-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WxARuP9y5FOSgaIzZ2G46hUGhFjWSgDvGoudgcoL4D6ycEv+8HtXdGx1cHBFT+Yi
 fmP38AkU51hhgyga8OEAvA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-04-000204.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-04-000204.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107181633
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-04-000204
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAILEYS STEVEN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001247619

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12050
		FILM NUMBER:		04513984

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30691 HUNT CLUB DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92675

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-06</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727303</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFGD</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247619</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAILEYS STEVEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>95 ENTERPRISE, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALISO VIEJO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92656-2605</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2004-01-06</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>3000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>1.92</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>621000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options on Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>1.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2000-03-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>200000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>1.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2002-03-01</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-02-28</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>200000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>200000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Sold to spouse&#039;s Individual Retirement Account.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Steven J. Baileys</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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