Dental clinic Small Smiles criticized for performing poor, unnecessary procedures
December 12, 2012 - The national children’s dental clinic Small Smiles is under fire after an investigative report revealed allegations that the chain’s clinics have been performing substandard work and unnecessary dental procedures – responsible for increasing taxpayer cost. The accusations come from numerous parents, former employees of the company and government investigators, who are concerned about the exploitation of children’s health.
According to an NBC News investigation of 63 Small Smiles clinics over the past three years, the alleged practices are in direct violation of a settlement the chain made with the Department of Justice in early 2010. The settlement was in response to previous allegations accusing the company of performing unnecessary and substandard dental procedures on low-income children.
