Western Dental Corporation Another Ruthless Dental Mill?

An Open Letter To Western Dental Reposted Here From The Hive Blog
Comments To Post At The Bottom, also reposted.

Here is the letter:

A letter to the corporate office of Western Dental... An absolutely INHUMANE treatment of low income patients by a facility that is advertised as caring for those with medi-cal or low income with respect and dignity AND great care... FAR FROM THE TRUTH

To whom it may concern:

Please accept this letter as my personal and adamant request for the services rendered and the absolutely filthy conditions of your Western Dental office located on Briggsmore Avenue in Modesto California to undergo some SERIOUS investigation.

I would like to explain the circumstances which have brought me to this point of complaint... and I'm doing so PRIOR to having received the full service of my initial visit due to the fact that I am absolutely livid over the way in which my dental procedure and status as a patient has been treated by various members of the Western Dental Team which has revealed itself to be an obvious standard for all other patients as well.

My reasoning for visiting WD was purely out of need to be seen on a Saturday and to get a broken tooth fixed by crown procedure prior to my private insurance undergoing changes - regular dental offices are not open on the weekends so.... I made an appointment for 8 am on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007.

The waiting room was to capacity when I arrived by other patients who had an appointment at either the same time or very near the same time as mine. I waited for over 1/2 an hour before I was even given initial paperwork. The condition of the waiting room was filthy and the staff was beyond disorganized in the procedure of caring for those that should have come first...their patients.

Nearly an hour later I was led back to get X-rays by a very kind technician... yet obviously in a huge hurry due to the large volume of work needing to be done... as a result - I had to be re-xrayed later in the day. It was nearly two hours of my arrival that I was even seen by a doctor. He came in and told me I needed a root canal. Then upon examining my tooth - he admitted that he'd misdiagnosed and that I only had a broken tooth.. This is what I'd already written in my paperwork and had explained to each staff member that I'd come into contact... yet another obvious sign that even the doctor had far too much to do - to the point where reviewing my chart prior to seeing me hadn't even occurred. Again - this man was very kind.

The condition of the facility, was again, very dirty. From the sticky floors to the dirty containers which held materials that were eventually needed in completing my procedure. The facility appeared to not have been cleaned in a substantial amount of time.

Having NO CHOICE but to proceed with this procedure at that time was very frustrating. In all of my years of having dental work done, never before have I ever experienced such deteriorated services and poor conditions in which to have my teeth worked on. I am in full understanding that these offices are typically used by those having state funded insurance programs... to me the treatment received by those people in this office IS SHAMEFUL!!! I feel that by way of lack of care for their scheduling and the lack of cleanliness of the facility your company is essentially telling these people that A. Their time is not important and B. Since they have no other choices, or may not know that they have other choices - they are forced to be treated in filth.

I was at your office for well over three hours and had to leave prior to even getting the cleaning which comes with the service I'd received. The dentist was VERY professional, however once he finished drilling down the broken tooth he left me in the care of, once again, a VERY nice woman who admitted to me that what she was doing, fitting the temp crown, wasn't within her scope of practice... however because of the over scheduling and lack of adequate staff members, she was forced to do the work she isn't even qualified for. It took nearly another 1/2 hour for her to trim the temporary down to even fit...

After I asked if I could do the cleaning at another time as I'd been at their offices for nearly FOUR HOURS - I was clearly told that the crown would be in within 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. I stopped at the front desk - had to actually request to be helped by two staff members who clearly knew I was there yet continued with a very personal conversation - I was told that my portion of the bill would be $400 - I wrote a check for $200 and left.

Four days later the temp fell off - I visited the office that night and was again helped by the same woman..although VERY NICE... admittedly unqualified to do what she was doing. She put a stronger adhesive onto the tooth and sent me on my way.... with a huge gap between the temporary crown and the tooth itself. She said it would be ok as the permanent crown was going to arrive in a couple of days. Well... it hasn't and it's not ok.. it is painful...

Being patient and a rule follower I waited for two weeks and I phone the office to find out where the crown is - I was informed by the woman that answered the phone that no one would have told me 1 1/2 to 2 weeks as it NEVER takes less than THREE weeks to get the crown in. Having NO choice but to wait... I did and in fact have received a bill for UNDER $200 - which makes me grateful that I did not pay the full $400 that they were requesting at my initial visit.

At three weeks, this past Saturday, I phoned again - and after 20 minutes on hold and being called by the incorrect name twice - I was told that it would be yet another week until the crown arrived from the lab.

This was enough. I asked to speak with a floor supervisor and after several minutes of bantering back and forth with this woman about my right to speak with a manager regardless of when the crown would arrive she finally told me to hold on... again placed on hold for a substantial amount of time - only to have the SAME woman pick up the phone and inform me that the floor manager found the crown and it would be in on Monday - period end of sentence. I told her that I still wanted to speak to her - she told me the manager was too busy and that I needed to call her back in 15 minutes. I told her that I would appreciate her taking MY number and having her call ME back when she was free. She never did.

I did lodge a complaint with your corporate office and they were in fact kind. I was uncomfortable when I was describing the current condition of the tooth as being painful and then being corrected by your representative to be told that "oh so it's annoying you?" I received the canned standard answers that are expected when this type of customer service disaster occurs.

Here is my MAIN ISSUE...

If this is honestly the type of service that people with medical are expected to accept than I am horrified by the sad sad misrepresentation which Western Dental is pouring all over the media... had I not had the verbiage and ability to insist that I be treated with the respect that I, as a customer, paying or not paying out of my own pocket deserves.. than I would still be sitting here today with no resolution to this matter - well, in fact I am still sitting here with no resolution to this matter as I still have an improperly fitted temporary - and no absolute security that this suddenly post complaint found crown is even really found at all.

I was told by your corporate office that I was in fact the second complaint about the same property that day... how this could possibly be the first time for this to happen - I find VERY difficult to believe.

What really bothers me are the looks on the faces of the other patients in that office... knowing full well that they are being treated disrespectfully yet perhaps not having the voice or option to speak up...it was a truly truly truly disturbing experience - to make it worse.. I still have to go back there to get the permanent crown placed... I was told by corporate that the staff at the office already knows that it was me complaining to them --- this makes me highly uncomfortable for my return visit.

Western Dental Corporate Staff... I am sincerely hoping that this type of inhumane service being provided to those less fortunate than others changes and changes VERY quickly... you are a huge company and the money is very important I'm sure... however the overworking of your staff in order to squeeze in as many patients that you can --- is, in the process, degrading the very people that pay your bills.

With HUGE hopes that this is resolved,


Comment 1
follow up on this complaint, Yo....don't let it slide. raise a banner if necessary. This should never be tolerated and I am so glad you did not do so for the sake of convenience.

