Dr. Kevin Sands, the Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist known for his celebrity clientele, has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit tied to a patient who died after anesthesia at his clinic, two pending medical malpractice suits in Los Angeles Superior Court, a formal accusation from the Dental Board of California, and a website accessibility complaint. The wrongful death case settled confidentially in 2021; the malpractice cases remain open.
The Tina Owens Wrongful Death Case
On February 20, 2019, Tina Owens, 60, went into cardiac arrest after receiving anesthesia for a full set of crowns and veneers at Sands’ Beverly Hills office. She suffered an anoxic brain injury and was transferred to Cedars-Sinai, where she remained in the ICU for 11 days before life support was withdrawn. She died on March 3, 2019.1The U.S. Sun. Mom Died After Getting Veneers at Celeb Dental Clinic
The anesthesia was administered by Dr. Hadi Nassar, a dental anesthesiologist working at the clinic. Owens’ husband, Brent Owens, sued both Sands and Nassar for wrongful death. The complaint alleged medical negligence, fraud, and battery, and claimed the clinic may have forged consent forms or obtained them while Owens was already under anesthesia. Both defendants denied the allegations. The case settled confidentially and was dismissed in 2021.1The U.S. Sun. Mom Died After Getting Veneers at Celeb Dental Clinic
What the Dental Board Found About the Anesthesiologist
A Dental Board of California investigation concluded that Owens’ death was linked to “gross negligence, incompetence and unprofessional conduct” by Nassar. Board documents found he failed to obtain written informed consent, failed to maintain an accurate medical history, and failed to properly monitor her vital signs. The board also found Nassar had delegated CPR to a dental assistant with “little to no clinical experience,” resulting in “inadequate” ventilation.2The U.S. Sun. Mum Died at Celeb Dentist, Anaesthesiologist Still Practising
Nassar’s license was not revoked. He was placed on five-year probation ending in September 2028, with a requirement that another dentist supervise his first ten procedures under the order. Sands confirmed Nassar no longer works at his clinic.2The U.S. Sun. Mum Died at Celeb Dentist, Anaesthesiologist Still Practising
Dental Board Accusation Against Sands Himself
Separately from the action against Nassar, the Dental Board of California filed a formal accusation against Sands on February 9, 2022. His license number is DDS 46951.3Dental Board of California. Health and Safety Report, February 2022 The specific allegations and the resolution of the accusation are not detailed in the available public documents.
Kamfiroozie Malpractice Suit
On January 9, 2024, Caroline and Majid Kamfiroozie filed a medical malpractice suit against Sands in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, case number 24SMCV00098. The complaint arises from cosmetic dental work and veneers performed on Caroline Kamfiroozie.4Plainsite. Caroline Kamfiroozie, et al. v. Kevin Sands, D.D.S.
Sands moved to dismiss. He filed a demurrer arguing the suit was time-barred under California’s three-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice and claimed the plaintiffs had manipulated dates to sidestep the deadline. Judge Elaine W. Mandel overruled the demurrer on May 30, 2024, finding the factual disputes about when the clock started were not appropriate to resolve at that stage and belonged in a motion for summary judgment.5Rulings.law. Kamfiroozie, et al. v. Sands, 24SMCV00098
Sands also moved to strike parts of the complaint referring to conversations about “the final phase of work on an unfinished dental crown placement,” arguing they were inadmissible settlement communications. Judge Mandel denied that motion too, ruling the paragraphs described the status of ongoing dental work rather than settlement talks. Sands was ordered to answer within 10 court days. The case remained pending as of the most recent available records.5Rulings.law. Kamfiroozie, et al. v. Sands, 24SMCV00098
Scott Malpractice Suit
Sara Scott filed a dental malpractice complaint against Sands on August 3, 2023, case number 23SMCV03597. On April 18, 2024, Judge H. Jay Ford III granted Sands’ motion requiring Scott to post a bond to cover potential costs and attorney’s fees, a procedural step under California Code of Civil Procedure section 1030 available when the court finds a “reasonable possibility” the defendant will prevail. Projected litigation costs cited in the motion came to $33,095. A defense expert, Mark Exler, D.D.S., submitted a declaration stating he found “no evidence that the restorative treatment performed by Dr. Sands for Ms. Scott was performed below the standard of care or caused her harm.” Trial was set for November 17, 2025.6Rulings.law. Scott v. Sands, D.D.S., 23SMCV03597
Website Accessibility Complaint
Unrelated to patient care, Lore Ameloot filed suit against Kevin Sands, D.D.S., Inc. on April 28, 2021, in California, alleging that the practice’s website, beverlyhillscosmeticdentist.com, was not sufficiently accessible to individuals with disabilities. A May 2021 scan of the site found no third-party accessibility overlays in use.7Accessibility.com. Lore Ameloot vs. Kevin Sands, D.D.S., Inc. The resolution of the case is not reflected in available records.