South Carolina Board of Dentistry; LLR Office of Investigations and Enforcement

How the official source says to file

• Use LLR’s online complaint option, selecting Dentistry and the correct licensee, or its Dental Complaint Form. Provide practitioner and business information, occurrence dates, witnesses, a factual statement and copies of supporting documents; submitted documents are not returned.
• The dental paper form asks you to sign a declaration based on personal knowledge, confirming you are over 18 and competent to testify. Ask LLR for help if you cannot make that declaration.
• For identity protection, submit the separate Good Cause Explanation with the complaint at the same time. State the reasons for withholding your name there; do not use that section to add substantive allegations.

Supporting guidance: South Carolina: complaint instructions ↗South Carolina: dental complaint and good-cause form ↗

What this route may not provide

LLR can pursue licensing sanctions but cannot award monetary restitution. It does not decide private civil claims or criminal cases. Give clinical or conduct facts for professional complaints; a dissatisfaction with an office transaction does not itself establish a licensing violation.

Supporting guidance: South Carolina: complaint instructions ↗

Do not guess about confidentiality

The subject normally receives your name, complaint and supporting materials. The Board may withhold your name for good cause but can deny that request; the explanation itself is withheld. LLR’s general guidance discusses anonymous complaints, warning that no updates can be supplied and investigation may be harder. The dental paper form nevertheless asks for a signed declaration.

Supporting guidance: South Carolina: complaint instructions ↗South Carolina: dental complaint and good-cause form ↗

Respond promptly to information requests

A filing deadline was not established by this check; ask promptly. LLR says requested intake information must be supplied within ten business days or the case will not open. Its older process brochure estimates 180 business days for investigations; current guidance emphasizes variable duration. Neither is an incident-to-filing limit.

Supporting guidance: South Carolina: complaint instructions ↗South Carolina: complaint-process brochure ↗

What may happen after filing

Staff screen jurisdiction, then investigators gather evidence and interviews. An internal review recommends closure, concern or disciplinary proceedings for the Board’s decision. Public disciplinary orders differ from confidential investigations.

Supporting guidance: South Carolina: complaint instructions ↗South Carolina: complaint-process brochure ↗

Prepare a reviewable submission

State the concern you want reviewed, give a short chronology and factual consequences, and explain your request. Keep supporting records and follow the receiving authority’s instructions before attaching or sending them.