Comment 2

Although, your letter certainly pointed out the problems your encountered during your visit to a Western Dental facility, I can tell you from personal experience and from all of the other complaints I have read about Western Dental, don't expect to receive any kind of acknowledgement or apologies from Western Dental. They are a shady outfit no matter what location you happen to visit.
My husband spent 9 hours at their office in Antioch, CA. According to the law, medical and dental practitioners cannot subject their patients to more than 3-4 hours of treatment or service in a 24 hour period. My husband's dental insurance policy pays contracted providers at 100%. Western Dental is a contract provider with United Concordia (our dental insurance carrier through California Field Inronworkers Union) and they were supposed accept the insurance payment as payment in full. However, Western Dental did not properly bill our insurance company for the services they provided to my husband and as a result, they were subsequently paid less than what they calculated.
Western Dental decided that they would try to bill us for the difference. They started sending us 2-3 collection letters a month and I would call them and explain that we owed them nothing because we had 100% coverage. Then they started making collection call to our home. They would call every other day threatening to send us to collections if we didn't pay. I call the ironworker union and United Concordia to let them know what was going on. However, there wasn't much they could do. I went around and around with Western Dental corporate billing office in Orange, California, and just about everybody I spoke to down there had absolutely no knowledge about the laws governing HMO providers.
Fortunately for us, this is what I do for living . . . . medical billing. I tried and tried to explain to them that what they were doing was against the law. Balance billing and HMO patient is a highly illegal practice. I knew that most patients don't understand the complexities involved in medical billing, so I decided to conduct a rather in depth investigation into Western Dental's billing practices and I discovered that they were doing the same thing to all of ironworkers and their families throughout the State of California.
I concluded that Western Dental practices this illegal billing tactic banking on the fact, that most people don't understand the medical billing and reimbursement policies associated with their insurance carrier. The majority of patients simply trust that their medical or dental provider wouldn't bill them (the patient) unless the amount was truly the patient's responsibility. I believe that Western Dental's main source of profit comes from two aspects of their bsuiness, 1) they provide shipshod treatment to the patients, and 2) they use highly illegal billing tactics in order to coerce their patients into paying them above and beyond the contracted rate that Western Dental has agreed to accept from the patient's insurance carrier.
In order for your story to have any affect on Western Dental, please file a complaint with the following agencies; 1) the ADA (American Dental Association), 2) the California Attorney General's Office, 3) the CDA (California Dental Association), 4) California Board of Dental Examiners, and 5) the California Dept of Consumer Affairs.
If I were you, I would seek out another Dentist's opinion of the work done by Western Dental and ask them to document their opinion in writing as your situation may eventually force you to file a malpractice suit due to the poor dentistry work and pain and suffering that you have already endured and still may endure in the future. Document everything that happens to you as a result of your visit to this Western Dental facility. If your teeth are not properly repaired , you could end up suffering from a multitude of other health issues that can be caused by poor dental treatment. I cannot stress to you enough to please protect yourself by following through with my advised suggestions above, otherwise you will no recourse in case something happens in the future.
Good Luck

Comment 3

Remember the twenty Modesto dentists who were arrested several years ago, for their horrible treatment of children, the elderly, and low-income people on Medi-cal? (As far as I know, they are still waiting for trial. Justice is slow.)

These scams have been popular for many years in other states as well--especially Florida. And that is what they are--scams, just for easy money. Unqualified people have pulled entire mouthfuls of teeth that should never have been pulled. Often screaming children and the elderly were not even given pain medication. In addition,conditions were filthy.

No, these conditions are NOT normal. A dentist's office must be spotless. Otherwise, diseases spread like wildfire. Everyone must know what they are doing. Of course, you should never go back there. It is too dangerous. You do need to see a REAL dentist.

A lot of con men are "very nice". That is why they are so successful. The "wolves in sheep's clothing" play their roles well. It is important to know who is putting their fingers in your mouth!

Comment 4

Well, if you are thinking of going back to that dentist, check out the really horrible complaints against Western Dental, all over California. In the computer search spot, type: "Complaints against Western Dental" or go to www.ripoffreport.com

One person had good teeth until Western Dental worked on nine of them. Then they had nine bad teeth.

They try to treat as many people as they can and do as many procedures as they can--even if the procedures are not needed, so they can bill for them.

In addition, the FBI is investigating them for insurance fraud.
******
One complaint was from Modesto. Even though the dentist never had time to see her (after a long wait in extreme pain), Western Dental sent her a bill. When she didn't pay it, they kept adding late fees. They have a long history of complaints about fraudulent billing.

A dental chain like Western Dental in Florida was even kidnapping low-income children from their yards to pull their teeth.

more can be seen here....

Dentists React To Small Smiles

These are posts from a Dental Message Board in reaction to Small Smiles/FORBA

1. There is a small smiles clinic close to us and we see a lot of children who have been put through the ringer there. Most times the work is sub-standard and we are re-doing what wasn't done correctly the first time around. Many of the children who are referred are great kids and just need some TSD and patience. Unfortunately, at that point they are pretty traumatized. The thing that worries us here in our clinic is the disregard for max local anesthetic dosages, etc. It's hard to believe you can papoose a 3 year old and do 4 quadrants of dentistry in one sitting, staying within the safety limits for local anesthetic. I'm all for providing needed treatment, but I'm doubtful as to how much training and supervision there are at these clinics.

2. small smiles opened in our town about six weeks ago. a good friend of mine was working as a hygienist there--she quit after two weeks. i don't know how anyone can justify treatment like that. i see kids with medicaid as does another large pedo practice in town, as do several other family dentists i know. access to care isn't an issue in my area for these kids so they can't use the "we're your child's last hope" approach.

look at the aapd guidelines. they (small smiles) aren't compliant and i don't believe they provide the standard of care offered in my area.

previous to this story, i was talking with a friend on the local peer review on how to approach this group because i was concerned about what i was hearing.

I personally LOVED This one!!!!

3. At our SSPD meeting in September AAPD president Keith Morley said to watch out for these FORBA clinics. He said they are on the way to any rural area in which they can treat low socioeconomic children for Profit.

I too see Medicaid children b/c I feel it is my way of giving back to society. The News took the absolute worst parts of the entire story and put that on TV for everyone to watch. I've been in situations in which i've had to use a papoose board while the child screamed away b/c there was no other choice. I would think any of us pedos understand exactly what was going on there. Most of what they do may not be morally right and is against the ethics of the ADA and AAPD however it doesn't break any laws. We need to all band together and keep these clinics from opening in our areas.

4. Just completed 30 years of dealing with Medicaid. It tooks it's toll on me financially (somewhat), but more emotionally and physically (which is why I stopped). The stories I have heard even for adults can be incredible, and then we get to the "access to care" issue. Who in their right mind would like to stand in line for that kind of access?

I know that there are also some incredible providers of care to this population, adults and children. But, at times, it seems that as long as the care is being "provided" by a provider, that the state powers will look the other way. An acquaintance of mine who previously worked at a one of these facilities stated that some of the dentists, at this particular facility, should not have licenses to practice.

5. If providers would treat mediciad patients as a requirement for renewal of our state granted license to make money in this limited area, access issues would greatly diminish.

6. There is one down the street from me called Vital Smiles, formally the Tooth Zone. I used to say "Who else is going to treat these kids" (I take medicaid by the way) From seeing some of the dentistry, and hearing from patients, former staff members, and a former Dr. there, a lot of those kids would be better off if they had not even gone.

7. If the Democrates get the s-chip legislation passed they will providing about 1 million more American kids with the kind of treatment that is getting blasted. S-Chip in most states is lumped into medicaid. I could care less about Dem vs Rep, but this is to make legislaotors (sp?) look good by providing insurance to these poor kids. What kind of care will be provided? Will they have access to care with this insurance?

8. small smiles clinics do not sedate or offer GA. What upsets me is not the use of the papoose per say, but it is how the clinics are run. There are several Kool Smiles clinics in the area where I practice, and they are run in a similar fashion to Small Smiles. they over treatment plan just to do pulp and crowns. I see at least 3-5 patients from their clinics , and the parent shows me the tx plans. many times it is crowns, where simple ONE surface restorations suffice. These clinics do not have a good reputation where I live.

Warning To Dental Grads Being Wooed By Corporate Dental Companies

Be careful about how you interpret the word "guaranteed” income when being wooed by a corporate dental management company such as FORBA, Heartland or Western Dental. Read this next paragraph very carefully.

A lot of these corporate associateship contracts are set up so that you are guaranteed a certain salary based upon a specific (and sometimes unattainable) level of production. If you don't hit that level of production, you are still "paid" that salary, but you then owe the corporation the difference between the salary and what you actually produced.

So, in many cases it may seem that you will be guaranteed big dollars right out of graduation, but often that is based upon unrealistic levels of production. They spin it as "guaranteed" because you will in fact be making that money, but you will ultimately have to pay part of it back.

Go ask a few optometrists or pharmacists how much they like the corporatization of their respective professions, and you'll hear all the reasons why every effort should be made to preserve dentistry's professional autonomy.

Then you get hooked up with a Corporate Dental Company that gets nailed for mistreatment, over treatment and over billing insurances or using a blanket DEA number for prescriptions and your once stellar reputation is tarnished forever.

