Showing posts with label Ocean Dental Corporation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ocean Dental Corporation. Show all posts

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Destroying evidence? Shredding documents? Alerting records? You might want to reconsider participating in such action by ANY employer.

December 17, 12012 -United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar sentenced Lynette Smith of Suffolk, VA to 10 months in prison for altering records to conceal Medicaid fraud  The fraud was committed by A Caring Hand Home Health Care Services, Inc. between January 2008 through October 2011. A Caring Hand is owned and operated by Janice W. Holland.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae/news/2012/12/20121217smithnr.html

“Holland submitted to the program approximately 900 fraudulent claims for payment representing that respite care services had been provided to thirty (30) Medicaid recipients, when in fact no such services had actually been provided.  As a result, Holland obtained health care benefit payments totaling approximately $630,000 to which she was not entitled. 

During the period from in or about September 2010 through October 6, 2011, Holland and Smith, and members of the staff of A Caring Hand at their direction, altered, falsified and made false entries in the office records of A Caring Hand to conceal and cover up the fact that Holland had submitted false and fraudulent claims for payment to the Virginia Medicaid program.  On multiple occasions, Holland and Smith met with staff members and directed them to alter, falsify and make false entries into office records, including the creation of false and fraudulent time sheets, in order to make it appear that the respite care services for which Holland had billed the program had actually occurred, when in fact they knew that no such services had been provided.  Approximately twelve staff members knowingly committed the alteration and falsification of office records at the direction of Holland and Smith, who were aware of an upcoming scheduled audit of the office records.  Holland and Smith committed these acts with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence the proper administration of the Virginia Medicaid program, which is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Holland has pled guilty to health care fraud, alteration of records and aggravated identity theft, and will be sentenced on January 22, 2013.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Robin Lockwood, DDS pleads guilty in Medicaid fraud scheme with Chad Hoecker owned Ocean Dental Centers

Dentists who are participating in this scheme, at all the dental mills across the country; I didn’t see anywhere in here where Ocean Dental or Chad Hoecker pled guilty did you? Are you guys smelling what I’m stepping in here?

U.S. Attorney’s Office July 11, 2012

  • Western District of Oklahoma (405) 553-8700

OKLAHOMA CITY—Robin R. Lockwood, 44, a dentist from Oklahoma City, pled guilty to committing health care fraud, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Lockwood is a dentist licensed to practice in the state of Oklahoma and was employed under contract by Ocean Dental at offices located at 1610 Southwest 74th Avenue, Oklahoma City. Ocean Dental’s dentists provided dental care to Medicaid-eligible children. The Medicaid Program is a cooperative program that provides federal and state funds to pay for health care benefits for individuals with insufficient incomes to meet the costs of necessary medical expenses. In Oklahoma, Medicaid is administered as “SoonerCare” by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), a state governmental agency. Ocean Dental submitted claims to the OHCA for reimbursement of dentists’ services based on patient treatment notes created by the dentists. Ocean Dental paid Lockwood a percentage of the funds that OHCA reimbursed to Ocean Dental for services she personally rendered.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Ocean Dental dentist, Robin Lockwood accused of Medicaid Fraud–Oklahoma City

…more on the Ocean Dental arrest

KFOR-TV June 21, 2012
Posted on: 5:34 pm, June 21, 2012, by La'Tasha Givens, updated on: 07:41am, June 22, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY — A local dentist from a popular chain is accused of falsifying documents to cheat the Medicaid system out of money. Officials say they are seeing an increase in this kind of scam. Robin Lockwood, D.D.S. is one of the latest to be charged. While working at an office on the 1600 block of Southwest 74th Street investigators say Lockwood “engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicaid by submitting claims for dental services she did not provide.” She no longer works at the office and the company says it’s cooperating with authorities.

But NewsChannel 4 found another office near Lockwood’s home that bears her name. No one answered the door or returned our phone call. Investigators says Lockwood isn’t the only doctor trying pad their paycheck on taxpayer’s dime. Susan Rogers Executive Director of Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry said, “Medicaid fraud is a very big problem in Oklahoma right now among dentistry. We have one case where a child was diagnosed with having two cavities behind their front teeth and the dentist in question capped 15 teeth within an hour (not typical according to officials). The ex-rays don’t show there were cavities or caries.”

