AAPD Behavior Guidance Symposium Nov 2013

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, their Behavior Guidance Symposium “kicks” off today at their headquarters in Chicago.  I can simply not believe I was not invited to this event!  I should pay much closer attention to their event schedule in the future.

Frankly, I’m not sure why the AAPD even has the event, since apparently the AAPD and their “policy and guidelines” are of little value.  According to testimony from ethically challenged dentists involved in various malpractice lawsuits across the nation, he policy and guidelines are mere “suggestions”.

Attending the event will  garner you Continuing Education credits.  With the massive number of dentists working in the Medicaid dental mills, you would think they would need a venue such as McCormick Place or the United Center instead of the Westin Hotel.

Inside Edition puts spotlight on Happy Valley Pediatric Dentistry and The Smile Center

I’m sure Dr. Simpton of The Smile Center is popping a cork over this Inside Edition piece.  I’ve been a “victim” of Simpton’s cover-up, his attorney sent me a cease and desist letter, a year or two ago.  Why you ask?  Because I reposted a story or two out of Texas. I’ll be watching my mail for yet another one!

 

Airdate: 11/13/2013  Are Some Dentists Drilling For Dollars?

Going to the dentist is a scary proposition for many people. But imagine what it must be like for a child who goes to the dentist and comes out with a mouthful of metal crowns that may have been unnecessary.

When she was just four-years-old, Savannah’s mother Alicea White says she took her daughter to the Happy Valley Pediatric Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ for a routine appointment.

But Alicea says instead of just filing four cavities on Savannah, dentist Dr. Karan Nett turned Savannah’s mouth into a smile of steel.  

“I was completely shocked,” said Alicea. “All that silver in her mouth. I was like, ‘Oh my God, what happened?’”

Alicea says every single tooth in Savannah's mouth was crowned with metal!

People compared her new smile to the James Bond villain, Jaws.

Alicea said, “It broke my heart. I was in tears right along with her.”

Alicea believes Dr. Nett was just drilling for dollars; doing unnecessary and excessive work to jack up the bill.

INSIDE EDITION’s Lisa Guerrero tried to speak with her outside her clinic.

“I'd like to talk to you about a little girl whose mouth you filled with metal? Would you like to look at these pictures and explain these pictures?” Guerrero asked Dr. Nett as she walked to her car.

Dr. Nett did not respond to Guerrero but has denied any wrongdoing, saying the work was necessary due to Savannah's significant tooth decay.

It turns out that metal mouth cases like Savannah's are not rare.

One look at Maya Anderson's mouth and you can see why she falls to pieces reliving her traumatic trip to this dental chain in San Antonio, Texas called the Smile Center.

“I had 24 teeth worked on. All I have is like five teeth left. I’m sorry. He ground down my teeth so small they were like little stubs.”

The dentist who worked on Maya's teeth for eight hours is Dr. Mark Hong, and Maya's isn't the only patient who claims he drilled for dollars. 

On just five children, parents allege that Dr. Hong performed over 30 baby root canals and crowned over 50 teeth.

Maine DHHS may reduce fines for dentists–No danger there!

Paperwork mistakes is the number one excuse for fraud for heaven sake! 

 

November 12

Maine DHHS could reduce fines for dentists

Dentists complain about large fines by an auditor for minor clerical errors in MaineCare patient cases.

By Joe Lawlor jlawlor@pressherald.com
Staff Writer

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services could reduce or eliminate the controversial fines recently levied against dentists serving MaineCare patients, according to a contract between the agency and the independent auditor who issued the penalties.

Dr. Michael Dowling works on Aiden Serber, 8, of Westbrook, as dental hygenist Trisha Drewry assists at Falmouth Pediatric Dentistry in Falmouth.

Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer

Related Documents

Read Maine's contract with Health Management Services

The fines have been appealed and are in limbo awaiting DHHS rulings.

Dentists have complained to the Portland Press Herald that they were shocked to receive fines as large as $200,000 from new audits required under the federal Affordable Care Act. Statewide, the fines totaled about $800,000, and dentists have said they may have to close or sharply curtail services to low-income patients served under the MaineCare program if the fines are allowed to stand. The fines were based mostly on minor paperwork and coding errors, dentists have said, and the contract gives auditors financial incentives to penalize Medicaid providers for clerical errors.

