DOVER – Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock and the state Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene have suspended the Delaware dental license of Dr. I-Yin Liu, in light of allegations that she has repeatedly violated standards of professional practice, has been subject to criminal arrest for her conduct, and subsequently violated the terms of her bail.
In making this determination, Secretary Bullock and the board considered the findings of an investigation by the Delaware Department of Justice, which alleges that Dr. Liu repeatedly allowed untrained, unlicensed staff in her practice to place fillings in the teeth of child patients and to administer nitrous oxide. Dr. Liu practices dentistry at All About Smiles, located in Wilmington, and Smile Place, located in Smyrna. This alleged unprofessional conduct took place in March, August and September of this year.
Dr. Liu was arrested on Sept. 29 and charged with six counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of Health Care Fraud. She was released on bail and ordered to not allow the use of nitrous oxide in her practice by anyone other than herself. On Nov. 6, Dr. Liu allegedly directed an unlicensed person to administer nitrous oxide to a child patient, resulting in her arrest on Nov. 22 for felony non-compliance with the conditions of her bail.
Delaware Code Title 24 enables a temporary suspension pending a hearing to be issued upon the written order of the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the board chair, if the activity of the licensee presents a clear and immediate danger to public health, safety or welfare.
The suspension of Dr. Liu will remain in effect for a period of 60 days, during which time disciplinary hearings will be held or the final disposition for this individual will take place. As the result of a hearing, the Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene has the authority to impose disciplinary sanctions up to and including revocation of a practitioner’s license or certification.
The licensure status of Dr. Liu has been updated on the Division of Professional Regulation’s online license verification service.