All those long months, days and years spent preparing yourself for a wonderful noble career is gone down the drain in less than 6 months. Not even mentioning the enormous education debt you’ve accumulated and now you won’t be able to get a job that would earn enough wages to make your loan payments let alone live, have a family or anything else. All those dreams of a fruitful life that got you through all those years of study are gone in a flash.

Lets say you don't like the procedures they teach you at their "training camps". What are you to do, you have signed a "non compete" clause in your contract. Then what are you going to do. Talk about stuck between a rock and a hard place!

There's no altruism involved in these corporations' business decisions. Corporate mills are notorious for encouraging over treatment in order to meet production goals. If you're seriously trying to come up with a minimally acceptable treatment plan for a Medicaid patient, you're looking at sealants vs. restoring every pit & fissure in the mouth, complex direct restorations instead of pressed ceramic crowns, periodontal debridement, flippers instead of implant-supported bridges, etc.

Heartland and Western shareholders are just like the ADHP proponents in that respect--they're out for their own best interests, not the public's, but they also know saying "it's for the greater good!" is a nearly impenetrable moral shield for them to hide behind.

The moral in both cases is that dentistry needs to start being proactive about figuring out solutions to the access to care problem, instead of letting other groups seize the initiative and then trying to fend them off while backpedaling.

Some companies like Kool Smiles ask employees to sign a 'restrictive covenant for 1 or more years in a radius of 5-10 miles. This mean you might be SOL if you want to work in that area.

A portion of Small Smiles /  FORBA contract says:

...for a period of 2 years following termination, you can't provide dental services for Medicaid patients within 10 mile aerial radius of the Practice Location, or Employer's practice location on the date of termination if Employer has moved its location, or the location of any of the Employer's related practices.

Add this to the $500 a day penalty for not giving them a 90 day notice and you are just screwed!  What if you had relocated!  What now?

A Discussion on Corporate Dentistry's Workings

Click Here for the sales pitch so to speak about Heartland Dental.

Includes how it works, what cuts the docs get and Employee Stock Options.

But what I find interesting is this: (The Interesting Part, is the Investment Bank involved. They were at this site for several hours last week. Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin.

Anyway this is a information release concerning Employee Stock Option...

EMPLOYEES ACQUIRE 38.5% OF DENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, INC.
IN PARTIAL ESOP BUYOUT
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (January 21, 2004) – Employees of Dental Health Resources, Inc. (d/b/a Heartland Dental Care, or “Heartland”) have acquired a 38.5% ownership stake in the dental practice management company. The price of the acquisition was not disclosed.

Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, an international investment bank, acted as exclusive financial advisor to Heartland. Houlihan Lokey structured the transaction, designed the ESOP security and arranged the financing for the purchase.

Heartland’s newly formed Employee Stock Ownership Trust, or ESOT, purchased convertible preferred stock representing 38.5% of the ownership of Heartland using senior credit and mezzanine funding. The transaction provided liquidity for certain selling shareholders, including Dr. Richard Workman, who founded Heartland in August 1997. The unique structure of the ESOP security and transaction provides the ESOP with an annual dividend yield while providing the company with significant future tax savings.

Workman, president and chief executive officer of Heartland, said, “Everyone is extremely excited about the ESOP and what it means for our future. The employees understand they have an opportunity to have a positive impact on the dental profession. They also realize they will create an economic interest for their knowledge by helping dental practices with management responsibilities.”

“We appreciate the dedicated professionals Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin assembled for the ESOP. The entire transaction team should be complimented for all their hard work and professionalism,” Workman said.

Lou Paone, managing director of Houlihan Lokey’s Washington, D.C., office said the transaction is expected to generate significant value to the employee owners in future years. “Heartland and its executive management team have a very strong employee ownership orientation,” Paone said. “The ESOP transaction and implementation marries a shareholder liquidity event with the corporate goal of aligning the employees with the future direction of the firm.” The Heartland transaction represents an innovative example of the growing trend of shareholders seeking liquidity by implementing a partial ESOP buyout structure, Paone said.

Patrick Hurst, managing director and head of Houlihan Lokey’s Healthcare Group, stated, “There haven’t been many liquidity events for shareholders of dental practice management companies in recent years. The ESOP structure is a creative alternative to selling to a financial or strategic buyer, and has the added benefit of giving the employees a real economic stake in the future success of the company.”

About Dental Health Resources, Inc.
Dental Health Resources, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Effingham, Ill., that provides a full range of management, administrative, and financial services to dental practices in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee throughout cities with populations that range from 40,000 to 500,000. By providing management services to handle the business aspects of the dental practices, the company allows dentists to use their management and business skills to be responsible for certain operations of the company and to focus primarily on delivering quality patient care. Heartland also provides capital for the development, growth, and acquisition of additional dental practices.

Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, an international investment bank established in 1970, provides a wide range of services, including mergers and acquisitions, financing, financial opinions and advisory services, financial restructuring, and merchant banking. In 2003, Houlihan Lokey ranked as the No. 1 M&A advisor for transactions under $200 million and the No.4 advisor for transactions under $1 billion. The firm has been the No. 1 provider of fairness opinions for the past four years and has the largest financial restructuring practice of any investment bank in the country. The firm has approximately 600 employees in nine offices in the United States and the United Kingdom. It annually serves more than 1,000 clients ranging from closely held companies to Global 500 corporations. For more information, visit Houlihan Lokey’s Website at www.hlhz.com.

© 2004 Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

Dr. Alireza Nazeri: Suspended Washington Dentist Practicing In Palm Springs

4-29-2008


Read the Full Report here on Dr. Alireza "Allen"' Yekta Nazeri, WA license # DE00006673.

What blows me away in this is that it too 32 complaints before his licenses were suspended!

Here is the final order:

California: In April 2005 the Dental Commission placed the license of Alireza Y. Nazeri, a dentist licensed in Washington (DE00006673), on a stayed suspension for five years, but he may not practice in Washington until the commission authorizes.

Nazeri failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a prior order.

Dr. Nazeri was to undergo psych evaluation.

Here is Dr. Nazeri's now practice Cornerstone Dentistry in Palm Desert, CA.

Be sure to check the "In The Media" link for a nice picture.

Dr. Alireza (Allen) Y. Nazeri is another graduate of Creighton University, same as the DeRose's. See Dr. Nazeri's bio here, and is a member of the Iranian American Dental Association.

I guess Dr. Nazeri is still working, here is where he taught a class in December 2007 on:

Secrets behind your patients saying “YES” to an Elective and Comprehensive treatment revealed!!!

You just gotta check this one out! He shows you how to get more fee for service from dental patients.

This man should not be practicing dentistry anywhere yet has a posh clinic in Palm Desert. What is wrong with this dental system anyway! Is anyone at all watching!!!!!

Anyone reading this board what to take a guess where Dr. Nazeri went to dental school?

Creighton of course! What the living hell are they teaching these dentists over there anyway?

Heartland Dental Management Dentists Accused Of DEA Number Sharing

From Federal Compliant File 4-2008

US vs Heartland Dental Care, Inc.

Heartland Dental Care, Inc. referred to as "Heartland" is a
Delaware corporation in good standing located at 1200 Network Centre Dr., Effingham, Illinois.

Heartland manages dental practices throughout the state of Illinois and elsewhere. Heartland
Dental Care, Inc., which was not incorporated until 2006, is the successor entity to Dental Health
Resources, LLC, Dental Health Resources, Inc. and Heartland Dental Development, Inc.
(collectively "DHR entities"). The DHR entities managed the dental practices, entities, dentists
and employees whose conduct is described below.

Richard E. Workman, D.M.D. is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Heartland.

In the Complaint dentists employees by Heartland at various locations used DEA numbers of other registered dentists to write prescriptions regulated medications.

DEA Inspector reviewed conduct between 2003 and 2007 and found numerous instances of misuse of DEA numbers.

Heartland employed newly graduated dentist who were not yet registered and issued a DEA number for dispensing prescription of controlled substances. Therefore in order to conduct business these dentists used DEA numbers of established dentists.

Heartland Dental was aware and facilitated in this procedure.

