Saturday, September 7, 2013
Polliwog Owner Michael Tarver Still Denies Allegations
Ocala, Florida — The allegations continue to stack up against Michael Tarver, the owner and operator of Polliwog Dental.
The latest developments in this case do not really surprise parents whose children have attended the pediatric dentistry.
Ivy Castillo, a parent who has taken her five year old to the dentistry said, “I have experienced first-hand the ‘Dr. Jekyll’ side of ‘Doctor’ Mike.” Adding, “My son told me a couple days later that during this routine cleaning, they made him drink the ‘icky Spiderman juice’, which I have come to learn was their sedative to ‘control’ my child.”
Ocala Post has been flooded with horrifying stories of less than mediocre dental care provided by Michael Tarver.
In an E-mail we received from an employee who does not want to be identified, she wrote, “Dr. Mikes wife is not any better. She was there when her husband man handled those kids.” She went on to write, “I can understand a wife wanting to stand by her husband, but this is ridiculous.”
Rebecca Tarver, DDS, wife of Dr. Michael Tarver.
One parent, who also does not want to be identified in order to protect her children wrote,
“All 4 of my children went to Polliwog because they took Medicaid. From the get go the staff was rude and unorganized. The biggest issue was my six year old son and nine year old daughter at the time, came home with big cheek bruises and unwarranted work done. My son who has healthy teeth, was told every time I went he needed fillings. It’s funny but my two older girls (12 & 15) never had issues, I think because they were old enough to speak up or tell on them. Every time my kids went for any work, even a cleaning they told me they would need to give them the happy juice. I am so glad someone finally listened to all of us!”
The allegations against Tarver range from, placing his hands over children’s noses and mouths, over dosing children with the “kiddie cocktail“, altering medical records, to actually inflicting physical injuries to young children.
Tarver continuously maintains he is innocent, using Medicaid parents as an escape goat by claiming their children are just misbehaved.
Tarver was questioned by authorities in regards to allegations that he put his hands over a child’s nose and mouth, causing the child to lose consciousness. Tarver’s response again deflects to the child’s behavior. Tarver stated he remembered the “extremely misbehaved” child, passing blame on to the small child.
Bill Hethcock