The short answer
In California you are entitled to a paper or electronic copy of your dental records, including X-rays, when you ask for them. The office must send copies within 15 days of your request and may charge a reasonable fee that covers only the cost of producing them. Put the request in writing, say where to send it, and bring your medication list, any guard or denture, and details of unfinished treatment to the new office.
General information, not a diagnosis. Your dentist will examine your mouth before recommending treatment.
You can switch, and your records come with you
People switch dentists for ordinary reasons: a move, a new insurance plan, an office that closed, or a visit that left them uneasy. Whatever the reason, your dental records belong to your care, and California law gives you access to them. The Dental Board of California quotes Health and Safety Code section 123110: any patient is entitled to a paper or electronic copy of all or any portion of the records they have a right to inspect, on presenting a request that specifies the records, together with a fee to defray the cost of producing the copy. The provider must ensure the copies are transmitted within 15 days after receiving the request.
The fee is the part people worry about. The Board's guidance is that a reasonable fee can be charged for providing the copy, but only for the cost incurred in providing the records. Ask what the fee will be before copies are made, and ask whether an electronic copy, which is cheaper to produce, is available.
One detail on X-rays: the Board notes that an office does not have to give you copies of X-rays if it sends the originals to another health care provider within 15 days of your written request. In practice, asking the old office to send the images straight to the new one is the simplest route, and it is what the first-visit guide suggests you set up before the appointment.
How to request your records
The Board says oral requests are valid, but recommends a written one so the date and the deadline are clear, and notes that email is acceptable. A short message that covers the points below is enough:
- Your full name, date of birth and the name the file is under if it differs.
- What you want: the chart and treatment notes, all X-rays and images, the current treatment plan, and the billing ledger if you need it for insurance.
- Where to send it: the new office's name, address, fax or secure email, or your own email for an electronic copy.
- The date of the request. Keep a copy of what you sent.
- A request for the fee amount before copies are made.
| Item | Ask the old office for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Chart and treatment notes | A paper or electronic copy of the full chart | Shows what was found, what was done and what was being watched |
| X-rays and images | Originals sent to the new office, or copies to you | Recent images may not need retaking; the office may send originals within 15 days |
| Treatment plan | The current written plan with teeth and procedures | Lets the new dentist say where they agree and where they differ |
| Billing ledger and claims | Payment history and any insurance claims filed this year | Shows what your plan has already paid toward this year's maximum |
| Lab work in progress | Status of any crown, denture or guard being made, and what was paid | Lab arrangements are office-specific and not covered by the records law |
What to bring to the new office
Records are only part of the handoff. The new office needs your health history and a list of every medication and supplement you take, because many conditions and medicines affect your mouth and how you heal. Bring your insurance card; Infinite Dental Wellness accepts all PPO plans and does not accept Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal, and you can call (818) 541-1110 to confirm coverage first. The insurance and payment page has the details.
If you wear a night guard or a denture, bring it. Fit changes over time, and the dentist can check it at the exam rather than guessing from the record. If you have a written treatment plan from the old office, bring that too, even if you were unhappy with it: it tells the new dentist what was seen and lets them explain where they agree and where they do not.
If your previous office has recent X-rays, ask for them to be forwarded rather than retaken. The ADA notes that a new dentist may ask for copies instead of ordering new images, and both offices can help with the transfer. If the images are old or the problem has changed, new ones may still be needed, and the dentist will say why.
Unfinished treatment: what carries over
Switching in the middle of treatment is allowed, and sometimes unavoidable. A temporary crown, a root canal that was started but not sealed, a deep cleaning done on only half the mouth, or dentures still at the lab are all common. Tell both offices as soon as you decide to move. Your old dentist cannot simply stop treating you without written notice; the Board treats abandoning a patient without notice, before they have had a chance to find another dentist, as unprofessional conduct.
At the new office, the dentist examines the tooth or the mouth, reviews the records, and tells you what can continue and what has to restart. In some cases a step is repeated, for example new images or a new impression, because the new office needs its own record of where things stand. That is not a criticism of the old dentist; it is how a general dentist takes responsibility for work they did not start.
If a laboratory is making something for you, such as a crown or a denture, ask the old office directly what happens to it and what you have already paid for. Lab arrangements differ from office to office and are not covered by the records law.
Guards, dentures and ongoing care
A custom night guard or a denture made by another office is still yours, and a new dentist can look after it. The exam checks fit, wear and sore spots. A night guard that has cracked or no longer seats well may need replacing; a denture that has loosened may need a denture adjustment or a reline rather than a new denture.
The same applies to a periodontal maintenance schedule, a crown that is being watched, or a tooth the old dentist said to keep an eye on. The record transfer is what makes that continuity possible, which is why it is worth asking for the full chart and not only the X-rays.
If the old office has closed or will not respond
Offices close for retirement, illness or relocation, and the Board expects them to notify patients so they can find a new dentist and request their records. If you cannot reach a closed office, or an open one ignores a written request past the 15 days, the Dental Board of California's consumer FAQ explains how to file a complaint; the Board notes that failing to provide requested copies can lead to a fine or discipline.
Do not wait for records to get care you need now. A new dentist can examine you and take the images needed to treat you while the paperwork catches up. If you are choosing where to go next, the guide to how to choose a dentist in Glendale covers checking a license and what to ask. When you are ready, book a visit or send a note through the contact page.