“This has just been incredibly spiteful and petty,” said dentist Mark Zajkowski, of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in South Portland. Zajkowski said his practice is facing a “substantial” fine. “The only thing this is going to do is disincentivize dentists serving MaineCare patients.”

While the ACA requires more comprehensive audits of Medicaid services, the specifics on how the audits are carried out and what types of penalties can be imposed are controlled by the states. In Maine, dental services are the first to be scrutinized by the new Medicaid audits, while hospitals are next on the list.

Dan DeRose–Soda in Schools King

Here is a “Blast From The Past” article on Small Smiles Dental Centers founder, Dan DeRose and his visions of sugar plums – Soda in Public Schools. This article was written during the period his dad, Eddie DeRose, formed DeRose Management, LLC.  DeRose Management, LLC was the precursor to FORBA, LLC — the “test” dental management company of sorts.

 

Today's Lesson: Soda Rights; Consultant Helps Schools Sell Themselves to Vendors

By CONSTANCE L. HAYS
Published: May 21, 1999

Dan DeRose, marketing consultant, was busy doing the math for his new client, the Newark Public Schools.

The question on everyone's mind: how much money could the district make if it sold a soft-drink company the exclusive right to vend its products on school grounds? The answer, according to Mr. DeRose: a lot more than it gets right now.

''Let's just say everyone drinks one product a day, and let's just count the students,'' he said. ''At 45,000 times 180 days of school, that's 8.1 million cans. At 75 cents apiece, that's $6 million walking out the front door of your school every year in quarters and dollars.

''Let's get a lot of it,'' he told his audience, a collection of school principals, athletic directors, P.T.A. officials and one student. ''Let's get some of it back to the schools.'' Even $5 million would make a difference in the district's $550 million budget.

With his square shoulders, steady smile and conscientious use of the first-person plural, Mr. DeRose and his company, DD Marketing, are storming a once-quiet backwater in the soft-drink business. Schools regard him as a font of information. Soft-drink companies, which used to make low-key deals on their terms with local school districts, hate him with a passion.

Ontario Teachers Union Pension Fund takes over My Dentist Complete Care Dentistry

 

According to reports, including the one at The City Wire, Heartland Dental has taken control of My Dentist Complete Care Dentistry, founded by the late Dr. Rodney Pat Steffan in Oklahoma City, OK. What reports fail to mention is who actually “controls” Heartland Dental.  That would be Ontario' Teachers Union Pension Fund.  According to Business Week, the union pension fund took over in December 2012, to the tune of $650 million.

 

“Heartland Dental’s vision and values align perfectly with the principles on which Dr. Steffen founded My Dentist,” stated Kevin Offel, My Dentist president and CEO said in a statement.

That is a scary statement for any and all My Dentist patients! 

The My Dentist locations will continue to use the same branding and signage now used.

 

This is what makes it so shady and hard to determine the ownership and control of these corporate mills. 

“Through our affiliation with Heartland Dental, I am confident we will continue operating My Dentist with the integrity and same caring heart we have always demonstrated,” Dr. Jennifer Chambers said. “I am personally excited as both a Clinical Director and a practicing dentist to carry-on the values and practices instilled in us with My Dentist while enhancing our capabilities going forward with our Heartland Dental affiliation.”

There is that word, ‘affiliation” again!  Jot down Dr. Jennifer Chambers’ name, I’m sure someone will need this information in the future.

 

The transaction is subject to certain regulatory and other approvals and is expected to be completed within 60 days. Upon completion of the transaction, My Dentist will be affiliated with a company that provides dental support services to more than 500 dental offices in 26 states.

Is CSHM, LLC taking full responsibility for all future legal actions against Small Smiles Dental Centers? You decide.

Update: 10-24-2013 10:58AM

On October 9, 2013 the so-called “new company” who owns and operates all the Small Smiles Dental Centers that have managed to remain open denounced its association with the so-called former owners and management company.  (see statement below)

In making this claim, they must also be taking full responsibility for any and all illegal activities and/or malpractice issues that could arise in the future, right?  As the below email suggests, those will be coming.

