Mom’s complaining Kool Smiles are still up to their same old tricks–Papoose Boards and False Cavities

Posted November 6, 2012

-- MOM # 1  Ok so I made an appointment for my 3 yo at Kool Smiles for a cleaning a couple weeks ago I wanted to get it done before the new baby came so it would be one less thing I had to do.

Anyways my DH went back with my 3 yo because they were doing Xrays. I called my mother while I was waiting she said I meant to tell you not to take him to Kool Smiles.

She took my brother who was only 6 years old to the same Kool Smiles and they said he had 3 cavities...so she took him somewhere else and he had none!

Kool smiles was going to strap my 6 year old brother down to fill cavities that he didn't have... I thought wow that's crazy no one could possibly do that. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I put a child though all that pain for no reason but to get some money.

Then I thought maybe it will not be that way cause we do not have Medicaid we pay for insurance.  After they were done my DH informs me we need to make him another appointment to get work done. They said he had 3 cavities!!! (the same number they said my brother had)

They said my 3 year old had 3 cavities. I was soo upset I cried. I felt like the worst mom in the world! I'm 26 years old and only ever had one cavity and my little boy already had 3. He brushes his teeth and I brush behind him and he doesn't eat a lot of sweets.

I didn't make him another appointment. We just left. I'm taking him somewhere else. Has anyone had any problems like this? How do they get away with this sort of thing. It's terrible

--MOM # 2 Yes, it has happened to me. I had a gut feeling I didn't have a cavity (bc I never do) and I just didn't trust the guy. Went for a second opinion and I was right! Drs prob think that they "need" the $ and ins us paying for it anyways.

-- MOM # 3 -Be careful they will keep calling you!!! I took my son last year for his first appt and hated it, I told them I would schedule his next one when I looked at my calendar (lie, I was trying to be nice).

For the last 6 months they call from 3 or 4 diff numbers as early as 7 am and as late as 8pm. I even told them they had the wrong number and they keep on. Told them to stop calling and they still keep on! Hate them!

--MOM # 1 So funny you said that cause they actually called me today to confirm an appointment that they set for my son without me or my husbands permission. I will never bring my children there again the is actually a pediatrician in my area that has a sign posted saying not to bring your children to Kool Smiles.

Four Winds Health, Midwest Dental, Kool Smiles Dental and Friedman Fleischer & Lowe (FFL)

From FFL website:
Four Winds Health, LLC was formed to build and manage a chain of high-end urgent care centers that offer walk-in, extended-hour access for non-life-threatening acute injuries and illnesses. Through its centers, Four Winds is focused on creating a superior patient experience through the delivery of convenient, comfortable, high-quality medical care.
Four Winds is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The company was formed by the same management team which previously founded Kool Smiles, another FFL investment. FFL provided founding capital to Four Winds in 2011


Midwest Dental is a leading dental practice management company with over 75 clinics in six states. Midwest Dental clinics are typically located in suburban and rural areas, and the company has demonstrated an impressive track record of growth through acquisitions of independent dental clinics. The company provides the clinics with a full range of management, administrative and financial services, allowing clinical staff to allocate more of their time to patient care.
Midwest Dental is located in Mondovi, WI. FFL acquired the company in 2011 and plans to provide additional capital to support future acquisitions.
 

NCDR, LLC provides various non-clinical services to dental group practices, including providing dental facilities, support staff, and other business services. NCDR's principal [ONLY] client is Kool Smiles, a nationally-branded provider of dental care focused primarily on children enrolled in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs. The limited access to care for children on Medicaid/SCHIP plans provides an attractive growth opportunity for Kool Smiles as it continues to expand offices with a mission to provide quality care to this underserved population.

The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. FFL invested in NCDR in 2004 to provide growth capital and liquidity to founders.

Kool Smiles to Bring PBS KIDS' Award-Winning Content to Dental Patients -- ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

 

Kool Smiles to Bring PBS KIDS' Award-Winning Content to Dental Patients -- ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

I find this hilarious! 

