Exhibit 23.1
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We  consent  to  the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment
No.  5  to  Registration  Statement No. 33-2226 of SafeGuard Health Enterprises,
Inc.  on Form S-8 of our report dated March 13, 2003, (which report expresses an
unqualified  opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to a change
in  method  of  accounting  for  goodwill  and other intangible assets in 2002),
appearing  in  the  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of SafeGuard Health Enterprises,
Inc.  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2002.

/s/  DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Costa Mesa, California
July 29, 2003