---

Hi - I have kept up with your site for a while now because honestly it was the only way to find out the "real" news on Small Smiles. I am former employee of Small Smiles in South Carolina. When I took the position I had NO clue what I was getting into. I resigned from my position due to the horrible reputation Small Smiles has and it was mentally exhausting to even go to work.

Small Smiles Dental Centers Release Statement RE: New York Malpractice Case #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, there is no mistake or confusion. It's the one and the same.  Creative financing and a few (very few) corporate heads rolling does not a completely different company make. Good try.

I suspect in the future we will see New FORBA and NEW NEW FORBA side by side in court just as we have Old FORBA and New FORBA today.

A dead fish by any other name still stinks.

PS. there is issue with jury being "stalked" so verdict is not set in stone.

AIG Operative Stalks Jurors in 1st Small Smiles Dental Center Malpractice Case

Remember when the American taxpayers (you) bailed out American International Group (AIG) to the tune of $185 BILLION dollars in 2008?  Remember the company’s offices were converged upon by angry Americans.  So much so, that in typical bully fashion they actually took the name off headquarters in New York City in order to “hide” their location.  .

The latest victim of AIG’s bullying is an 11 year old boy in Syracuse, New York and the jurors who were to decide how much this child should be compensated for their policy holders misdeeds. 

There were 30 trials on schedule in New York by former patients of Small Smiles Dental Centers.  Many of these patients were 2, 3 and 4 years old when they victims of the clinics formerly located in Syracuse, Albany and Rochester.  There is much information about Small Smiles Dental Centers and their so called “management company” on the web and this blog, so I’m not going to bore anyone with more of that.

The first of the 30 trials finally made it to a jury October 7, 2013.  The complaint was filed in April of 2011 against, Edward DeRose, Michael DeRose, Dan DeRose, William Mueller, Adolph Padula, Michael Roumph, Dr. Naveed Aman, Dr. Koury Bonds, Dr. Yaqoob Khan and more, plus a host of dummy corporations set up to hide the true ownership of the clinics and make it difficult to track the hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained Medicaid money they pocketed.

After trying to bury two judges and the attorneys representing the little boy—now 11 years old—in mountains (and I do mean mountains) of ridiculous pleadings, testimony finally began September 23, 2013 in Syracuse. 

The trial lasted for 2 1/2 weeks.  You can read all the transcripts here. I urge you to take time to read them.  It’s more entertaining than anything on television this fall and better read than any book on The Times Best Seller list since 50 Shades of Grey—however I do think the transcripts and the book could carry the same title.  There was a lot of shadiness happening in that courthouse and the testimony from the accused had more twists of the truth than a pretzel factory and there were so many bodies being thrown under the bus, the courtroom could have doubled for a Greyhound bus station.

Texas stepping up its game to recover stolen funds from Medicaid fraudsters

On Dental Claims, State’s Bark Worse Than Its Bite

by Becca Aaronson

October 15, 2013

Texans discovered nearly two years ago that the state was spending more on orthodontic claims in its Medicaid program than the other 49 states combined, but recovery of millions in purportedly misspent Medicaid money has moved slowly.

After a couple judicial setbacks, the Health and Human Services Commission’s Office of Inspector General has stepped up its game by bringing in the big guns at the attorney general's office and private counsel. The OIG also hired a chief dental director, Dr. Linda Altenhoff, and is making sure that multiple dental experts review cases before they’re brought to a judge. The outcome of those efforts will be apparent when an administrative judge rules on a case testing the state's evidence for withholding payments to Antoine Dental Center in Houston, which was argued in May.

Meanwhile, the accused Medicaid providers have made it clear they aren’t returning any money — or allowing the state to sully their reputations — without a fight. They’ve formed a coalition, Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform, and filed a lawsuit against the state challenging the OIG’s hardball tactics of withholding Medicaid payments for months on end during fraud investigations with limited evidence that fraud occurred.

[We can’t forget about Texas Dentists for Medicaid Fraud.  See links at end of this blog post.]