Ok, kids, now is your chance to tell the world what happens to you behind those doors at Kool Smiles Dental and why they ever needed “quiet” hygiene rooms!

Kool Smiles Playlist:

Central KY Commercial Real Estate Blog: NAI Isaac Brings Kool Smiles Dentistry to Elizabethtown, KY

Central KY Commercial Real Estate Blog: NAI Isaac Brings Kool Smiles Dentistry to Elizabethtown, KY

WARNING to Elizabethtown, Kentucky residents; it looks like you are about to become the unwitting prey of a Kool Smiles dental center. 

Danger to your children awaits.  Remember the dental mill mantra “Patients may be hard to increase, but billable procedures are not!”  Creative dentistry at its best.

I feel Kool Smiles operates illegally in Kentucky under the statues of a Professional Service Corporation (PSC) where by the person owning and directing the “professional service” must be licensed by the “professional” board of the state, in this case the Kentucky Board of Dentistry and the person MUST perform those services. KRS 313.060 (3) no person shall conduct dental practice in their name unless he or she personally performs services as a dentist is such office.  Not less then 1/2 of the officers of a PSC and ALL of the officers other than the secretary and the treasurer shall be qualified persons to perform the professional services. See KRS 274.027 and 274.045 

Why the KY Dental Board ignores its own laws, rules and regulations is beyond me. 

 

See many more Kool Smiles reports by clicking here.

 

Send me your Kool Smiles information or documentation its time they too stop torturing children and raping the Medicaid system in their illegal clinics.

cckaddie@yahoo.com

Here is the sign off highway US41 in Terra Haute, Indiana pointing to one of the Kool Smiles Dental Centers.

I recently took this during one of my stops on my “where in the world is the next illegal dental clinic” tour which I began in April. 

I also took the time to check out the clinic and even spoke with the next door business owners, who had a lot to say.

There was a cute little shop right next door that two lovely grandmother type ladies owned.  I was in need of a wedding gift so I went in to see what they had.  After I picked out a couple of nice items, the graciously offered to gift wrap them, which gave me time to ask them about the dental clinic next door. 

Immediately the woman scowled.  I knew that she knew it was a bad bad place.  Just a few inquisitive questions got her to talking.  She told me about the horrible and terrifying screams they hear through the walls.  She told of the many times her patrons who would be shopping would look at her and gasp.  She told me there are times where customers have become extremely upset hearing the shear terror in the tiny screams coming through the walls. 

She said it was where a lot of Medicaid children went, she didn’t know I l already knew all about these folks.  This day, it was nice outside, sun shining and a slight breeze, they had their backdoor open to let the breeze flow though.

She said her and her partner had stepped out back earlier and listened at the back door of the Kool Smiles and it made them both sick.  They had called in a complaint a time or two but nothing was ever done, it’s a dentist office, that treats children, who cares if there are screams she was told.

Who cares?  I do.  Don’t you? 

If you are a former employee please contact me, send me what evidence you have, your identity is strictly confidential.  I couldn’t know all I know if I didn’t keep my informants identity a secret.  Heck, just send me some documents anonymously, that’s fine too.

cckaddie@yahoo.com

GASP!! Kool Smiles To Do Study For Virginia; Chief Dental Officer On Board; Dr. Tran (owner) Under Review In IN and GA

Smiles For Children has partnered with the dental provider, Kool Smiles (Virginia operations only), to assess the effects of best practices for decreasing broken appointment rates in specific dental clinics. Preliminary results suggest that these best practices decrease broken appointment rates. The pilot remains ongoing; however, the final results will be published in 2010 and shared with Doral’s Smiles For Children provider network to help increase provider participation, satisfaction, and member utilization. 

Read more in Virginia's 2009 report, page 5.  Note that Dr. David M. Strange is on the advisory board..  (chock and laugh)...  and he doesn't even practice in the state and is Kool Smiles Chief Dental Officer.