Wow, I wonder if this goes on at other Dental Management Companies as well, namely FORBA!

If any of you employees out there know of fraud and corruption at FORBA you could well end up like the woman in Illinois who reported them under the false claims act as a Whistle Blower entitling her to a portion of the fine/settlement. As well she won over $300K for wrongful termination.

I've put links on the side bar regarding the False Claims Act Laws and Whistle Blower Protection.

New York Leave State Vulnerable to Corportate Dental Abuse

§ 6604. Requirements  for  a  license  as  a dentist. To qualify for a
license  as  a  dentist,  an  applicant  shall  fulfill  the   following
requirements:

 (1) Application: file an application with the department;
(2) Education: have received an education, including a doctoral degree
in dentistry, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
(3)  Experience:  have  experience  satisfactory  to  the board and in
accordance with  the  commissioner's  regulations,  provided  that such
experience    shall    consist   of   satisfactory   completion   of   a
clinically-based  postdoctoral  general  practice  or  specialty  dental
residency  program,  of  at  least one year's duration, in a hospital or
dental  facility  accredited  for  teaching  purposes  by   a   national
accrediting  body approved by the department, provided, further
that any such  residency  program  shall  include  a  formal  out come
 assessment evaluation of the resident's competence to practice
dentistry acceptable to the department;
(4)  Examination: pass a written examination satisfactory to the board
and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
(5) Age: be at least twenty-one years of age;
(6) Citizenship or immigration status: be a United States  citizen  or
an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
provided,  however,  that  the  board  of regents may grant a three year
waiver for an alien to practice in an area which has been  designated  a
federal  dental  health professions shortage area, except that the board
of regents may grant an additional extension not to exceed six years to
an  alien  to  enable  him  or  her  to  secure citizenship or permanent
resident status, provided such status is being actively pursued;
(7) Character: be  of  good  moral  character  as  determined  by  the
department; and
(8)  Fees:  pay  a fee of two hundred twenty dollars to the department
for admission to a department conducted examination and for  an initial
license,  a fee of one hundred fifteen dollars for each reexamination, a
fee of one hundred  thirty-five  dollars  for  an  initial  license  for
persons  not  requiring admission to a department conducted
examination,and a fee of two hundred ten dollars  for  each  triennial
registration
period.

Dr. George C. Brain: Another Terrorist Dentist In Tacoma Washington

The state Department of Health has opened a new investigation into a Tacoma dentist accused of mistreating young patients.That action comes on the heels of an exclusive KIRO Team 7 Investigation into Dr. George C. Brain.

Children have repeatedly complained over the years that Brain choked, shoved, assaulted or grabbed them by the throat.Now, Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne pins down the Dental Board about its handling of Dr. Brain.Dr. Brain's resume includes nine police reports from kids who claim to have been assaulted during dental work.

Those resulted in a charge of assault on a child, but no criminal convictions.However, in addition, for the first time, we dig inside Dr. Brain's licensing file to discover more accusations of assaultive or threatening behavior.Pediatric dentist Dr. George Brain has been under scrutiny for professional misconduct for years.

Records at the Dental Quality Assurance Commission show seven complaints of assault, abuse or verbal threats towards children.One led to disciplinary action. A 2006 case shows a girl complained Dr. Brain choked her and pulled some teeth without permission. The board assigned Dr. Brain to a "monitoring" program and required an "anger management evaluation."Laurie Jinkins, an Assistant Secretary at the state Department of Health, oversees dental licensing complaints.She tells KIRO Team 7 Investigators, “That would not be a typical number of complaints. That is a high number and it is something that causes us concern.”Jinkins defends the state’s disciplinary process, saying Dr. Brain has been on their radar and they’re watching him.“We're concerned when any patient has a bad experience with their health care provider, but especially with kids or vulnerable people.

That makes us especially concerned because kids can't protect themselves.”Five-year-old Cameron Laducer and his sister, Courtney, are the latest kids to accuse Dr. George Brain of hurting them. A complaint, on file with the dental board this week, alleges Dr. Brain overmedicated Courtney, yanked a tooth, and filled a cavity in another tooth without parental permission.It also accuses Dr. Brain of creating scratches on Cameron's face and causing a grossly infected lip.The children’s mother, Brooke Laducer, tells KIRO Team 7 Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne, “I'm very, very angry with the State of Washington. Number one, I want to know why this man still holds a license. I want to know why he can still work on children. “Laurie Jinkins says she can't talk about the Lacuder's new complaint; it's under active investigation.

She did, however, address another of our questions.We discovered Dr. Brain made around $1.5 million last year from the state in return for treating low-income children and their families.Halsne: “Does a patient who doesn't have any money, who has to use a state welfare voucher to get that work done -- should they receive any lesser care than someone with premium insurance?”Jinkins: “Everyone in this state, no matter how rich or how poor they are, whether they have insurance or don't have insurance, they are entitled to the same level of care, the same quality of care in this state."

Dr. Brain has chosen to remain silent and is not speaking with us regarding our investigation.Others are not so quiet.Dozens of people have called and e-mailed Tuesday, wanting to tell KIRO Team 7 Investigators about their treatment inside Dr. Brain's office.If you have any concerns about his conduct or the conduct of any other dentist in Washington, the state Health Department wants to hear from you.

Click Here for Video Report, Interviews with patients, police reports and more.

Should Michael DeRose Ever Been Licensed In North Carolina?

Should Michael DeRose or any corporate dentist group actually have access to treating patients under North Carolina Law is the question here. I say unless that dentist is licensed and actively practices in North Carolina, they should have their licenses revoked! But of course this is where dentists like Dr. Raf Rivera and Dr. Tish Ballance come in isn't it. They become the "local" actively practicing dentists.

If you "google" those in charge of Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Ocean Dental and others, they have offices as well as licenses in various states across the US. But you and I both know they don't "actively" participate.

For instance, Dr. Adolph Padula, Mike DeRose's uncle) with FROBA Small Smiles says he can be seen in New York, Massachusetts, Colorado and Ohio. In the MassHealth Directory it says Dr. Padula is accepting new patients. I see this over and over. Now grant you they are a bit careful. But in the instance of getting on lists of providers not so much. The names crop up in state after state.

I understand that each state is different, but most require them to "actively" practice dentistry and it's that way for a reason. This is where Tennessee got Dr. William Mueller a few years back that was reduced to an advertising sanction. They get licensed and advertise in states where they have a licenses, but fail to "actively" practice dentistry.

Let's Look At North Carolina:

North Carolina General Statutes:

§ 90-36. Licensing practitioners of other states.

(a)The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners may issue a license by credentials to an applicant who has been licensed to practice dentistry in any state or territory of the United States if the applicant produces satisfactory evidence to the Board that the applicant has the required education, training, and qualifications, is in good standing with the licensing jurisdiction, has passed satisfactory examinations of proficiency in the knowledge and practice of dentistry as determined by the Board, and meets all other requirements of this section and rules adopted by the Board. The Board may conduct examinations and interviews to test the qualifications of the applicant and may require additional information that would affect the applicant's ability to render competent dental care. The Board may, in its discretion, refuse to issue a license by credentials to an applicant who the Board determines is unfit to practice dentistry.

(b) The applicant for licensure by credentials shall be of good moral character and shall have graduated from and have a DDS or DMD degree from a program of dentistry in a school or college accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and approved by the Board.

(c) The applicant must meet all of the following conditions:

(1) Has been actively practicing dentistry, as defined in G.S. 90-29(b)(1) through (b)(9), for a minimum of five years immediately preceding the date of application.

G.S. 90-29 (b)(1) thru (b)(9)

(1) Diagnoses, treats, operates, or prescribes for any disease, disorder, pain, deformity, injury, deficiency, defect, or other physical condition of the human teeth, gums, alveolar process, jaws, maxilla, mandible, or adjacent tissues or structures of the oral cavity;

(2) Removes stains, accretions or deposits from the human teeth;

(3) Extracts a human tooth or teeth;

(4) Performs any phase of any operation relative or incident to the replacement or restoration of all or a part of a human tooth or teeth with any artificial substance, material or device;

(5) Corrects the malposition or malformation of the human teeth;

(6) Administers an anesthetic of any kind in the treatment of dental or oral diseases or physical conditions, or in preparation for or incident to any operation within the oral cavity; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to a lawfully qualified nurse anesthetist who administers such anesthetic under the supervision and direction of a licensed dentist or physician;

(6a) Expired pursuant to Session Laws 1991, c. 678, s. 2.

