Multiple lawsuits and a state investigation against a Florida children's dentist has made him to stop practicing dentistry.

Jacksonville dentist Howard Schneider was accused of performing surgical procedures without anesthesia. For weeks, parents of former patients carried out protests and a probe was also launched the dentists.

The Florida officials and attorneys said the state was working on an emergency order to shut him down. The Florida Department of Health's License Verification website confirmed that the dentist's license status has been voluntarily relinquished pending board action Friday.

A 'Voluntary Relinquishment' of license by the Department of Health meant that a licensed practitioner has offered to abandon his license to practice in Florida.

Schneider said he had to close because he had no patients and no staff after the protests. According to hospital spokeswoman Vikki Mioduszewski, the action follows his voluntarily resignation on May 7 from the Wolfson Children's Hospital, where he had staff privileges.

Sarah Phillips of St. Augustine took her 2-year-old son Mason to Schneider after the boy cracked his front two teeth after falling from his bike. However, Mason was missing four teeth when he came out of Schneider's office.

Mason came out of the office with bruises around his neck and gauze around his lower teeth on a follow-up appointment. This startled Phillips and she took her son to his pediatrician.

Phillips is among dozens of people suing Schneider in a complaint filed by attorney Gust Sarris. Another woman in the suit said her daughter was to have one tooth removed and ended up with seven extractions.

Schneider has previously faced two medical malpractice lawsuits. Both were dismissed after mediation, one with a settlement.