CBS Atlanta News is breaking an exclusive investigation into what caused three Georgia boys to lose their lives following what should have been routine medical procedures.
All three boys, ages 14 to 21, died within a month of each other in a string of tragic and bizarre deaths. They all had their wisdom teeth extracted 16 to 72 hours before they died.
"You take your kids to doctors and dentists, and you don't expect this. You don't expect to lose them," said Bobbie Ellis, the father of Ben Ellis, one of the victims.
The grieving families are speaking out for the first time, only to CBS Atlanta Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Saltzman. They're sharing their emotional stories as a warning to other parents.
"He was the baby, I miss him terribly," Karan Ellis said about the loss of Ben.
The pain is still extremely raw for the Bobbie and Karan Ellis and the other families, who all lost their sons just four months ago.
"A family should be informed that there is a possibility that your child may not wake up," Lisa Robinson said.
The Robinsons and the Ellis family agreed to speak with CBS Atlanta News to warn others of the dangers they say they were never told about.
"You don't want to go through what we've went through. There are too many kids dying out there. Something needs to be done," Bobbie Ellis said.
The Ellis' son was just 14 years old when they say their oral surgeon recommended that he have all four of his wisdom teeth removed.
"That's my baby, and his beautiful smile" Karan Ellis said. "That's all I've got now is his pictures."
"We have pictures, but we don't have our son," Bobbie Ellis cried.
Ben's wisdom teeth were removed on Dec. 7, 2011.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
CBS Atlanta Exclusive - Three Georgia boys die unexpectedly after dental procedure
Byron Harris was in Washington for the hearing on Medicaid fraud. You don’t want to miss his report.
WFAA
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Updated today at 7:36 AM
WASHINGTON — "It took a reporter to unlock the mystery that Texas is spending more on braces than the rest of the country put together?"
That was the half-humorous question Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-South Carolina) asked his fellow members of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee in Washington on Wednesday.
Looking at Medicaid fraud, the committee talked to whistle-blowers and lawyers from Minnesota and New York, all of whom discussed scandals in their home states.
But the witness at the heart of this hearing was from Texas.
Dr. Christine Ellis, a North Texas orthodontist, credited News 8 with revealing a "flagrancy of fraud that is truly unbelievable."
News 8 spent thousands of dollars to acquire Medicaid records from the State of Texas and discovered that the state paid out $424 million to put braces on poor kids' teeth from 2008 to 2010.
News 8 also obtained spending totals on orthodontics from other states individually, after the federal government said it did not compile them.
"As they say, everything is bigger in Texas," Dr. Ellis told the panel. "Thanks to the investigative reporting of WFAA's Byron Harris, we now know that orthodontic Medicaid fraud is no exception."
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
American Dental Association asks Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to back off the audits. Seriously! While, upstairs, the Academy of General Dentistry wants more taxpayer funding. Seriously!
The American Dental Association sent this letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid:
American Dental Association,211 East Chicago Ave.,Chicago, IL 60611-2678
Then ABC ran this, by Chris Como, (his brother is NY Governor Andrew Como who said a month or so ago Medicaid audits were just way to hard on corporations.)
By CHRIS CUOMO (@ChrisCuomo) , GITIKA AHUJA (@gitgirl) and ENJOLI FRANCIS
April 24, 2012
With more than 16 million low-income U.S. children on Medicaid not receiving dental care -- or even a routine exam -- in 2009, according to the Pew Center on the States, dentists and ERs say they are treating very young patients with teeth blackened from decay and bacteria and multiple cavities.
"I see it in their eyes before they tell me it's that way," Dr. Gregory Folse told ABC News. "We are able to intervene and take the pain away from their teeth and it brings the spark back. And that's my goal."
Folse's Outreach Dentistry mobile clinic travels to schools around Louisiana, filling cavities and teaching children and parents about the importance of oral hygiene.
In 2007, Congress held a hearing on the issue of children's dental health after Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old Maryland boy, died when a tooth infection spread to his brain. His mother, Alyce Driver, had been unable to find a dentist to treat him on Medicaid and could not afford to pay out of pocket.
At the time, Leslie Norwalk, then-acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called his death "a failure on many levels."
A dentist and a vet want their corporate dental clinics- Pacific Dental-to have more access to the teeth of New Mexico citizens and taxpayer coffers.
By “vet” I don’t mean “veteran” of the military, I mean “veterinarian”!!!