(7) Takes or makes an impression of the human teeth, gums or jaws;

(8) Makes, builds, constructs, furnishes, processes, reproduces, repairs, adjusts, supplies or professionally places in the human mouth any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance, corrective device, or other structure designed or constructed as a substitute for a natural human tooth or teeth or as an aid in the treatment of the malposition or malformation of a tooth or teeth, except to the extent the same may lawfully be performed in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 90‑29.1 and 90‑29.2;

(9) Uses a Roentgen or X‑ray machine or device for dental treatment or diagnostic purposes, or gives interpretations or readings of dental Roentgenograms or X rays;

(2) Has not been the subject of final or pending disciplinary action in the military, in any state or territory in which the applicant is or has ever been licensed to practice dentistry, or in any state or territory in which the applicant has held any other professional license.

(3) Presents evidence that the applicant has no felony convictions and that the applicant has no other criminal convictions that would affect the applicant's ability to render competent dental care.

(4) Has not failed an examination conducted by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.

(d) The applicant for licensure by credentials shall submit an application to the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, the form of which shall be determined by the Board, pay the fee required by G.S. 90-39, successfully complete examinations in Jurisprudence and Sterilization and Infection Control, and meet the criteria or requirements established by the Board.

(e) The holder of a license issued under this section shall establish a practice location and actively practice dentistry, as defined in G.S. 90-29(b)(1) through (b)(9), in North Carolina within one year from the date the license is issued. The license issued under this section shall be void upon a finding by the Board that the licensee fails to limit the licensee's practice to North Carolina or that the licensee no longer actively practices dentistry in North Carolina. (1935, c. 66, s. 9; 1971, c. 755, s. 7; 1981, c. 751, s. 6; 2002-37, s. 2.)

Does anyone reading this blog think that Michael DeRose, living in his Pueblo Colorado 3.4 million dollar recording breaking home EVER "actively" practice dentistry in North Carolina as defined?

Michael DeRose has sanctions in other states, namely Colorado for one.

He would have had to one of the following to be considered actively practicing dentistry:

(1) Diagnoses, treats, operates, or prescribes for any disease, disorder, pain, deformity, injury, deficiency, defect, or other physical condition of the human teeth, gums, alveolar process, jaws, maxilla, mandible, or adjacent tissues or structures of the oral cavity;

(2) Removes stains, accretions or deposits from the human teeth;

(3) Extracts a human tooth or teeth;

(4) Performs any phase of any operation relative or incident to the replacement or restoration of all or a part of a human tooth or teeth with any artificial substance, material or device;

(5) Corrects the malposition or malformation of the human teeth;

(6) Administers an anesthetic of any kind in the treatment of dental or oral diseases or physical conditions, or in preparation for or incident to any operation within the oral cavity; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to a lawfully qualified nurse anesthetist who administers such anesthetic under the supervision and direction of a licensed dentist or physician;

(6a) Expired pursuant to Session Laws 1991, c. 678, s. 2.

(7) Takes or makes an impression of the human teeth, gums or jaws;

(8) Makes, builds, constructs, furnishes, processes, reproduces, repairs, adjusts, supplies or professionally places in the human mouth any prosthetic denture, bridge, appliance, corrective device, or other structure designed or constructed as a substitute for a natural human tooth or teeth or as an aid in the treatment of the malposition or malformation of a tooth or teeth, except to the extent the same may lawfully be performed in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 90‑29.1 and 90‑29.2;

(9) Uses a Roentgen or X‑ray machine or device for dental treatment or diagnostic purposes, or gives interpretations or readings of dental Roentgenograms or X rays;

Kool Smiles Turned Away in Arkansas March 2007

I'm wondering how Kool Smiles PC was able to skirt the laws and get two offices opened in Arkansas.

In March 2007, Drs. Tu Tran, Thien Chi Pham and Dr. David M. Strange, Jr. went before the Arkansas Dental Board to apply for licenses, they were turned down.

From the Minutes Dated 3-2-2007

Drs. Thien Pham and Tu Tran each appeared before the Board for an Arkansas dental license by examination. After some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to grant Dr. Pham a license. With 4 Board members voting in favor of granting him a license and 4 Board members voting against granting him a license, the Board President broke the tie and voted against granting a license to Dr. Pham. After additional discussion, a motion was made and seconded to table Dr. Tran’s application until the Board office receives a copy of his dental school diploma and New York license verification.

David M. Strange, Jr., DDS appeared before the Board for an Arkansas dental license by credentials. After some discussion, a motion was made to grant him a dental license, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Maybe Drs. Thien Pham and Tu Tran, two Vietnamese dentists finally came up with copy of his dental school diploma. However as you can tell, at first it was a no go for these two, then it was decided that if they came up with actual diploma's they would reconsider.

As for Dr. David M. Strange, Jr, DDS, it was a flat NO.

To see the minutes of the meeting click here.

update:

Looks like Dr. Pham came back on September 14, 2007 with Paul Walker and got Kool Smiles in the door.

Click here to see the minutes.

Former Dental Management Employee Awarded $750,000 For Stepping Forward

4-11-2008

Dental Management Companies are on notice.

A former employee was awarded $412,500 for stepping forward and exposing over billing, over treatment, and unnecessary procedures billed by Heartland Dental Management. Heartland also agreed to pay Lori Jamison another $325,000 for wrongful dismissal and attorney fees.

Lori had the courage to step forward and file a claim under the Federal False Claims Act and Illinois' Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act.


My hat is off to Miss Lori, how about yours?

Read The Full Story Here

2 Year Old Leaves Winston-Salem Smile Starters With Bloody Nose

Recently, and I mean VERY recently 2 year old Kimora, visited the Smile Starters Clinic, located in Winston-Salem, NC on Silas Creek Parkway with a bloody nose.

Her mother reports this was the child's second visit, her first was for a cleaning. This time they wanted to put crowns on four of the two year old's teeth.

After about 30 minutes the child was returned to her mother and the mother was told that only cleaned her teeth but wanted her back for more treatment. Mom said you could tell she had been crying and blood was "dripping" from her nose.

Her mother told the people at the clinic she would NOT be bringing her child back. When mom got home and looked on the Internet and found all the negative reports with Smile Starters she immediately called the clinic to have her daughter's dental records sent to her.

Her mother says the child is now acting strange, even after getting some rest from the incident. Her mother said her son has also visited this clinic and they have put 7 crowns on his teeth. Mom feels like none of the were necessary since she sees to it the children take good care of their teeth and limits sweets etc.

When I questioned mom if she was able to go back with her child or if there was a window to observe the treatment she told me they wouldn't let her go back with her small daughter. She said there was a small two way mirror where she could look see in, but as reported by others on this site it only lets one see into the "cleaning" room and her daughter was taken further back into the clinic.

Now what did those people do to give a 2 year old child a bloody nose. When I try and picture it in my mind, knowing what I do about these people, I would say it happened while trying to wrestle her into the papoose board!

Shame on Smile Starters Once Again!

New Management! HA!

Dr. Steven Adair Is Small Smiles New Cheif Dental Officer-Ya Gotta Love it!

See how smart these people are:

They hired the one doctor who wrote an article for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentist on how papoose boards need to be modified for use in dental practice.

(chew on that in a minute...)

Small Smiles hired a Papoose Board Expert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Click Here

Doesn't sound like they plan on doing away with tied kinds down now does it?!

What surprises me is that someone with Dr. Adair's credentials would going up with such a child abusing company as FORBA/Small Smiles. If he thinks he's going to ride in on his white horse and "clean things" up that certainly will not happen. The DeRose's have been doing this since for darn near 20 years, they are set in their ways. Plus I'd say within the next year, this place will be in even worse shape in the eyes of the public, and that's all that really counts isn't it?

