Any association or partnership or corporation or group of three or more dentists, engaging in practice under any name that would otherwise be in violation of Section 1701 may practice under this name if, and only if, the association, partnership, corporation or group holds an outstanding, unexpired, unsuspended, and unrevoked permit issued by the board under this section. On and after July 1, 1995, any individual dentist or pair of dentists engaging in the practice of dentistry under any name that would otherwise be in violation of Section 1701 may practice under that name if and only if the dentist or pair of dentists hold an outstanding, unexpired, unsuspended, and unrevoked permit issued by the board under this section. The board shall issue written permits authorizing the holder to use a name specified in the permit in connection with the holder’s practice if, and only if, the board finds to its satisfaction that:

(a) The applicant or applicants are duly licensed dentists.

(b) The place or establishment, or the portion thereof, where the applicant or applicants practice, is owned or leased by the applicant or applicants, and the practice conducted at the place or establishment, or portion thereof, is wholly owned and entirely controlled by the applicant or applicants.

(c) The name that the applicant or applicants propose to operate contains at least one of the following designations: “dental group,” “dental practice,” or “dental office” and contains the family name of one or more of the past, present, or prospective associates, partners, shareholders, or members of the group, and is in conformity with Section 651 and subdivisions (i) and (l) of Section 1680.

(d) All licensed persons practicing at the location designated in the application hold valid and outstanding licenses and that no charges of unprofessional conduct are pending against any persons practicing at that location.

Permits issued under this section by the board shall expire and become invalid unless renewed at the times and in the manner provided for the renewal of certificates issued under this chapter.

Any permits issued under this section may be revoked or suspended at any time that the board finds that any one of the requirements for original issuance of a permit is no longer being fulfilled by the holder to whom the permit was issued. Proceedings for revocation or suspension shall be governed by the Administrative Procedure Act.

In the event charges of unprofessional conduct are filed against the holder of a permit issued under this section, or a member of an association or partnership or a member of a group or corporation to whom a permit has been issued under this section, proceedings shall not be commenced for revocation or suspension of the permit until final determination of the charges of unprofessional conduct and unless the charges have resulted in revocation or suspension of license.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2000.)