After WFAA-TV in Dallas reported in December 2011 that Texas spent more on braces and Medicaid orthodontic claims between 2008 and 2010 than the other 49 states combined, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a report that found the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership, the company contracted by the state to process Medicaid claims, had only one dentist on staff and essentially rubber-stamped dental and orthodontia claims without reviewing whether those services were medically necessary.

Dentist, Gary Anusavice sentenced to 8 years in prison for Medicaid Fraud

 

Prison time for a Connecticut dentist who swindled millions from the federal Medicaid program.

Gary Anusavice, 60, used recruiters, to seek poor patients who used Medicaid. Then he would perform unnecessary dental procedures and file fraudulent Medicaid claims that added up to $20 million, $3.3 million he collected for himself from 2008 through 2012.

Anusavice is now sentenced to eight years in prison and has been ordered to pay $10 million in fines, give up his luxurious Rhode Island home, a boat, his Mercedes, and about $90,000 in cash found at his home.

He operated a network of clinics where the fraud went on in the central, southern and western parts of Connecticut.

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Dentist In Massive Medicaid Fraud Case Sentenced To 8 Years

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com The Hartford Courant
9:32 p.m. EDT, October 9, 2013

HARTFORD — A dentist barred from practicing elsewhere in New England was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for operating assembly line-style clinics in Connecticut that targeted poor patients, performed unnecessary dental procedures and collected on more than $20 million in fraudulent claims from Medicaid.

Gary Anusavice, 60, operated networks of clinics in the south, central and western parts of the state from 2008 to 2012 and personally collected more than $3.3 million from the fraud.

Under a variety of settlements with the state and federal governments, Anusavice will pay more than $10 million in fines and restitution, in addition to giving the government his 8,000-square-foot home in Rhode Island, his boat, his Mercedes-Benz and about $90,000 in cash that investigators found in the home.

Anusavice opened clinics in areas where high concentrations of low-income people relied on the federal government's Medicaid program for medical treatment. Medicaid, which is administered in Connecticut by the state Department of Social Services, reimburses physicians for costs they incur while treating patients who are unable to pay.

Link to 29 reports on FORBA’s Small Smiles Dental Centers

Fortress Insurance Company v. Ocean Dental PC, Dr. Chad Hoecker and Dr. Robin Lockwood

Case Number:
5:2013cv00322

Filed:
May 2013

Fortress Ins. v. Ocean Dental, Chad Hoecker, Robin Lockwood Amended Complaint  Filed August 23, 2013

Fortress alleges neither Dr.Lockwood, Dr.Hoecker, nor Ocean Dental complied w/ requests for patient records, as their MP insurance carrier, against terms of their contract. They allegedly never alerted Fortress of pending claims, as required under the insurance contract. IMHO- Fortress makes a good point for Declaratory Judgment. That would leave Dr.Lockwood & Ocean Dental "naked", w/out Malpractice coverage.  Yikes!

Dr Lockwood is currently serving time at Federal Medical Center Carswell, in Fort Worth, TX. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Medical_Center,_Carswell

One big issue is the policy time period for Dr.Lockwood & Dr. Hoecker. Some acts were allegedly made outside the time period of insurance coverage. If so, Dr. Lockwood & Dr. Hoecker were operating "bare" (w/out coverage). Depending on terms of employment w/ Ocean Dental, Dr. Lockwood has a potential counterclaim against Ocean Dental, if they neglected to provide MP insurance coverage to her, as defined under her employment contract.

Dr. Hoecker denies knowledge of the terms in the Dr.Lockwood policy. If Ocean Dental purchased this policy, that would be absurd. BTW- a "claims made" policy will not cover for acts filed AFTER the term period of the policy expires. Thus, a "tail" policy would need to be purchased. Obviously, there was no tail coverage purchased.

Seem just serving time for ones sins is just the beginning of a long life of misery for Dr. Lockwood, while ole Chad Hoecker is singing “Free Bird”. 

I hope all these dentists are paying close attention!

Here is a link to all the documents found on the case-

http://www.scribd.com/collections/4366323/Ocean-Dental-Stilwater-Oklaho

Become a whistleblower today. Read why.