Thursday, June 21, 2012

OCEAN DENTAL is throwing their dentists to the wolves.

To ALL Dentists!
So you want to work for a corporate dental chain? Better think twice. Dr. Robin Lockwood is now facing 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine all for trying to meet those production quotas. What are you doing to meet yours?

June 21, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY—Robin R Lockwood, 44, a dentist from Oklahoma City, has been charged with committing health care fraud, announced Sanford C Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Lockwood is a dentist licensed to practice in the state of Oklahoma and was employed under contract by Ocean Dental at offices located at 1610 Southwest 74th Avenue, Oklahoma City. Ocean Dental’s dentists provided dental care to Medicaid-eligible children. The Medicaid Program is a cooperative program that provides federal and state funds to pay for health care benefits for individuals with insufficient incomes to meet the costs of necessary medical expenses. In Oklahoma, Medicaid is administered as “SoonerCare” by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), a state governmental agency.

 

Ocean Dental Dentist charged with Medicaid Fraud

oceanLet this be a HUGE warning to all you dental mill dentists out there, trying to meet those production goals for your bonus – you are the low hanging fruit – you will be the one charged with fraud.

 

An Oklahoma City dentist has been charged in a complaint of committing health care fraud

Oklahoma City dentist Robin Lockwood, 44, has been charged in a complaint of committing health care fraud at Ocean Dental.

FROM STAFF REPORTS | Published: June 21, 2012

An Oklahoma City dentist has been charged with committing health care fraud, authorities announced Wednesday.

Robin Lockwood, 44, is accused of defrauding Medicaid by submitting claims for dental services she didn't provide, according to a news release issued by U.S. Attorney Sandford Coats.

The news release states the fraud occurred from July 2007 through December 2010 while Lockwood was employed by Ocean Dental, 1610 SW 74. The clinic provides dental care to Medicaid-eligible children and submits claims for reimbursement to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The dentists are reimbursed based on the treatment notes they write for each patient.

Lockwood was charged on a complaint that she submitted notes about treatments she hadn't done. Relying on Lockwood's treatment notes, Ocean Dental submitted claims for reimbursement to Medicaid and paid her a percentage of those reimbursements.

If convicted, Lockwood faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Read more: http://newsok.com/an-oklahoma-city-dentist-has-been-charged-in-a-complaint-of-committing-health-care-fraud/article/3686174#ixzz1yRAMVaZr

Personally, I wish it had been that nasty woman, Megann Scott, DDS.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Ocean Dental–bomb shelter offices more like sweat shops

From RipOff Report:

Ocean Dental advertises for Medicaid and has commercials that attract children with Medicaid.  They have a call center that takes their calls.  They train these young representatives to not let the caller know they are on the phone with a call center.  Ocean Dental wants the patient or parent to be tricked into thinking they are talking to a nurse in the clinic.  In all actuality you are speaking to someone who knows nothing about your child, nothing about Medicaid, and nothing concerning dental terminology or illnesses caused by tooth decay.  The purpose of the call center is just to real you in onto their schedule, so that they can give you a 7 minute cleaning and take your Medicaid.  Someone from the Kentucky, Louisianna, or Ohio area can call and will get the call center in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  The representatives in this call center, which is located in a bomb shelter and set up under a bank, has never seen the clinics and do not know what they look like.  They have only heard the voices of the people that work the front desk.  How sketchy for a dental practice to take advantage of Medicaid patients because they know that these people are low income and welfare based.  Something should be done about the quality of that working environment.  They seldom have water and have to walk up a large set of steep steps to get to the bathroom which is shared amongst the Ocean Dental reps and the bank workers.  Eight hours of work underground with no breaks.  This place is worse than a Chinese sweat shop.  The best advice from a worker who currently works there is if you care about your child’s dental needs DO NOT take them to Ocean Dental.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Where does Hoecker get his dough?

Here we have a map of the business of Chad B. Hoecker, DDS of Ocean Dental Centers, another Medicaid dental mill, which has been allowed to infiltrate several states.

He actually has one telecommunication business called “Buck The System”.  LOL

OceanDentalMap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for a much larger view of the map.