Funny how I just posted his article yesterday. Then I see where someone on my site had searched Dr. Adair, so I followed that link and low and behold there was this........... click here.

At the link above is a press release where Dr. Tara Schafer was appointed as the Medical College of Georgia's interim chair by the School of Dentistry Dean, Connie Drisko, a position previously held by Dr. Steven Adair.  

Paula Hinely -  2008 March 20

Dr. Tara Schafer, associate professor in the Medical College of Georgia Department of Pediatric Dentistry and an MCG alumna, has been appointed as the department’s interim chair by School of Dentistry Dean Connie Drisko.

“Dr. Schafer is a highly skilled pediatric dentist,” Dr. Drisko says. “I am certain her leadership and forward thinking will continue to advance the department in its mission of providing quality training for students and residents while maintaining a focus on patient- and family-centered care.”

Dr. Steven Adair, the department’s chair since 1990, has reduced his work commitment in the school to assume the position of chief dental officer for FORBA, Inc., the parent company of Small Smiles Dental Clinics, which treats underserved children.

God works in mysterious ways!

Report on Tish Ballance Still Going After Medicaid Dollars-ABC 13 news.

I told you guys a few weeks ago, that Tish Ballance was opening up a new 'State of the art" clinic in Ashville. Finally it's hit the news on Ashevilles ABC13, Frank Fraboni reporting (requires IE not Firefox). See Here for the video report.

This reports says that this particular Smile Starters wasn't involved in the 10 million dollar law suit, but failed to mention that every dentist in ALL Smile Starters go to the same boot camp for training. This particular office just didn't have any parents step forward.

Note how those employees look like deer caught in the headlight. Wonder why no reporter has ambused DeRose over the years. Come on guys, let's get on that one.
(see that's what's this site is all about, gathering information for reporters and agencies so they don't have to spend the same hundreds of hours researching this whole mess and it's all in a nice package right her to pick through and decide what each wants to report on, or agency wants to file what chargers, call it my gift to the world)

In the report above documents show that even today, DeRose and Ballance still own Smile Starters, even though they say it's been sold to Dr. Raf Rivera. They employees still acknowledge DeRose and Ballance still own Smile Starters, and DeRose said months and months ago he sold them or they were under "new management", depends on who he's talking to at the moment. Wouldn't you hate to have him for a client. Honestly he can't tell the same story twice.

"Mike DeRose, this is to you personally: Changing the name over the door, does not mean "New Management"....duh! And how many dental management company names do you have now, I'm up to at least 5 or 6 in the management area alone. Let's see, BBJ (your relatives) Root Management (your accountant) FORBA, LLC (you and your brother) FORBA Management, LLC (you and your brother) ...shoot I've done lost track. You know, I myself would love to have you on the witness stand, oh what a joyous day for me that would be."

According to other reports Dr. Rivera took over ....clearing throat.... I mean bought all the Smile Starters across the area. (Funny wonder how many times DeRose can sell the same clinics..didn't he once say he sold them to FORBA, Oh wait, forgot....FORBA is owned by DeRose...excuse me)

My guess they've already hired a new ad agency to come up with another new name for Smile Starters, design another sweet little logo and look for new signage to arrive at any time. Of course I could be wrong.

When it comes to this bunch I'm usually not too far off. So I guess they can advertise "new management" right? (Rolling on the floor laughing) that has taken over Smile Starters.

Of course this is standard procedure for DeRose, say they've been sold or at the least under new management (picking myself up off the floor) as pretend he's wiped his hands of the whole thing. I've uncovered at least 25, or was it 27 different names where he's done this exact thing.

Dr. Rivera will now be the so called owner and Root Dental Management to run the terrorist camps, as known as, dental management. Don't think for a minute that Michael DeRose is not involved or getting a cut off the top, he's now the probable "consultant". It's not hard to figure out the business model since it's been status quo for years.

Dr. Rivera is an old employee of Medicaid Dental Centers-Carolina Dental Centers-Smile Starters, I would bet money he's as guilty as Tish Ballance or Heather Berkheimer in gross overtreatment of the children's teeth as well as tying them up on papoose boards.

My guess (and I guess pretty well) is that the only reason he was not officially sanctioned and named in the current lawsuits is that no patient seen by him in particular came forward with complaints. ?This is where you parents out there have to step up.

That would make him the perfect candidate to take over wouldn't it. He's trained well in the standard procedure, yet not named in lawsuits. The we have the new "Root Dental Management" with Ryan Root in charge of that. Knowing full well Ryan Root has been the sidekick of Dr. Michale (Mike) DeRose for years. Actually Ryan Root is the staff accountant for FORBA I do believe. Bob Root's company, Ryan's dad, Rice/Root or something like that , then Ryan came on over to work exclusively for FORBA.

I sure hope DeRose pays Ryan Root well, since DeRose has conned Ryan into sticking his neck out there to be cut off and it will.


Tish, honey this is to you: Look, your name is mud in the dental world. It's time for you to just get back in school and find another profession. And I'd lose the "Tish" in your name. I know you've been brainwashing by DeRose, thinking you are as Teflon coated as he's been through the years, but his reign as Teflon king in the dental world in rapidly coming to an end and you need to just find something else outside the dental profession to do with your life. Now I know you are a strong person and can start over, preferably in another country....say Bahrain maybe.

(I was just thinking... I've got a lot of vacation time this summer, and I've had a few suggestions on where I could go...he he he. I also have a very nice expensive sony video recorder, and I know Colorado is very nice this time of year..... )

DeRose's Attorney Blames Parents For The Tortue Done By His Clients

DeRose's, Ballance's and Berkheimer's attorney representing them in the Medicaid Dental Clinic (Smile Starters) lawsuit filed for preforming 14-17 root canals and caps says it' the parents fault for letting the children's teeth get that bad in the first place and says it's all silly!

What as asshole!

Here is the quote:

James Wyatt, MDC's attorney, called the allegations "silly" and added that all parents have to give written consent for any procedures at the clinics. "The children not only needed that work, it was imperative. The real question is why did the parents let their children's teeth get in such a horrible condition?"

What is silly is that this man would say such a thing and wonder if it were his child he would think it was so silly!!! I'd give anything for one of his kids to be taken back to the dungeon and tied up, and drilled on for hours and see if he thought it was "silly"

Must be a bit more than silly. After all DeRose and Ballance paid 10 million dollars to get out of a federal trail. I'd say it's pretty serious. Wonder how much they are willing to pay to get out of this trail.

We know they in no way want all their back ally dental practices brought out in a public trial. This could lead to an old fashion lynching and there's not been one of those is years!

I just wonder if I did those things to children I would have gotten off so easy, something tells me I'd be in jail, if I lived that long.

Why Dentists Aren't Stepping Forward

I've been asking a lot of question lately about why more dentists, assistants and hygienists have not come forward to expose, Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Smile High and other medicaid dental centers.

What I've discovered is that:

1. There are hundreds out there! I mean hundreds!

2. They signed confidentiality agreements under the guise of HIPPA laws but in reality Corporate wants them to keep their mouths shut.

3. Some employees who left these torture chambers and struggling to move on, some even suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome themselves.

4. Some even have hard documented evidence of abuse to the children but once again, due to HIPPA laws only the parents of the children involved can make use of it.

5. The employees still there are between a rock and a hard place. They need the job. And now that they have associated themselves with these places will find it extremely hard to find other employment as well as impossible to get malpractice insurance.

6. And I don't know if this one is factual or not, but wouldn't be surprised. There is a black list of sorts kept on all dentists who have worked at Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Smile Starters and others that is maintained and shared among state dental boards. (if this is not happening, it sure sounds like a wonderful idea)

So, if our law makers, our policy makers or state dental boards can't seem to find current regulations to end this, or are not going to quickly pass regulations to end this then at least do something to discourage dentists from finding employment with these clinics.