Goodwin Orthodontics whistleblowers awarded shares of money

By Jim McBride
jim.mcbride@amarillo.com

September 19, 2013 - 4:57pm 

A Travis County judge has awarded more than $22,000 in legal fees to an Amarillo law firm that helped expose more than $1 million in Medicaid fraud at a local orthodontics clinic.

Amarillo attorney Phil Russ, who represented three former employees of Goodwin Orthodontics, credited Kristen De Los Santos, Sandy De Los Santos and Lissa Eason with exposing health care fraud at the clinic that led to the federal conviction of Amarillo orthodontist David Goodwin.

“The money needs to go to those women,” Russ said Thursday. “This is an example of how responsible citizens can help save our taxpayer dollars from being drained away from government programs by fraud. It takes a whistleblower who sees it happening to sound the alarm, because fraud is a game of stealth and concealment.”

On Wednesday, a Travis County judge awarded the state of Texas and the three Amarillo women more than $4.2 million in damages against Goodwin and the clinic in a whistleblower lawsuit.

Russ said Thursday the women could receive some money from the case if the state and federal authorities collect enough restitution from Goodwin and the clinic. If state and federal authorities collect $4 million from the clinic, the women could theoretically split $630,000 to $840,000, he said.

Dr. Thomas Floyd–More than a decade of complaints

Dentist accused of physically, verbally abusing children he treated

• 

Thomas Floyd. (PBSO, Handout )

September 22, 2013|By Jon Burstein, Sun Sentinel

 

He developed a reputation over three decades as a champion of dental care for poor children.

But behind the walls of Thomas Floyd's dental practice, some former employees said they heard children screaming in pain and terror.

While his September 2012 arrest for child neglect shocked many in the community, hundreds of pages of records obtained by the Sun Sentinel detail a trail of disturbing allegations that the West Palm Beach children's dentist physically and verbally abused patients dating back as far as 2001.

One father said he took his 5-year-old daughter to Floyd in 2011 and the dentist mistakenly pulled three good teeth. State authorities accused Floyd of confusing the girl with another patient.

"It's horrifying that your daughter goes in for a dental cleaning and comes out missing teeth," said the father, Benjamin Rodriguez. "[Floyd] just didn't care."

Floyd and his attorney have argued he's the the target of false accusations leveled by disgruntled employees and difficult parents.

Among the allegations in state records and police reports:

Dr. Edward Dove going to be “in and out” of the country, he pays 50% of production.

Opportunity Available 3-18-13

Office Name: Edward E Dove DDS PC
Contact Person: Eddie Dove
Practice Location: Bakersfield and Chatsworth
Address: 3130 Union Ave Bakersfield, CA 93305
Date Needed: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Telephone:  818 644-7124
Fax: 661 872-9257
Email: pediatricdentist18@gmail.com
Requirements: oral sedation certificate
Information: I am presently looking for part time or on call to cover for me.  I am presently going to be out of the country at various times.  I do have one associate, but she cannot cover all offices.  It is mainly my bakersfield and chatsworth office.  I pay 50% of production and have excellent staff.  For more info please contact me.Thank you.

 

http://www.cspd.org/news/message.asp?news_id=265

More parents coming forth with complaints about perilous Florida dentists–Dr. Michael Addair Tarver

More critics of suspended dentist come forward

By Austin L. Miller

Staff writer

Published: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 9:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 9:03 p.m.

 

Days after state authorities suspended the license of a local dentist who allegedly mistreated a young patient, critics of Dr. Michael Addair Tarver continue to go public with their own stories.

One of those people is Kristina Pate, a dental assistant who worked at Tarver's Polliwog Dental for two months before she was terminated, she said, for speaking out about Tarver's methods.

Pate said every child who came into the practice received nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. She estimates roughly 75 percent of the children seen by Tarver also were given Demerol ???.

Some of the children, she said, were strapped onto boards to keep them still. If Tarver felt they were misbehaving in any way, they were threatened, she said.

Those on Medicaid were treated much differently from those who paid out of pocket, she said.

