational programs and courses including RDA Programs (minimum 800 hours), RDAEF Programs (minimum 410 hours), radiation safety, coronal polishing, pit and fissure sealants, ultrasonic scaling, infection control, dental sedation assistant, and orthodontic assistant courses.
• CURES Reporting System Required reporting system for California dental professionals to report dispensing of Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances. Tracks patient information, prescriber DEA numbers, pharmacy details, and prescription data. Effective January 1, 2026, AB 82 prohibits reporting of testosterone or mifepristone to CURES.
• Dentist Permit System Various permit types issued to dentists including Additional Office Permit, Elective Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit, Extramural Dental Facility Permit, Fictitious Name Permit, General Anesthesia Permit, Medical General Anesthesia Permit, Mobile Dental Clinic Permit, Moderate Sedation Permit, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Permit, Oral Conscious Sedation Certificate, Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit, and Special Permit.
• Dental Workforce Survey Annual data collection from licensees as required by AB 269 to determine the number of dental professionals with cultural and linguistic competency practicing in California. Collects practice status, employment information, and language proficiency data.
• Hot Sheets Enforcement Summaries Monthly summaries of board enforcement actions published in PDF format, documenting disciplinary actions, license revocations, probations, and other regulatory enforcement outcomes from 2011 to present.

Quantifiable outcome

• 104,000 dental professionals licensed and regulated
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California State Board of Pharmacy: California-licensed healthcare regulator under DCA with direct CURES integration responsibilities for controlled substance tracking; sibling agency performing parallel licensing/enforcement functions and sharing the same regulatory technology stack.
• Medical Board of California: California state healthcare licensing board operating under the same Department of Consumer Affairs; licenses, regulates, and disciplines physicians and allied professionals using the same BreEZe platform and enforcement model — the closest functional parallel to the Dental Board within California.
• California Board of Registered Nursing: Another DCA-overseen California healthcare licensing board with comparable scope: licensing, examination, enforcement, and continuing education oversight for ~500,000 nursing professionals, using the same BreEZe infrastructure and regulatory framework.

Regional players

• Oregon Board of Dentistry: State dental licensing authority in Oregon with virtually identical mandate: license dentists and dental auxiliaries, administer examinations, issue permits, and enforce practice standards — the most direct functional peer in a different state.
• New York State Board for Dentistry (Office of the Professions): New York's professional licensing body for dentists and dental hygienists; licenses, registers, and disciplines dental professionals under the State Education Department — comparable regulatory structure in a different state.
• Florida Board of Dentistry: Florida's dental licensing and regulatory authority under the Department of Health; licenses dentists, hygienists, and dental laboratories with parallel examination, permitting, and enforcement functions.
• Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission: Washington's dental licensing and disciplining body under the Department of Health; licenses dentists and dental auxiliaries, with parallel continuing competency, sedation permit, and enforcement functions.
• Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners: Arizona's dental licensing and regulatory authority; handles licensure, examinations, complaints, and disciplinary actions for dentists and dental auxiliaries with a similar scope and statutory framework.
• Texas State Board of Dental Examiners: Texas state dental licensing and enforcement body; licenses dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants, handles complaints, and administers examinations — same regulatory model in a different jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of State Boards of Dentistry: National association of state dental boards that develops the ADEX examination accepted by California's Board; sets national standards and provides the cross-jurisdictional framework governing state dental regulators including California.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CaDentalBoard
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61582183964015
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dental-board-of-california

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about California State Board of Dentistry