I’ve not been able to locate it, but I’m sure there is some Private Equity firm behind him.  However he does have a Private Equity Firm cash management company called Focal Point.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Ocean Dental gets a D- from the BBB

image

Ocean Dental, headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma is not receiving very good reviews. In fact the Better Business Bureau is giving it a D-.

www.bbb.org 2012-3-8 11-12-20

Over on Topix there was a thread started in 2009 when a parent complained and told what happened to her child at an Ocean Dental in Arkansas. Here

No wonder so few parents speak up about the terrible experiences that happen to their children at these dental mills. This was was literally attacked! One person even said, that if they were bad, they wouldn’t be in business. 

Lord, it must be nice to live in land of Oz.! Last I checked the “waterboarding” dentist, Megann Scott worked at one of their OK clinics.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Ocean Dental's Chad Hoecker Desciplined in Ohio

Ohio Dental Board Disciplinary Action

CHAD B. HOECKER, D.D.S.
Motion by Dr. Kyger, second by Dr. Armstrong, to approve the proposed
consent agreement for Chad B. Hoecker, D.D.S., license number 30-022103, case
number 06-18-0603.

Motion carried.

I don't know what the complaint or disciplinary action was but the case number is listed above. Chad Hoecker is the owner of Ocean Dental Corporation, another medicaid dental mill.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Ocean Dental - Dr. Chad Hoecker-Another Medicaid Dental Chain

At the regular February 2008 meeting of the Board Of Dentistry State Of Oklahoma the board considered the following :

14. Consideration and possible action to initiate investigation, adopt Statement of Complaint, and
schedule hearing involving CHAD BRANDON HOECKER, D.D.S. [RPHoopes/
Newsome]


The next meeting is scheduled for May 16, 2008.

At this time this blogger is unable to find out exactly what the "Statement of Complaint" including but rest assured will continue to investigate this.



Source: Zoom Info Business People Information
Dr. Chad Brandon Hoecker:

Dr. Chad Hoecker is a 1991 graduate of Oklahoma State University, earning a degree in Finance. Following graduation from OSU, Dr. Hoecker successfully operated a real estate and advertising business in Dallas, Texas. A continuing interest in dentistry led Dr. Hoecker back to school to complete his science requirements. Once his requirements were filled, he applied to and was accepted by the Baylor College of Dentistry.

After graduating with
his D.D.S. in 1998, Dr. Hoecker opened his fee for service practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Shortly following the start of his practice, he recognized there was an unmet need for dental care amongst the lower socioeconomic group in the community. This knowledge and his desire to help led him to open his traditional practice to Medicaid.

Over the next few years
Dr. Hoecker used his business/finance background to help him develop a business model focused on Medicaid only clinics. In 2002 he opened his first Medicaid only clinic in Enid, Oklahoma. His second such clinic opened in Oklahoma City in late 2003.

Today
his business model has allowed Ocean Dental the opportunity to offer dental services to children in nine different clinics in Oklahoma. Because of Dr. Hoecker's vision, drive, and compassion, Ocean Dental professionals are currently treating thousands of children each year in Oklahoma and will soon open offices outside of the state.

The current COO of Ocean Dental is Joe Akin, former director of International Marketing of Stillwater Designs, Stillwater, OK.

The airplane hanger for Ocean Dental's Corporate jet/jets, being built as mentioned in a previous post, is on land leased under the name Stillwater Storage LLC., PO Box 98, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74076, as seen here.

As of the date of this post there are 25 Ocean Dental Clinics in the following states:

Oklahoma
Ohio
Arkansas
Iowa
Kentucky
Indiana
Texas

There just seems to be a whole lot of Medicaid dollars, federal and state distributed, to keep so many of these clinics in business; Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Medicaid Dental Center, Smile Starters, Ocean Dental to name a few.

Evidently there is some serious money to be made abusing our children , (with unnecessary dental work, and strapping the children down in papoose boards) and milking the medicaid system via dental treatment in the guise of treating the needy.

It sickens me beyond belief that these corporations represent themselves as loving, caring and wanting to really help our under underprivileged children.

As I see it these Dental Chains are frauds on many levels.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Small Smiles Clinic Investigation Report, Methods Crticized-Wichita, KS

In Kansas, Corporate Dentistry is Illegal and that is exactly what Small Smiles, Operated by Forba Management is doing. Other dentists wants these people gone and have filed complaints of Corporate ownership against Small Smiles Clinics in Kansas.