Pate said those who paid up front or had insurance were treated quickly and sent on their way. Medicaid patients, she said, had to wait longer. Parents of those on Medicaid had to wait about three hours before their child was finished.

Former employee of Dr. Michael Tarver says his wife, Rebecca, is not any better with children

 

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.

Florida Department of Health Administrative Complaints Against Dr. Thomas Floyd

Dr. Thomas Floyd, DDS Case 2012-03003 - Florida Department of Health v Dr. Thomas Floyd - Amended Complaint

 

Dr. Thomas Floyd 2012-04834 - Florida Department of Health v Thomas Floyd - Amended Complaint

Dr. Michael Addair Tarver: Four police complaints filed

 

Suspended dentist subject of four police complaints

By Austin L. Miller
Staff writer

Published: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

A dentist whose license was suspended Wednesday by the state on allegations of possible child abuse was also the subject of four complaints to Ocala police, but the complaints were determined to be unfounded.

Ocala police detectives investigated the complaints and sent their findings to the State Attorney's Office for review. The criteria for child abuse was not met in any of the complaints, authorities said.

In the four cases, the parents said they took their children — ranging in age from 18 months to 7 years — to Polliwog Dental at 255 SE 17th St., Ocala, for procedures and later said there were signs of abuse, officials stated.

Two of the four cases also were sent to the state Department of Health. That agency ordered the emergency suspension of Dr. Michael Addair Tarver, owner of Polliwog Dental, on Wednesday. Tarver is a board-certified pediatric dentist.

Tarver, in an email to the Star-Banner on Wednesday, vigorously denied the allegations and said he has hired an attorney to fight the accusations.

The DOH concluded that the 33-year-old dentist violated several state statutes and patient trust, and altered patient records. In one instance, the DOH said, a 4-year-old girl stopped breathing during a dental procedure and had to resuscitated, but her parents were never notified about the incident. His actions, the DOH stated, "demonstrates that he cannot reasonably be expected to comply with any sanction short of suspension."

Another troubling pediatric sedation dentist loose in Florida–Dr. Michael Addair Tarver

Polliwog Dental Children's Dentistry, is at 255 SE 17th Street in Ocala, Florida  34771

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State suspends pediatric dentist in Ocala

By Austin L. Miller
Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 7:55 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 7:55 p.m.

OCALA, FLORIDA — An Ocala dentist whose office was visited in late July by authorities who removed files and interviewed employees has had his license suspended, according to the state Department of Health.

A report by the DOH ordered the emergency suspension of Dr. Michael Addair Tarver’s license to practice dentistry.

The order, dated Wednesday, states that Tarver is a board-certified pediatric dentist. He’s the owner and operator of Polliwog Dental, a children’s dentistry office at 255 SE 17th St.

DOH officials said the emergency suspension order is directed at the individual, not the facility. Therefore, while Tarver cannot practice in the state of Florida, his wife, Dr. Rebecca Tarver, also a licensed dentist, can practice, and therefore the facility remains open, DOH said.

Tarver disputes the allegations against him.

“I am profoundly disappointed and shocked that the Board of Dentistry would take such action without even reviewing the facts or giving me a chance to defend myself,” he said in an email to the Star-Banner, adding that his attorney is “fighting this decision” and that he expects to have his license reinstated soon.

Hailing his wife as an excellent dentist, Tarver said the office is open and “will continue to provide quality care.”

The 10-page document outlined the reasons for the suspension:

Colorado Dentists Who Used Dirty Needles Arrested in Nevada–Cocaine Intoxication

 

Dentist Who Reused Needles Faces First Criminal Case

DENVER (CBS4 ) – A dentist who reused needles and put thousands of patients at risk of contracting deadly diseases has been arrested in Nevada.

Stephen Stein was arrested just after 1 a.m. Aug. 12 for cocaine and driving under the influence near Lake Tahoe in Nevada.

Court documents state Stein was speeding, 48 mph in a 35 mph zone, while intoxicated with cocaine.

Officers said they found “a hollowed out ink cartridge” in the Chevy Traverse he was driving.

In Colorado last year, Stein had been investigated by police in Denver for prescription fraud for alleged practices out of his two offices in the Denver metro area. State charges were never filed.

