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HRS §448-16.5

When the dental board can suspend a license right away

The dental board can immediately suspend a dentist's license if it decides that not doing so would be an immediate and unreasonable threat to patient safety or a fraud risk. The suspension takes effect when the dentist gets the order. The dentist can ask for a hearing, and the board must hold it quickly.

The statute, as written — Board of dentistry; summary suspension

(a) The board of dentistry may summarily suspend any license issued under this chapter upon a specific determination that the failure to take such an action may result in an immediate and unreasonable threat to personal safety or of fraud that jeopardizes or endangers the health or safety of patients as determined by the professional standards of care upon consumers, and that, for the protection of the public from the possible consequences of such practices, the license should be immediately suspended or restricted. (b) The order of summary suspension shall include a brief statement of findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall be served upon the licensee as required by chapter 91. The order of summary suspension shall be effective upon service. (c) A licensee served with an order of summary suspension shall have the right to request a hearing to show cause why the order of summary suspension should be terminated. Any request for a hearing shall be made in writing and filed with the board of dentistry within five business days of service of the order. The board shall hold a hearing within seven business days of receipt of the licensee's request for the hearing to show cause. (d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an order summarily suspending a license issued under this chapter shall remain in effect until the effective date of a final decision and order issued by the board of dentistry in a disciplinary action or the effective date of an order issued by the board of dentistry terminating the summary suspension following a hearing to show cause, whichever occurs first, but in either case shall not exceed thirty business days. (e) The board of dentistry shall conduct a hearing for disciplinary action against a licensee whose license has been summarily suspended under this section within twenty business days from the effective date of the order of summary suspension. (f) Any attempt by the licensee to continue the practice of dentistry or the practice of dentistry by the licensee while the license has been summarily suspended shall be grounds for revocation of the license.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.