Forba is saying someone else owns the clinic in question, and they just "manage it" but the Kansas Dental Board is looking into this as we speak.

At the Forba website they do not list the clinics locations in Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City, However, job opening for these locations are listed at Forba. Obviously, Forba Small Smiles is trying to operate under the radar of Kansas Law.

Want to take a guess as to what shined the light on these crooks, Using Papoose Boards on Children!

They better be looking into Ocean Dental, as they have clinics in Kansas as well!

Read the FULL and eye opening story below.

What have I been trying to tell everyone!



Dental Clinic's Methods Criticized

The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.)
2008-03-16

By Karen Shideler, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.
Mar. 16--A Wichita dental clinic that serves mostly low-income children is drawing criticism from some parents and other dentists, in part for using procedures that the critics say traumatize its young patients.
They say Small Smiles Dental Clinic of Wichita routinely restrains children during treatment, does not allow parents to accompany their children to treatment and does work that doesn't seem necessary.
In addition, the dentists are concerned that Small Smiles tries to give the impression it is staffed by dentists who are specialists in children's care. And, they say, it is corporate dentistry, a practice not allowed in Kansas.
Small Smiles dentist Reza Akbar, in an e-mailed statement, said, "We are proud of the high-quality, compassionate care we provide.... Last year, we served more than 11,000 children, and the feedback I have received has been overwhelmingly positive. I am unaware of any concerns raised by parents."
Akbar is the owner of the clinic, according to a Small Smiles spokesman.
Small Smiles, which opened in 2005, turned down requests for interviews or visits. An out-of-state spokesman for Small Smiles, who asked not to be named, said by e-mail, "This is a concerted effort by the company to focus on patient care in the midst of recent scrutiny."
In November, ABC News and an affiliate ran stories about Small Smiles offices in the Washington, D.C., area. The stories told of frightened children, the use of restraints and the prohibition of parents in the treatment area -- the same concerns echoed by parents and dentists in Wichita in interviews with The Eagle.
Many Medicaid clients
Small Smiles' advertising notes that it serves Medicaid and HealthWave children. The Small Smiles spokesman said 98 percent of Small Smiles' Wichita patients have Medicaid or HealthWave, programs that provide medical and dental coverage for low-income children and some others who meet income guidelines.
Many dentists do not accept Medicaid patients or accept only a few because the reimbursement for their care is less than what is paid by private insurance. But Crystal Walker, a pediatric dentist, said four of the five pediatric dental practices in Wichita do accept Medicaid patients. Some general dentists also take those patients, and dental care is offered to Medicaid patients at GraceMed and some other clinics.
In 2007, Small Smiles got more than $4.5 million in Medicaid and HealthWave dental payments from the state, according to the Kansas Health Policy Authority. The clinic declined to say how many dentists it employs.
The clinic uses what amounts to assembly-line dentistry, some say.
"They go in, they do the cleaning, they do the diagnostic, they get everything done that they can in one day," said pediatric dentist David Brown.
"It was like an assembly line," said Shelbi Meisch, whose daughter was a Small Smiles patient. "There was just nothing about the experience that felt like you were getting good care."
Restraining patients
Though parents said they were not allowed to accompany their children into the treatment area, the Small Smiles spokesman said that's not policy: "Parents decide in consultation with their dentist whether or not to be present during their child's care," his e-mail said.
Jeff Davis said he and his wife were asked to sign a consent form giving Small Smiles permission "to do everything from yell at the child to physically restrain them to tie them down."
Meisch, as well as Delicia Akbar, whose children also were Small Smiles patients, said uncooperative children -- including theirs -- are immobilized in a "papoose board." Akbar isn't related to the Small Smiles dentist.
The Small Smiles spokesman provided a copy of a consent form used at Small Smiles in Rochester, N.Y., and said the one in Wichita is similar.
It asks parents to agree to "protective stabilization," described this way: "The child is wrapped in the device and placed in a reclined dental chair." Pictures on the form show a child with what looks like a blanket and a shaped back piece.
Medical suppliers describe a "papoose board" as a rigid board with wide fabric straps that have Velcro fasteners. Separate straps hold limbs inside the wrap, providing a snug-fitting restraint that immobilizes the patient.
The Small Smiles spokesman said, "Our records indicate that protective restraint was used in fewer than 3 percent of all patient visits in Wichita last year."
Akbar took her three children to Small Smiles. She read and signed the consent form "but my understanding of the restraint was not something.. to strap them down." She said the papoose board was used on her 9-year-old.
"I didn't even think anything negative until the kids came out and told me what happened," she said.
Papoose boards have a limited place in dentistry, three Wichita pediatric dentists said, and may be appropriate for special-needs children, for example. But there are other ways to get children to cooperate, they said. They don't use papoose boards.
Walker said she uses a "tell, show, do" approach to familiarize a patient with treatment. But she said that nearly every former Small Smiles patient "will not even lay in the chair" at her office because they're so frightened. Many need sedation for routine care because of their fear, she said.
Concerns about care
Another pediatric dentist, David Brown, said his main concern is "the patients that leave there absolutely terrified." In addition, he voiced concerns about the care provided. He said he has had parents who were told at Small Smiles that their child had seven cavities, "and I personally have not been able to find seven cavities."
Meisch said Small Smiles dentists wanted to put crowns on several of her daughter's teeth, including two front baby teeth that were loose. She said she asked that those two teeth be pulled -- and the dentists pulled others as well, including a molar that has necessitated a dental spacer. "They didn't listen very well," she said.
The Small Smiles spokesman said the clinic provides care according to the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "The appropriate treatment plan is determined by dentists and is based on the dentists' professional judgment," he said in the e-mailed statement.
Small Smiles' advertising says it provides care to "children from their 1st tooth through age 20."
Only dentists who have had extra training may call themselves pediatric dentists.
"They do seem to market to children," said Betty Wright, executive director of the Kansas Dental Board. But by noting at the bottom of its ad that its dentists are general dentists, Small Smiles complies with Kansas law, she said.
Corporate connection
Nationwide, Forba, a dental management company based in Nashville, Tenn., owns Small Smiles. Its Web site does not list the clinic in Wichita -- or the ones in Topeka or Kansas City -- among its locations. But job openings for all three sites are posted on the Web site.
The Small Smiles spokesman said Akbar owns the Wichita clinic.
"The clinic receives assistance regarding marketing, human resources, policy, information technology, collections, and other administrative functions under a management services agreement with Forba," his statement said.
Kansas law prohibits corporate dentistry, in which a practice is owned by someone who doesn't practice there.
Wichita orthodontist Kendall Dillehay said he had filed a corporate ownership complaint about Small Smiles. He was told his complaint would be investigated and that he'd be informed of the results.
Dental complaints are investigated by the Kansas Dental Board. For action to be taken, Wright said that she would need to see evidence that Small Smiles is not owned by Akbar.
Wright said no disciplinary action has been taken against Small Smiles or its dentists, nor were there any pending disciplinary orders.
Investigations are confidential, she said, so she would not say whether any were or weren't under way.
Reach Karen Shideler at 316-268-6674 or kshideler@wichitaeagle.com.
-----