Stein agreed to surrender his dental license last year after the Colorado Department of Health discovered he had been under the influence of painkillers while treating patients.

Examiners said Stein admitted to being a drug addict. The board also found he had been using drugs intended for patients.

Since Oct. 1, 2012 six former patients of Stein have tested positive for either hepatitis or HIV.

It’s not known whether they contracted the diseases from Dr. Stephen Stein’s office. Stein has since surrendered his license as an oral surgeon.

About 8,000 of Stein’s patients were sent letters asking them to get tested. The health department says it’s impossible to definitively tell if the infected patients got sick from Stein.

Stein had offices in Cherry Creek and Highlands Ranch.

Stein is scheduled for court in the Lake Tahoe area on Sept. 17. Court officials said that is when the results of his blood tests will be released.

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Related:

Patients of Dr. Stephen Stein urged to get tested for HIV and hepatitis

Oral Surgeon accused of sexually molesting 3 teens allowed to open his own “private” “clinic”

I’m sure we will see Dr. Turbyfill in the news again.  It’s just a matter of time.  Clearly the state of Florida learned little from the Dr. Thomas Floyd fiasco.

Aug. 27, 2013

FLORIDA - A Pensacola oral surgeon plans to start a new practice after reaching a settlement agreement with the Florida Department of Health over accusations of sexual misconduct with three sedated teenage patients.

Dr. David “Ty” Turbyfill has denied the allegations, calling them unfounded.

The Florida Board of Dentistry has approved the agreement, which allows Turbyfill to continue his practice. The deal calls for him to pay a $10,000 administrative fine and $4,630 in costs associated with the case. It also requires him to be monitored by a licensed health professional when using anesthesia or conscious sedation.

Turbyfill was formerly a partner of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates on North 9th Avenue.

His license has been restricted since April, when the state health department issued an emergency order after the allegations surfaced.

The department filed an administrative complaint later that month stating that staff members had seen Turbyfill acting inappropriately with three female patients on four occasions, twice with the same patient, between Nov. 16 and Feb. 20. Among claims in the complaint, witnesses alleged that Turbyville was seen moving his hips and pelvic region suggestively near patients and seemed to be sexually aroused in the presence of some patients — covering his groin and leaving the room on more than one occasion.

Dentists BEWARE -Kool Smiles Dental Center dentist thrown under the bus by NCDR, LLC

Looks like Dr. Tuan Truong aka Terry Troung is to Kool Smiles Dental what Robin Lockwood is to Ocean Dental. 
I bet ole Dr. Troung thought he was free and clear since leaving Kool Smiles.  If Dr. Troung thought NCRD, LLC was going to protect him, he was very wrong.  They will NOT! 
If you work for any of these type of places, you’ll be looking over your should for the rest of your life.
To Dr. Troung, and all other dentists working for these Medicaid mills, “I told you so.”.

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Published August 27, 2013
An Abilene dentist pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to one count of making a false statement in connection with a health care matter, according to a U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman.
Dr. Tuan Truong, aka Terry Truong, admitted to falsely billing Medicaid for between $120,000 and $200,000 between June 2008 and July 2009, said Kathy Colvin, spokeswoman for the justice department. Truong practiced pediatric dentistry at Kool Smiles in Abilene.
U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis has not yet sentenced Truong, who faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution.
“In summer 2008, Truong began working for Kool Smiles, which paid him a base salary and offered opportunities for bonuses based on additional procedures he performed in excess of daily targets set by Kool Smiles management,” Colvin said.
By falsely billing Medicaid, Truong collected $32,749 in bonuses he otherwise would not have collected.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Texas conducted the investigation.
 
Dr. Tuan (Terry) Truong, DDS TSBDE Action signed April 2011

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Senate Report On Corporate Dentistry in Medicaid (includes Kool Smiles)

Antoine Dental Centers tells Texas HHSC-OIG to “Stick” it

Antoine Dental Center (ADC) and owner Dr. Behzad Nazari, was been placed on an administrative Credible Allegations of Fraud (CAF) 100% payment hold from Medicaid reimbursements/payments in Texas in April 2012.