April 2008 Small Smiles VP in Virginia

4-11-2008
Virginia Dental Advisory Commitee Minutes

Media Coverage of Medicaid Dental Clinics

Mr. Finnerty introduced Todd Cruse, Sr. Vice President of Small Smiles who addressed the Committee about the recent negative press events around the clinical treatment provided at the Small Smiles Clinics. Mr. Cruse referenced several news stories that ran on local and national television stations on the operations in several of his clinics around the country. He reported that some of the televised reports were false and misconstrued the facts.

Claims of misconduct by clinic dentists were investigated. Audit results were positive and Small Smiles has been reinstated by affected managed care organizations. Free care was provided to children during the period of network suspensions. Small Smiles has a new Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Steven Adair, who will work to ensure quality dental services in the clinics. The use of protective stabilization occurs in approximately 4% of the children treated in the clinics.

A hotline has been established for parents to call if they have any concerns about the dental treatment provided in any of the clinics. Dr. Chema reported DMAS had performed site visits and determined that the clinical operations in the three Virginia clinics appeared to be within acceptable standards of practice.

Well what did they think Todd Cruse was going to say? Did they invite, introduce or ask for statements for all the children or parents of children who Small Smiles has tied down and done unnecessary work on, well no!

Just more hogwash!

The above mentions a hotline for complaints... where is that number exactly and who gets that call, Small Smiles office!? Yes, as we can see from past behavior they police themselves very well.

What really kills me is that Todd Cruse, Mike DeRose and even David Meyer make all these blanket statements and fail to address the real issues.


Todd evidently failed to discuss the "training manual" that devotes a full page on how to separate children from their parents.

Todd didn't address just how many papoose board they have in each clinic.

Todd didn't mention the daily emails that go out telling each clinic the days quota they were expected to make.

It amazes me that when an "board" or "agency" investigates they ask the criminal instead of the victims!

How many victims have been invited to speak in front of these dental boards? Yet, Todd can get an audience with them... Just friggin amazing!

DeRose and Crew Recruiting New Dentists-Students BeWare

From the looks of the traffic on this blog I would have to conclude Mike DeRose and cronies are visiting Dental Schools across the country trying to round up new recruits to bring to their various "management" camps.

If you are a dental student and anyone from Smile Starters, Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, FORBA, or Access West DO NOT associate yourself with these terrorists.

Take time to read this blog and run for your life!

Can You Believe It Took 5 Years To Decide 16 Baby Root Canals At One Sitting Isn't A Good Idea

You know what I've been thinking?

Since the State Of North Carolina, it appears, is going to let Tish Ballance open up another medicaid dental clinic...

...and Michael DeRose be the "consultant" for Dr. Raf Rivera's new and improved Smile Starters.


....why don't they just save the children years of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and thousands of night terrors and write Tish Ballance, Raf Rivera, and Michael DeRose a check and keep their asses at home away from the children!

I mean, honestly, they haven't stopped them from getting into the medicaid piggy bank, nor has the state pulled their licenses so evidently they want them to have the money....

...cut the assholes a check!

The Smile Behind Small Smiles-Atif Abdulmalik

This is "what's his name" when I first started reporting about Small Smiles as was listed on Arcapita's website.







This is "what's his name" as shown on Arcaptia's website now.






Wonder if this dude's got any kids he would like to take to Small Smiles for some Dental Care?

Here is the press release where Arcapita admits it's in with "existing management"

1-15-2007

ARCAPITA COMPLETES LARGEST US CORPORATE TRANSACTION
MANAMA (January 15, 2007) - Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c), a leading international investment firm headquartered in Bahrain, announced today that it and its affiliates, together with existing management, have acquired Sanus Holdings, LLC, operating as FORBA, a leading dental practice management company that focuses on providing dental care to underprivileged children in the United States.
Headquartered in Tennessee, FORBA manages the operations of 50 dental clinics across the United States, targeted exclusively at serving the needs of children eligible for dental care benefits under Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP), which between them provide comprehensive healthcare for over 32 million children. FORBA’s innovative business model, delivering centralized buying, economies of scale and operational efficiencies, has allowed the company to build a dominant position in its market, and according to management, during 2006 FORBA had 3 times more patient visits than its nearest competitor. FORBA’s projected revenues for 2006 are $142.2 million.
Commenting on the transaction, Atif Abdulmalik, CEO of Arcapita, said: “We believe FORBA’s experienced management team, with in-depth knowledge of the Medicaid healthcare sector, is well placed to continue the company’s growth strategy which has resulted in the company’s revenues growing at a compound rate of more than 40 per cent over the past 6 years.”
The acquisition was overseen from Arcapita’s US office in Atlanta. Charles Ogburn, head of Global Corporate Investment, commented, “We expect FORBA’s growth to remain robust, as management rolls out their proven strategy of opening and developing new clinics, with an expectation of opening at least 12 to 18 clinics per year over the next five years. FORBA is the leader in an underserved market, where only 25% of a total possible market of almost 40 million customers is currently being addressed. The company has a proven business model of building large, efficiently managed clinics that operate profitably in the Medicaid/SCHIP environment.”
This acquisition is Arcapita’s largest US corporate acquisition and joins other recent transactions such as the $4.2 billion acquisition of Viridian Group plc, the Northern Ireland electricity utility and the €620 million acquisition of Paroc Group, the leading manufacturer of insulation products headquartered in Finland.

Warning For Employees of Smile Starters

Here is a warning posted as a comment from someone:

The “bay window” that someone talked about at Smile Starters is a window looking into the HYGIENE department. If a parent stays there a little too long, they are told they cannot stand there. There are also private rooms for “problem” hygiene patients. AND if a patient is having anything else done but a cleaning, parents cannot watch.

These “current employees of Smile Starters” who are so quick to defend the “owners” — who, by the way, are owners on paper only, since the corporation REALLY owns the practices — should open their eyes and see that they are lied to daily, about who owns the company, who is ultimately in charge, who is REALLY behind the clinic, etc.etc.

They should ALL read this website.

No wonder so many of the employees are leaving to go work for Tish Ballance. HAH !!!!

Like that’s an improvement.

Professionals can’t even get liability insurance because the NC DENTAL SOCIETY and ALL the insurance companies are forbidden to write policies for anyone who works for her.

Good thing she provides insurance for her employees — BUT whenever they leave her employ they are SOL because they can’t get their own insurance.

I’ve heard that a million times from all the professionals who were smart enough to distance themselves from Tish Ballance, Mike DeRose, Ryan Root, and EVERYONE else who is and was associated with these people. What a tangled web we weave…

DeRose's Own Football Stadium-Give Me A Break!

photo by: Chris McLean

Colorado State University-Pueblo's Thunderwolve's new 13 million dollar stadium, named the "Ed and Neta DeRose Thunderbowl" in honor of the major contributor and local dental clinic duo. (choking on using the word, DeRose and honor in the same sentence)

Honestly, where do these people get off anyway. At times, these people seem to be legands in their own minds. You would think they were some kind of oil sultans to see the money they spend and donate. You read the glowing bios (they probably wrote themselves) and you will hear how they, well, really Ed then Michael, donated their lives to providing dental care to the poor children in Colorado and 17 other states.

Reading that crap one would expect to see them dressed in drab missionary ware so to speak, not having this honor or that stadium or living in 3+ million dollar homes and such. Really!

Has anyone not ever asked how that was so profitable!

Where's The New Mangement @ SmileStarters?

At the Link Below there is another ad place in February 2008, listing Roger Walters as the contact to SmileStarter Dental Clinics in North Carolina. The ad says Michael DeRose is the owner.

http://ratemds.com/social/?q=node/28873&did=148374

It give Roger Walters email address as walters.rdm.gmail.com.

rdm stands for Root Dental Management as in Ryan Root.

Type the name google Ryan Root Colorado and you want to take guess what you get... just click here for the surprise...............

It's clear that Ryan Root has been in business with Michael DeRose and still is in business with Michael DeRose.

