Uniform Complaint Handling

PURPOSE: This rule establishes a procedure for the receipt, han dling and disposition of public complaints to the Missouri Dental Board. (1) Any person or other entity who believes that a registered and licensed dentist or a registered and licensed dental hygien ist or unlicensed individual has so acted or failed to act that his/her Certificate of Registration or License, or both, under the provisions of Chapter 332, RSMo, should be suspended, revoked or other action taken against him/her, or who believes that any applicant for a Certificate of Registration or License to Practice Dentistry or to practice as a dental hygienist is not entitled under provisions of Chapter 332, RSMo may file a complaint with the executive director of the board. (2) All complaints, other than those provided for in section 332.341.5, RSMo, shall be in writing, fully shall specify the nature of the complaint and shall be signed by the complainant and contain the name and address of the complainant. Written but unsigned communications will not be considered or processed as a complaint. Complaints are to be addressed to the following: Executive Director, Missouri Dental Board, PO Box 1367, Jefferson City, MO 65102. (3) Each complaint received under this rule shall be logged in a book maintained by the board for that purpose. Complaints shall be logged in consecutive order as received. The log book shall contain a record of each complainant’s name and address; the name and address of the subject of the complaint; the date each complaint was received by the board; a brief statement of the acts complained of, including the name of any person injured or victimized by the alleged acts or practices; and a notation indicating whether the complaint resulted in its dismissal by the board, whether formal charges have been filed with the Administrative Hearing Commission or the ultimate disposition of the complaint. (4) Each complaint made in accordance with this rule shall be acknowledged in writing and may be investigated by the board. If a complaint is investigated, the complainant shall be informed in writing after the investigation is completed as to whether the investigation resulted in the dismissal of the complaint by the board, whether formal charges have been filed will be filed with the Administrative Hearing Commission or the ultimate disposition of the complaint. (5) Nothing in this rule shall be construed so as to prevent the board on its own initiative from instituting and conducting investigations or from conducting investigations of an individual beyond the scope of a formal complaint and based on that complaint to make written complaints to the Administrative Hearing Commission. (6) Any complaint, investigation or log book shall be deemed a closed record under the provisions of section 610.025, RSMo. (7) The board interprets this rule to exist for the benefit of those members of the public who submit complaints to the board. AUTHORITY: sections 332.031.1, 332.341 and 620.010.16(6), RSMo 1986.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 110-2.200. Original rule filed Oct. 13, 1983, effective Jan. 13, 1984. Amended: Filed Dec. 3, 1985, effective Feb. 13, 1986. Amended: Filed Dec. 2, 1986, effective Feb. 12, 1987. Moved to 20 CSR 2110-2.200, effective Aug. 28, 2006. *Original authority: 332.031.1, RSMo 1969, amended 1981; 332.341, RSMo 1969, amended 1981 and 620.010.16(6), RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1983, 1986.