DES MOINES - A former Waterloo dentist is on track to get his license to practice dentistry reinstated.

State regulators had pulled Larry Hanus's license indefinitely in 1994, and he said the action was because he warned patients about health hazards connected to filings that contain mercury.

In the 13 years in between, Hanus has tried to get his license reinstated, a process that has been delayed because of mental health concerns and a matter involving a vehicle theft charge.

Now the Iowa Dental Board issued an order recognizing Hanus's progress and outlining education and testing he must complete before his license is returned.

"I'm grateful the board has made the decision it has made," said Hanus, who now lives in Des Moines and is looking forward to getting back into dentistry.

He said there has been progress on the front of mercury-free dentistry since his license was suspended.

The Iowa Dental Board's 1994 order said Hanus failed to maintain a standard of competency in treating five patients, and made misleading statements to three patients about mercury amalgam fillings.

It required he reimburse the patients for the work and complete a course on diagnosis, treatment and restoration at an accredited dental school before his license would be reinstated.

Hanus paid back his clients and applied to reinstate his license in 2000, but he hadn't completed the educational requirements.

In the flap that followed, the board took issue with a felony vehicle theft charge pending against him in Wisconsin, and required he receive a mental health evaluation because of the correspondence he sent to board members that included documents espousing antigovernment theories similar to those held by the Posse Comitatus group.

Hanus later apologized for the correspondence.

The theft charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. The dental board recently accepted a mental health evaluation that was prepared as part of the Wisconsin charge. It found he was competent and didn't have any psychiatric diagnosis or exhibit any mental illness.

Hanus has completed 76.5 hours of dental education since April but hasn't completed a full course of study, the board's recent ruling noted.

The board said Hanus's license will be reinstated after he completes an evaluation at the University of Illinois Dental School and finishes any remedial education the school recommends. He will also have to pass an examination by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service or the Western Regional Examining Board and reimburse the Iowa Dental Board for costs of the disciplinary hearing.

After his license is returned, Hanus will be subject to random reviews and will have to submit quarterly reports to the board.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.