Dentists in Bedford

TSBDE licenses dentists, hygienists, registered dental assistants and dental labs across Texas. Each office must post the board's consumer information sign where patients can see it.

Bedford orthodontists and other specialists

Texas rules recognize 12 specialties. To advertise as an orthodontist, periodontist or other specialist, a dentist needs an accredited program of two or more years or board certification in that specialty. The license certificate doesn't show specialty status, so ask the office directly. Dentists can ask TSBDE to add an accredited specialty certificate to their licensing record. Texas rules also bar a practice from implying its general dentists are specialists, so a sign or website that says 'specialists' should name who holds the specialty.

Bedford dental advertising and records

Texas dentistry law sits in the Dentistry subtitle of the Occupations Code, with TSBDE rules in Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code. If an ad promises something that sounds too good, the license search is the place to start.

Delta Dental's national figures: a standard cleaning without benefits averages $85 to $160; tooth-colored fillings $145 to $480 for front teeth and $165 to $530 for back teeth, with amalgam at $110 to $455 (2024 data); an out-of-network crown $1,100 to $2,000 (2023 data). Bedford offices set their own prices, so ask for a written estimate before treatment. See the Texas dentists guide for detail.

• Texas A&M's dental school clinic in Dallas is one lower-cost route: there an adult screening costs $120 with X-rays and nothing if you're not accepted.
• Texas Health Steps, 1-877-847-8377, helps Medicaid and CHIP families find a dentist; young members use DentaQuest, MCNA Dental or UnitedHealthcare Dental.
• 2-1-1 and federally qualified health centers are DSHS's other low-cost routes.

Your cleaning may be done by a hygienist. Texas lets a dentist delegate it if the dentist examined you within the past 12 months. Hygienists clean, take X-rays and apply fluoride, but they can't diagnose or prescribe. Texas hygienists may also work under a supervising dentist in nursing homes, patients' homes and schools, which matters if a relative can't travel.

If something goes wrong, TSBDE takes signed complaints about quality of care, sanitation and conduct by email to complaints@tsbde.texas.gov, fax or mail. It doesn't settle fee disputes. This is general information, not dental advice; ask a licensed Texas dentist about your treatment. For more choices, see Grapevine dentists, and the Bedford guide covers local services.