Pacific Dental-Smile Care-Coast Dental-InterDent, wants to open more than just the current 2 clinic limit in New Mexico. They want in there in a bad way, and Derek and Adam Diasti are willing to go to the mat to get that access. Brother, Derek is the veterinarian.
Best known as Pacific Dental, it seems to be financed by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) or at least Coast Dental was before the merger.
Below is a letter sent to the New Mexico Dental Board, dated March, 2012. In it, they actually say it would be unconstitutional to refuse to allow the company to violate the state Dental Practice Act. Yep! Pure madness!
And unless there is a real and serious pushback, the state laws are likely to be changed to allow them in. New Mexico citizens are sitting at home right now, not knowing the danger to their public health that is taking place. Scary!
Of course corporate dentistry is being pushed throughout the land. As we learned last week at the Texas hearings, the states say have they no authority over the entities. It’s the Wild West! Unchecked and unregulated, or should I say,not regulated.
Pacific Dental Services, Inc
Hearings in Washington today of Medicaid fraud
Hearings in Washington today of Medicaid fraud and it includes managed care and dental fraud testimony!Live Feed Here:
http://oversight.house.gov/hearing/joint-hearing-is-government-adequately-protecting-taxpayers-from-medicaid-fraud/
There are a whole lot of questions from just about everyone on this Oversight Committee hearing wanting to know why no one is in jail, be it individual dentist or corporate executive.
That the same question I’ve asked for 4+years. Of course CMS Director Cynthia Mann and Commissioner Lucinda Jesson of Minnestoa dhs don’t know. 
Here Dr. Chrisinte Ellis, DDS was asked if she had been contacted by the Federal AG office in Texas about her findings of fraud with the orthodontics program. Her answer was no.
Representative Michael Burgess of Texas is outraged at that no one from the state, to CSM, to OIG had a clue that Texas paid more for orthodontics than the rest of the entire country or that no one investigated why there were advertising billboards for “Free Braces”. Representative Burgess also said that this would have the full attention of his office.
Commissioner Jesson can’t seem to explain why UCare, a corporation, would donate $30 Million dollars to the state of Minnesota and why it was characterized as a donation when in reality it was a refund for being overpayment. By it being a donation, the state would get to keep it all, if it were a repayment from over payment, some would be returned to the Federal Government.
This was one bang up 3.5 hour long hearing!
Hearing Audio
Part 1 of the hearing
I missed about 30 minutes in the middle of it, sorry folks.
Part 2 of the hearing
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Dr. Edward Dove has claimed another victim and pissed off another dad. Dr. Dove should be jailed.
Of course it’s simply a matter of time before Dr. Edward Dove puts another child on the “Killed by the Dentist” list. We also know he does this to just about every patient he touches. But, he’s pissed off another dad who has decided to tell his story. Dr. Dove is a public health hazard! The California Dental Board is fully aware Dr. Dove and they too should be held responsible! His colleagues should be all over him over this.
Sign the petition to revoke this monster’s dental license
Here is Bella’s story-Visit the website and read the comments.:
After going through a few days of regret, anger and tears over Bella’s recent experience at the dentist office, Gia and I felt that we simply could not let the experience go, and have to share with whoever might listen.
My sole motivation for sharing is that prospective clients of pediatric dentist Edward Dove of Fresno (and Chatsworth, Bakersfield, and Lancaster) might read this and simply pass on his services — so that no other child has to endure what my daughter did this week. please read this whole post.
Bella was referred to dr. Edward dove of Fresno through her health insurance with Kaiser. she took x-rays a few weeks ago, which according to the dentist, showed she needed fairly extensive dental work (several crowns and “baby” root canals). The dr recommended “oral conscious sedation,” which involves taking medicine that supposedly makes the child VERY drowsy and loopy — enough to where they “don’t care” that dental work is being done. We had this work done once before at USC school of dentistry, and they were fantastic, so although we asked many of the same questions, we felt like a dr. who “specializes in pediatric dentistry” and has done this for a long time should be the expert. We followed his plan. In our conversations, Dr. Dove made me feel like a complete idiot for asking certain questions — as if he was an excellent dentist, this was completely routine, and the questions were virtually worthless to even ask.
We arrived at the 11 am appointment at least 30 minutes early, and Bella was given her medicine around 10:45. We immediately noticed LOUD music from the back and wondered why in the world the dentist would play music like this (more on this below). It took a while for the medicine to seem to work, but Bella began to be very drowsy and loopy. Around 11:20, a big, burly nurse came in and virtually ripped Bella from my arms — saying nothing to me. I began to follow her into the room, when Dr. Dove stepped in front of me, firmly placed his hand on my shoulder, clearly wanting me to stop — I said, I’ going in there to comfort my daughter and say goodbye to her.” Dove said flatly, “what’s that going to help?” Then looked at my mom and said, “she’ll be right back” in a demeaning tone — as if i was a complete moron to want to comfort my daughter.
