How to Check a Nevada Dentist’s License Before You Book in Rhodes Ranch
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To check a dentist’s license in Nevada, search the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners licensee lookup by name before you book. The record shows whether the license is there and lists actions the board has imposed on that dentist, though the board says the lookup may lag the latest change. If the name doesn’t come up, the board asks you to call (702) 486-7044 or email nsbde@dental.nv.gov to verify.
At Desert Hills Dental, a general and family dental office on South Fort Apache Road in Spring Valley, close to Rhodes Ranch, we’d rather you check us than take our word for it.
Key Takeaways
- The Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners runs a public licensee lookup for dentists and dental hygienists.
- The board says the lookup data includes actions it has imposed on a licensee and notices from casualty insurance companies of malpractice claims or complaints.
- The board says a blank record isn’t a recommendation, an endorsement or a guarantee of competence, and an entry on its own doesn’t mean a dentist isn’t competent or qualified.
- Board discipline can include a public reprimand, a fine, probation, limits on practice, suspension or revocation.
Why check a license at all?
Because the state already did the hard part. The board’s stated mission is to protect the public by licensing and regulating dental professionals in Nevada. Its lookup lets a patient see that work for one named dentist. A website, a sign on the door or a five-star profile can’t show you whether the board has acted against a license. The lookup can.
How do you check a dentist’s license in Nevada?
- Open the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners licensee lookup page and go to the licensing portal lookup.
- Search for the dentist by name.
- Open the record and read any board actions or malpractice-claim notices listed.
- If the name isn’t there, call the board at (702) 486-7044 or email nsbde@dental.nv.gov to verify.
The board notes the lookup is for public use, is updated periodically, and may not show the most recent change. If something you read matters to your decision, confirm it with the board directly.
What does the board’s record tell you?
More than a yes or no. The board’s lookup page says the data includes actions it has imposed against a licensee. It also includes notices that casualty insurance companies send the board about a claim or complaint of malpractice, under Nevada law.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| License listed, no actions | No board action shows on the record | Treat it as a first check, not an endorsement |
| A board action listed | The board imposed an action on that license | Ask the board for details, and ask the office about it |
| A malpractice claim notice | An insurer reported a claim or complaint | Ask how it was resolved |
| Name not found | The search may have missed, the person may not hold a Nevada license, or the lookup may be behind | Call or email the board to verify |
Read it fairly. The same page says the absence or presence of information doesn’t imply a recommendation, endorsement or guarantee of competence. A single entry doesn’t mean a dentist isn’t qualified either.
What can the board actually do about a dentist?
The board licenses dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and expanded function dental assistants, and its license discipline applies to those licensees. When it finds a violation, its complaints and disciplinary actions page lists discipline such as a public reprimand, a fine, probation with conditions, limits on practice, suspension or revocation. Every review panel recommendation goes to the full board at a public meeting.
The same page also says what it won’t do. The board doesn’t decide fee disputes, doesn’t investigate billing or insurance matters, and doesn’t award civil damages. It doesn’t cover front-desk staff, billers or dental assistants. It also won’t look at standard-of-care questions about treatment from five years ago or longer, and it gives Nevada’s five-year records rule as the reason. The same page also links the board’s Disciplinary Action Report.
Does living in Rhodes Ranch change anything?
Mostly it changes the drive. Wikipedia’s Rhodes Ranch article describes it as a master-planned community and golf course in Spring Valley, about six miles southwest of the Las Vegas Strip. Our office sits in Spring Valley, at 6740 S Fort Apache Rd, Ste 100, Las Vegas, NV 89148, and our Rhodes Ranch patients page has more on visiting us.
What if the license is fine but the plan worries you?
A clean record doesn’t settle a big treatment plan. Our guide to getting a second opinion walks through how to have a plan checked before you agree to it.
Checking us first
Three dentists practice at our office: Deborah Staten, Fatima Nepacena and Janika Ross, who all hold a DMD. Search any of their names on the board’s lookup. We offer family dentistry, regular checkups, gum disease treatment, sedation dentistry for nervous patients and emergency dentistry, with same-day time held for emergencies. We’re insurance friendly with most PPO plans.
Call (725) 307-5569 or use our contact page to book a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a dentist is licensed in Nevada?
Search the dentist’s name on the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners licensee lookup. It covers dentists and dental hygienists. If the name doesn’t come up, the board asks you to call (702) 486-7044 or email nsbde@dental.nv.gov to verify the license.
Does the Nevada lookup show complaints against a dentist?
It shows actions the board has imposed on a licensee, and notices casualty insurance companies send the board about a malpractice claim or complaint. The board says an entry alone doesn’t mean a dentist isn’t competent or qualified, and a blank record isn’t a recommendation, an endorsement or a guarantee of competence.
What can the Nevada dental board do if a dentist breaks the rules?
The board can issue a public reprimand, a fine, probation with conditions, limits on practice, suspension or revocation, among other remedies. A review panel’s recommendation goes to the full board for a vote at a public meeting.
Can the Nevada dental board settle a billing dispute?
No. The board says it doesn’t decide fee or money disputes and doesn’t investigate billing or insurance matters. It also doesn’t award civil damages.
Who are the dentists at Desert Hills Dental?
Three dentists practice at Desert Hills Dental: Deborah Staten, Fatima Nepacena and Janika Ross, who all hold a DMD. Dr. Staten leads the practice.
Sources
- Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners, Licensee Look Up and Verification (page last updated May 15, 2026)
- Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners, Complaints and Disciplinary Actions (page last updated August 5, 2026)
- Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners, home page and mission statement (page last updated August 19, 2026)
- Wikipedia, Rhodes Ranch (last edited August 10, 2026)