Here are just a few comments from parents who have been to the Small Smiles Dental Assembly Line Clinic:
  1. I worked at Small Smiles when they first opened in Wichita. It was no less than hell on earth for children. They do everything and more to the kids that is mentioned in the article. I quit within 2 weeks because it broke my heart to work there. I would never recommend anyone to take there child to this office.
  2. This sounds like child abuse to me. They should be thoroughly investigated like Tiller was. Where is the justice in supporting unborn babies? Why don't they support those whom are already born? Nola Foulsten needs to look into this business. Whether parental consent was given or not. Kudos to the previous poster for quitting. When my daughter got braces she told me she had friends who had went there and that the people there were extremely mean. I'm glad I took my kids both to Dr. John Hullings he's the greatest orthodontist in town. Front office staff isn't so nice, but the ones working on your teeth can't be beat. I've never been not allowed to view any and all treatment my kids' received.
  3. Reza Akbar??? It sounds like third world dentistry to me, where abuse and a lack of civil rights are a way of life. And if, as they say, "And, they say, it is corporate dentistry, a practice not allowed in Kansas", why is it being allowed. This place of torture needs to be shut down. The trauma the children are being subjected to will follow them the rest of their life. I am 65 and still don't like to go the a dentist because of bad dental experiences as a child. WAKE UP WICHITA!!!!
  4. So Small Smiles takes medicaid, a govt. program. It looks like the govt. and medicine are great together. It will be wonderful when the government takes over health care via Obama or Clinton.
There are many other Small Smiles complaints at the Wichita Eagle, you can read them here.

