Subscriber-dentist relationship; choice of dentist; refusal to place name of dentist on register; removal of name from register.

Sec. 16. The relation between a subscriber or any of his or her dependents and a dentist shall be identical with the relation that ordinarily exists in the community between a dentist and his or her patient. Except as otherwise provided in section 16a, a dental care corporation, its officers, agents, or employees shall not interfere with or influence a patient's choice of his or her dentist, but a corporation may refuse to place the name of a dentist upon its register or remove the name of a dentist from its register, after due notice and hearing for cause satisfactory to the corporation.