So where's the new management SmileStarters keeps talking about. As far as I can tell back in February it was Root Dental Management and it currently Root Dental Management. Now maybe they are claiming that BBJ Dental Management isn't in charge anymore, but that isn't saying a whole lot now is it?

Just because Brad Bryson and Johnson Enterprises (BBJ) isn't there anymore doesn't mean much. Not that I'm sure Brad Bryson and Dan Johnson aren't still getting money out of this whole venture anyway. Hard to believe DeRose would throw his cousin and brother in law out of the money pool. (I believe Brad Bryson is DeRose's Cousin, Dan Johnson-married DeRose's sister, but I could be wrong.)

Think maybe they are just going to say that Michael DeRose is a "Consultant" with SmileStarters?

It's a question worth asking, but since he never actually physically practiced dentistry in North Carolina, nothing changed there either did it. Just replace Tish Ballance's name with Dr. Rivera and it's the same ole crap isn't it.

4-23-08: Parents Still Complaining About Dentists Abusing Children at Small Smiles

The Below comment was posted on 4-23-2008 from a parent in New York.

It appears despite all the rhetoric the FORBA/Small Smiles Public Relations machine is putting out saying things are 'achangin'. Not one thing has changed as I've been saying all along.

Daily across the country, Small Smile's is continuing to abuse children, nothing can be more clear.

Even after numerous investigative reports from people such as Roberta Baskin, with WJLA'sDeborah Sherman 9News' Investigative Team in Denver, Karen Schideler in Wichita, Kansas and Stewart Watson with WCNC in Charlotte, NC exposing Small Smiles and other DeRose Dental Clinics they refuse to change their ways.




4-23-08

I-Team in Washinton, DC,

kayleigh said...

i took my kids to small smiles last week and it was the worst experience of my life. I went in with my 3 year old son and he screamed through out the entire procedure. he was strapped down and by the time he left he had broken blood vessels all over his neck and face from screaming. the only time they stopped was to restrap him down. their grandmother went in with my daughter and when she came out she has broken blood vessels in her eye from screaming. i've been sick to my stomach over this since i left there. i feel as though i let these people violate my kids.

To Kayleigh:

I understand how terrible you feel. You put your trust in these people to give your children the care they deserves and you were violated. They clearly advertise in such a way to get your confidence in their ability to give children the utmost in care and treatment yet they continue everyday to violate that trust as well as several ethics, and probably a few laws.

It's up to you and people like you to put a stop to this. Recently (April 1, 2008 as a matter of fact) there was a story on WRGB in New Albany about this very thing. For people to think these stories are isolated cases would be a huge mistake.

I hope you called the 800 number I have posted as well as file complaints with your state's dental board and attorney general.

I urge you to step forward and to take action, write to everyone you can about this, post where ever you can about this and file formal complaints to the places mentioned above, as well as your state legislators and call the PRESS!

DeRose Admits To Pueblo Newspaper FORBA, LLC is "Primarily Owned " By DeRose Family

Here's a link to the article if it's not been pulled by now, if the link doesn't work try googles cache. Every now and then I come across an old article or news report that was here one day and gone the next.... hmmm. Anyway if you have access to the newspaper at libraries etc it was in the business section of the April 10, 2008 edition. At this point I think they have reqested google remove the full story from the cashe, but I might be wrong.

Seems like in denying one he's admitting to even more sins!

In this article he's trying to say that the DeRose family still owns the FORBA Small Smiles clinics and this time it's the Medicaid Dental Clinics-Smile Starters-Carolina Dental Center, whatever name he's using this week, that he sold to Tennessee FORBA in 2006 or whenever it was! Let's face it, he's not sold anything to anybody now has he?

I bet one thing about now, not a sole at Arcapita has a clue to what they "invested" in.

What he failed to disclose is that his "Tennessee based" FORBA is also DeRose, offices in the exact same building, the exact same suite number as DeRose Children's Dental Center back in the day!!! I've got links to documents across the land showing this in great detail.

Plus, to top it off, didn't DeRose say just a few days ago to another reporter that he sold those North Carolina Medicaid Dental Clinics-Smile Starters to Dr. Raf Rivera!

I guess by now one can see that it's easy to tell if any DeRose is lying.

His mouth is moving!

Have they not got a dorm in a Federal Prison for Ed DeRose, Michael DeRose, Dan DeRose, William Mueller and Adolph Padula yet?


4/10/2008

The clinics in North Carolina are co-owned by a Pueblo dentist.

THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A chain of dental clinics in North Carolina has paid $10.05 million to the federal government to resolve allegations of Medicaid fraud.
The settlement, announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice, involves Medicaid Dental Center, co-owned by Drs. Michael DeRose of Pueblo and Leticia Ballance of North Carolina.
The federal government had alleged that the clinics presented "false or fraudulent claims . . . to the North Carolina Medicaid program by billing for medically unnecessary dental services on indigent children."
DeRose told The Pueblo Chieftain that the clinics had no connection with the dozens of FORBA clinics nationwide owned primarily by Pueblo's DeRose family. Those clinics were sold in fall 2006 to the Tennessee-based FORBA company for an undisclosed amount.
"MDC was not required to, nor did it, admit any of the government's allegations in order to resolve this matter," DeRose said. "The treatment that is the subject of the settlement was rendered more than 4 years ago. Since that time period, MDC has voluntarily implemented a number of measures to ensure that its dentists are providing quality dental care which meets or exceeds the standard of care in North Carolina."
The Department of Justice said the conduct at issue occurred between 2001-03, and that "the settlement is limited to claims submitted to the North Carolina Medicaid program and does not involve other states . . . During this period, MDC operated dental clinics in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, N.C."
The government claimed that MDC obtained reimbursement for pulpotomies that allegedly were not needed. Pulpotomies, sometimes referred to as "baby root canals," are considered medically necessary in pediatric dental cases when an infection spreads into the pulp chamber of the tooth, requiring the pulp's removal, the Department of Justice explained.
The government also alleged that the clinics placed stainless steel crowns that were not medically necessary.
As a result of the MDC settlement, the North Carolina Medicaid program established a limit of six stainless steel crowns per appointment that it would reimburse, and a limit of six pulpotomy procedures per patient per appointment, the Department of Justice said.
DeRose said in his statement that "we are pleased this matter is resolved . . . The philosophy of the dental clinics is to provide top quality care for children regardless of their economic or social condition. We believe in treating our young patients and their families with the utmost dignity and high quality care."
The settlement required MDC to reimburse the government for "the amount deemed wrongfully billed to the Medicaid program, and to pay substantial penalties to the program. MDC payment to the government represents over twice the amount that MDC allegedly received improperly from the North Carolina Medicaid program."
DeRose and Ballance were disciplined by the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners in 2005, the Department of Justice said, adding however that regular inspections since then "have found MDC's clinics to be substantially in compliance with its standards since 2005."
Daniel Levinson, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in the Department of Justice statement: "The Medicaid program is intended to assist the most vulnerable Americans and to help ensure that they receive necessary health services, not to unjustly enrich others at the expense of indigent persons."
DeRose said the settlement was reached "to avoid the delay, uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of protracted litigation."

Small Smiles In MassHealth Lists DeRose's Uncle-Adolph Padula

Here is a form listing all the dentist that accept Medicaid in the MassHealth (Massachusetts). You can enter "Small Smiles" or "Padula" where it says "Find" and keep searching through the documents using the down arrow beside the "Find" box.

Check out the names of all the dentist associated with Small Smiles in the different cities in the state!

See a pattern here, I sure do!

And guess what, Michael DeRose's uncle, Adolph Padula is on the list in at least one of the Small Smiles offices and this list is current 4-22-08! And DeRose says he "sold" Small Smiles... yeah, whatever!

Michael DeRose buys record priced home in Pueblo -2003

Michael DeRose bought a home last year in Pueblo West overlooking Lake Pueblo for $3.4 million -- a record price in Pueblo County for what the Assessor's Office terms "a nonagricultural based residence."

link

Kool Smiles- Same Ole Shiz nit as Small Smiles/FORBA

Why Kool Smiles was kicked out of Georgia.