Dr. Mohammad Akbar, Peublo, CO. in the name of Small Smiles of Wichita Health Care contributed to State Representative Candidate Bob Bethell 2006 Campaign. See Here
Think maybe Mohammad Akbar and Reza Akbar are related or one and the same person?

Friday, April 04, 2008

Ocean Dental Corporate Jet Hanger Under Construction


And so many dentists tell us the government doesn't reimburse them enough to take on children on medicaid.

These guys, like Small Smiles and Kool Smiles have made it the primary business, and business is looking pretty darn good!

Are they strapping down the children to do the work is what I want to know!!

Thanks for the "heads up" anonymous!

photo by: Gary Johnson

I knew something was going to break about these people soon. They visited this site several times a day when this blog first went up. I had never heard of Ocean Dental until I started posting about a local dentist using a papoose board. Then all these medicaid stealing dental clinic started showing up on my blog stats, which in turn got me to looking into why they were so worried I was ticked off about a papoose board!

Reg flags were flew up like a covey of quails!

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Is Ocean Dental Another Small Smiles?

Well, this particular blogger doesn't know too much about Ocean Dental at this point other than the small bits I've posted. What I do know is they have entered an industry riddled with bad press, bad reviews, serious child abuse accusations, and federal fraud accusations.
So what can they expect really?

If they are on the up and up and have very clear guidelines and have set the highest degrees of standards of care it will still take them decades to shake the stigma brought on by the DeRose Family of Dental Clinics, namely Small Smiles, Smile High, SmileStarters, Carolina Dental Center, DeRose Dental Center, Medicaid Dental Center, Kool Smiles and the various other names in which the DeRose's carry on business.

Dentists throughout the land should be furious about this black eye the DeRose's have bestowed upon them. However, all dentists bare some responsibility in this.

If not for private pay dentists failure to accept mediciad patients, the DeRose's would not have had the door opened quite as wide for them to stroll through now would they?

I say that Ocean Dental has a very long and hard road ahead of them before they can even come close to calling their venture into treating medicaid patients a success.

As of right now there are more mediciad dental treatment clinics cropping up than Starbucks. One one street in any given poor community there could be a Small Smiles on one corner, a Kool Smiles on the next and Ocean Dental on the other. Worse the Rite Aid and CVS. These clinics are popping quicker than mushrooms after a spring rain.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Children Dental Clinic, Does Not Mean Pediatric Dentist

Over the course of the last few days I looked into, read, reread, watched reports from news organizations across the Internet on some of these Dental Clinics designated for treating children and some even taking children on medicaid or state insured children only.

Some have sweet websites with smiling children splashed on each page and show the kid friendly decor and the happy smiling faces of the dentists and staff.

Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Smile High, and Ocean Dental are the main clinics I've looked at in recent days.

Something I thought was a bit misleading to parents and the children treated is even though they are geared toward children, designed specifically for children does not mean they employ Pediatric Dentists or owned by Pediatric Dentists. Most I've looked at are only trained in General Dentistry.

Now I'm not saying by any means they don't have a clue about dentistry. Nor am I saying they took correspondence course to get their licenses. Many may well have attended wonderful dental colleges. I'm just saying because the clinic/office is decorated in cartoon characters doesn't mean they are Pediatric Dentists.

For example there are job ads online for Ocean Dental looking for dentists, assistants, office and administrative personnel. However, the critiria for the dentist do not ask or require them to be actual Pediatric Dentists, with the 2 extra years of training for treating children dental issues.

In their ads they never say they are Pediatric Dentists-(Pedodontist) they say something like "General Dentistry For Kids and Young Adults" so they are not breaking any laws to my knowledge.

It's just the whole set up makes you think you are getting a pediatric dentist to treat your children, so buyer beware.

It's not hard to find out if they are licensed in Pediatric Dentistry. All I had to do was check out the company sites, see the names of the dentists at different clinics or who owns the clinics and check to see if they hold a Pediatric License or a member of the AAPD. Pretty simple really. Many of them will list the dentist's name, where he/she went to school, what association he/she's a member of..etc.