Ayman Risha–not a dentist, but neither is Midwest Dental Corporation, but it appears that’s not an issue
St. Cloud dental clinic owner denied license
- Updated: April 21, 2012 - 5:16 PM
In 2009, the board received a complaint about Ayman Risha, who holds a foreign-issued Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree.
In addition to finding Risha unlicensed as a clinic owner and a practitioner, a board investigation determined that he had "engaged in fraud or deception ... by providing diagnoses and preparing treatment plans that were not warranted," the order stated. Risha directed staff to follow the plans, falsify periodontal probing numbers and take unnecessary X-rays, as well as scratching expiration dates off products and changing billing codes to justify procedures, the order said.
The investigation also determined that Risha's clinic lacked adequate infection control procedures, including a disposal program and a plan to handle exposure to infection.
In March 2010 the board ordered Risha to cease his unlicensed activities. Two months later, he applied for a license by examination.
After a board committee recommended in 2010 that he be denied a license, Risha contested the decision but lost by default when he missed a 2011 hearing, the order stated.
The board ordered Risha to pay $8,794 in costs, including expenses for an administrative law judge.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Can I legally purchase dental supplies?
Let’s say Debbie Hagan decided to open a Dental Management company. In my “service agreement” with a dental clinic I agreed to order and pay for all dental supplies for the dental clinic.
What laws would I be breaking?
Thursday, April 19, 2012
ROTFL–Aspen Dental propaganda quoting the group who promotes illegal practice of dentistry; The DGPA
From the Aspen Dental Blog
Dispelling misconceptions about Dental Service Organizations
March 5, 2012 by Bethany TuzzolinoA recent online article1 based on the results of an August 2011 survey of 1,500 dentists asked participants to rank what they consider to be their highest concerns as practitioners and small business owners. They identified “Growth and Influence of Corporate Dentistry Companies that Hire Dentists” as a high priority challenge to their success. The respondents ranked this “frustration” about the current state of the profession the third highest category in the Priority 1 section of the survey, right behind “Third-Party Dictation of Treatment Plans and Setting Fees” and mid-level or expanded-function dental practitioners, and right above “Overpopulation of Dentists and Hygienists.” The author notes that “some of these firms have moved into geographic areas already saturated with dentists.”1 This situation is understandably concerning to private practitioners, who are essentially entrepreneurs trying to establish a territory and stable patient base. It is, however, a well-known fact that dental school does not teach graduates how to successfully find the ideal location for, or run, a private practice.
Small Smiles Dental - Church Street Health Management Auction Postponed Until May 11-May 22 Hearing to Approve Any Offers.
Small Smiles Dental - Church Street Health Management Auction Postponed Until May 11
Church Street Health Management LLC will auction the business on May 11, rather than April 20. The provider of management services for 67 dental practices in 22 states reported a $2.1 million net loss in March on total revenue of $11.6 million.
Unless outbid, existing first-lien lenders are to buy the business in exchange for $25 million in debt. Other bids are now due May 4, rather than April 16. The hearing to approve the sale will take place May 22.
Isn’t this a nice way of saying it’s being “repo’d”?
The official creditors’ committee was given the right by the bankruptcy judge to require the company to turn over copies of insurance policies. The committee says that the largest unsecured claims are held by patients who say they were given services unnecessarily. Seeing the policies will help, the committee says, in deciding if the insurance company was entitled to deny coverage of the claims.
Church Street said in a monthly operating report filed with bankruptcy court that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in March were $867,000. Depreciation in the month was $986,000 and interest expense was $120,000.
Church Street specializes in providing dental care to children whose medical expenses are covered by government- sponsored programs. Bankruptcy resulted from a $24 million settlement in January 2010 with state and federal authorities that led to negative publicity and lawsuits.
The company’s debt is structured in compliance with Islamic Shariah financing regulations. There is about $131.5 million owing on first-lien obligations, plus a $25.6 million second- lien. There is an additional $152 million on three subordinated debts.
It’s only Shariah compliant because they created several companies between it and the First Islamic Bank a/k/a Arcapita.
Assets are on the books for $895 million, with debt totaling $303 million, a court filing says.
The case is In re Church Street Health Management LLC, 12- 01573, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville).