-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Qy0x4hsIhy7geMtUNN6bxTnxqpOK+IcIlzyXdhDbzpC01KXgJG/MyjsTGBfvZoA2
 zAflz02z2hTZYHX6BnuYCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-003178.txt : 20030904
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-003178.hdr.sgml : 20030904
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030904175352
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-003178
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19970623
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030904

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000727303
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				521528581
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		95 ENTERPRISE T
		CITY:			ALISO VIEJO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92656-2601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494254110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORALES GREGORY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256684

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12050
		FILM NUMBER:		03882244

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAFEGUARD
		STREET 2:		95 ENTERPRISE #100
		CITY:			ALISO VIEJO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92656-2605
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494254300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAFEGUARD
		STREET 2:		95 ENTERPRISE #100
		CITY:			ALISO VIEJO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92656-2605
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>1997-06-23</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727303</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFGD</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256684</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORALES GREGORY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>95 ENTERPRISE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALISO VIEJO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92656-2605</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>V.P., Controller</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>10.81</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1998-06-22</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2007-06-22</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>1500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>9.125</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1999-03-26</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2008-03-26</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>1000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>1.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2001-02-28</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-02-28</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>1.20</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2002-08-28</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2011-08-28</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>15000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>1.60</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-07-21</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-07-21</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>25000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Gregory Morales</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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