I'm getting a bit off subject here though messing with this kind of information.

My complaint is "STOP STRAPPING DOWN CHILDREN FOR DENTAL CARE"




Monday, January 21, 2008

What's Going On At Ocean Dental Corporation?

I don't know exactly what is going on over at Ocean Dental Corporation, in Stillwater, OK but something has them checking out this blog pretty often in comparison to other visitors.

I have to give this some serious thought since guess what... they specialize in child dental care just like Small Smiles and Kool Smiles (check out the comments section) who have been busted for abusing and traumatizing children, using restraints and doing unnecessary dental procedures, as reported by WJLA TV in the DC area, 9News in Denver and 11Alive TV, Atlanta, Georgia respectfully.

They too are proud to announce they accept medicaid patients, which sends up red flags all over the place based on Small Smiles and Kool Smiles in my opinion. But so far, this blogger hasn't found any information on them, complaints or compliments.

Below is a list of Ocean Dental locations across the US.


Click on the address for a printable map.

City Address Zip Phone
Stillwater, OK 510 S. Duck 74074 405.377.7300
Oklahoma City, OK 1610 W. I-240 Service Rd. 73159 405.605.4900
Downtown Oklahoma City, OK 47 NE 23rd St. 73159 405.525.1222
Norman, OK 500 West Main Suite 200 73069 405-321-2349
Moore, OK 2305 S. I-35 73160 405.799.0800
Warr Acres, OK 3919 N.W. MacArthur 73122 405.787.7827
Enid, OK 913 W. Maple 73701 580.242.0300
Lawton, OK 5314 N.W. Cache Rd. 73505 580.595.9492
Shawnee, OK 4409 N. Kickapoo 74804 405.273.7077
Tulsa, OK 6801 E. Admiral Place 74115 918.836.8366
Muskogee, OK 930 A West Shawnee 74401 918.682.6060








East Cleveland, OH 8101 Euclid Ave. 44103 216.229.2500
West Cleveland, OH 3545 Ridge Road 44102 216.961.6860
Columbus, OH 3646 E. Main St. 43213 614.231.4800








Little Rock, AR 3024 S. University 72204 501.565.0606
Hot Springs, AR 221 Airport Rd., Space G 71913 501.321.4963
Fort Smith, AR 1326 S. Waldron Road 72903 479.484.0008
Jonesboro, AR 1810 E. Highland Drive, Suite B 72401 870-934-0339
Fayetteville, AR 745 E. Joyce, Suite 224 72703 TBA








Des Moines, IA 1345 E. University Avenue, #302 50316 515.264.9022








Louisville, KY 3977 7th St. Road 40216 502.447.5699








Corpus Christi, TX 1620 South Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 78416 361-853-3334








El Paso, TX 1166 N Yarbrough Drive 79925 TBA

update: Since posting this comment, there seems to be an email circulating through the company with a link to this comment, and people from Ocean Dental are this blogs best customers recently.

Still don't know what's going on over there, but something on this blog has them stirred up.

update:
Looks like Ocean Dental has contracted with Tulsa School District to bring a mobile dental truck to the schools for dental treatment of children on Medicaid:

Here is the minutes from the meeting in Sept. 2007:

Enter into a contract with Ocean Dental to provide dental services for
Medicaid-eligible students through the operation of the Ocean Dental mobile
clinic during the school year 2007-2008.
There will be no cost to the District.


FURTHER RECOMMEND the attorney for the School District prepare the
appropriate contract and the proper officers of the Board of Education be
authorized to execute the contract on behalf of the District. Contact person-
Taylor Young.


RATIONALE: These services will be available to TPS schools that enroll
30 or more students. Routine and preventive services will be performed
within the scope of the clinic. These services are available to interested
schools meeting the criteria for participation.
The mobile clinic is totally self-contained requiring no District services.
Parent/guardians must give authorization to Ocean Dental to provide these
services. Students will not be placed under anesthesia which results in them
being unconscious. Services which require complex procedures will be
performed at Ocean Dental facilities.
The mobile clinic will be staffed with a dentist, an assistant and a staff
member who escorts children to the clinic on school property. A mutually
agreed upon schedule will be developed to prevent disruption of the
educational process.