Mobile Dental Clinic Permit

General Information

The Dental Board of California (Board) issues a Mobile Dental Clinic (MDC) permit to licensed dentists or Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) permit holders who wish to practice dentistry using a self-contained facility pursuant to Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 1657 and California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, section 1049.
The Mobile Dental Clinic Permit may serve as a temporary substitute site for dental practices found to be unusable, as specified in BPC 1657 (e), or can also function as an extension of a Board-approved dental school, pursuant to CCR 1026.
A mobile dental unit or portable dental unit is described below:

  • A "Mobile dental unit" means a self-contained facility, which may include a trailer or van, in which dentistry is practiced that may be moved, towed, or transported from one location to another.
  • A "Portable dental unit" means a self-contained unit housing equipment used for providing dental treatment that is transported to, and used on a temporary basis at, non-dental office locations.

Application Methods

  • Licensed Dentist or OMS permit holder – (Application for Mobile Dental Clinic Permit) – Complete this section if you are a licensed dentist or Oral Maxillofacial Surgery permit holder applying for a mobile dental clinic permit.
  • Property or Casualty Insurer – (Application for Mobile Dental Clinic Permit for Property and Casualty Insurer) – Complete this section only if a Property and Casualty Insurer is registering a mobile dental clinic as a temporary substitute site.
    • Provide proof of office damage/unusable status (fire report, insurance claim, etc.)
    • Registration submission must be from the property and casualty insurer.
  • Board-Approved Dental School – (Application for Mobile Dental Clinic Permit for Board-Approved Dental Schools) – Complete this section if you are a Board-approved dental school registering a mobile dental clinic for student education.
    • Provide proof that the mobile unit is an extension of a Board-approved dental school teaching program.
    • Provide a list of faculty supervisors and credentials.
    • Provide the scope of treatment and student involvement plan.
    • Provide postoperative care and emergency follow-up procedures.
    • Provide the proposed itinerary with locations and dates.
    • Provide the list of available equipment and facilities.
  • Government Clinic *
  • Indian Tribe Clinic *
  • Primary Care/Free Clinic*

* If applying as one of these application types that are exempt from licensure pursuant to BPC § 1658, subd. (b)(7), it is required to submit a copy of the exemption form along with your application.

Application Requirements

  • Submit a completed application online through BreEZe with payment, or by mail using a paper application.

The paper application can be mailed along with a check or money order made payable to the Dental Board of California to the following address:
Dental Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550
Sacramento, CA 95815

  • Pay a non-refundable application fee of $100 (unless exempt under BPC § 1658, subd. (b)(7). If tax-exempt, please submit a copy of the exemption form as an attachment for the online or mailed-in application).
  • The licensed dentist responsible for the unit must hold a current and active dental license or OMS permit.
  • Submit evidence of emergency follow-up care pursuant to BPC 1657 (b) and CCR 1049 (c)(1)(A).
  • Submit evidence of communication facilities pursuant to CCR 1049 (c)(1)(B).
  • Certify that the clinic conforms to all regulatory compliance with federal, state, and local laws pursuant to CCR 1049 (c)(1)(C).
  • Submit evidence that the driver possesses a current and valid California driver’s license pursuant to CCR 1049 (c)(1)(D).
  • Provide an official business or mailing address of record pursuant to CCR 1049 (c)(2).
  • Certify the unit meets all facility and equipment requirements pursuant to CCR 1049 (c)(3).

Note: Mobile Dental Clinic permits are non-transferable.

Renewing Your Permit

The fee for renewal is $100.00. If the permit is not renewed within 30 days of the expiration date, a delinquency fee will be assessed in the amount of $50.00.
A permit to operate a mobile dental clinic expires at the same time as the permit holder’s dentist license. The renewal must be submitted online through BreEZe.
Any address change for the official business or mailing address of record must be reported to the Board within 30 days.

Cancellation

Processing Time

An application may be approved in as little as 30 days if the application is complete and submitted with all required documentation.

  • Notice of any deficiencies will be mailed and emailed after application review.
  • Once an application has been approved, the permit will arrive at the Address of Record.

For more information, call (916) 263-2300 or send a message to the Board.