CAF - Federal law defines a “credible allegation of fraud” as an “allegation, which has been verified by the State, from any source.” 42 CFR § 455.2 states that the source of these allegations may include, but are not limited to, “(1) fraud hotline complaints, (2) claims data mining, (3) patterns identified through provider audits, civil false claims cases, and law enforcement investigations. Allegations are considered credible when they have indicia of reliability and the State Medicaid Agency has reviewed all allegations, facts, and evidence carefully and acts judiciously on a case-by-case basis.

Since Dr. Nazari disagreed with this payment hold he filed a suit against Texas Health and Human Services Commission – Office of Inspector General (HHSC-OIG) —State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) Docket No. 529-13-0997; HHSC-OIG Case number P20111316523848911.

On May 28, 2013 four days of hearings began where evidence from both sides was presented to the judges at the SOAH in Austin.

On August 23, 2013 both sides filed their written Briefs and Closing Arguments.  They can be read by clicking the links at the end. 

One Brief and Closing made perfect sense, with facts and logic along with visual aids.  One sounded like a babbling idiot recounting a fairy tale. Guess which was which.

ADC and Dr. Nazari seem to think that division, and possibly the whole OIG office, is completely unnecessary.

In the ADC Brief and Closing Argument they state:

“How can the OIG support any credible aggregations of impropriety regarding HDL score sheets when the underlying diagnostic material was made available to the State and the State pre-approved the analysis that was reflected on the HDL score sheets? “

Why bother?

This is embarrassing on so many levels!  Why even bother?!  Why bother prosecuting?  Why bother reporting it?

 

The state attorney general's office says there's a criminal and civil settlement with a Rochester dentist who fraudulently billed Medicaid.

The office says Dr. Samir Khalil previously plead guilty to grand larceny charges. According to the felony complaint, he improperly received more than $480,000 from Medicaid over a four year period. In addition, the office says he "upcoded" and billed Medicaid for claims and services which resulted in more than $3,000 in false billings.

Investigators say he collected the money through his company Parkwood Dental Care on Elmwood Avenue.

"As taxpayers, we rely on a good health care system for all of us," says Catherine Wagner of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit. "When a provider defrauds it and takes advantage it's a trickle effect on the integrity of the health care program of Medicaid and other programs."

The office says Khalil completed the last of his payments back to New York State and was sentenced to full restitution and community service on his felony conviction.

Dr. Richard Malouf’s All Smiles Dental has been purchased by another “chain” in Texas–South Texas Dental

Bill Hethcock

Staff Writer- Dallas Business Journal

Email  | Twitter  | Twitter  | Google+

South Texas Dental, which operates family dental centers in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, has acquired the 12 offices of the All Smiles general dentistry practice in North Texas.

Financial terms of the transaction were not released.

Three of the offices are in Dallas, two are in Fort Worth, two are in Arlington and single offices are in Garland, Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Irving and McKinney.

Each of the acquired offices has been re-branded as South Texas Dental, and staffing levels and hours of operations will remain unchanged. Each office will accept Medicaid, CHIP and most insurance providers.

South Texas Dental representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

South Texas Dental now operates 38 family dental centers. The centers are owned entirely by their dentist partners, who make all decisions involving patient care.

“This transaction allows us to acquire dental centers with an established base of satisfied patients,” Dr. Chad Park of South Texas Dental said in a press release. “We spent a great deal of time evaluating each center and patient charts before proceeding with the acquisition.”

I don’t know how much real time was spent “evaluating” each of Malouf’s clinics, but I bet they didn’t doing much digging or the bones would have surfaced.

 

 

 

Lawsuit Proceeds Against Dental Chain That Left Child in Pain

By John CaherContactAll Articles

New York Law Journal

August 20, 2013

A chain of dental offices geared toward children covered by Medicaid whose employees claimed it was normal for a 4-year-old patient to be "swollen, in pain, crying, visibly shaken, upset and afraid of the dentist" after drillings, often done without anesthesia, has been denied summary judgment.

Read more: http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/PubArticleNY.jsp?id=1202616144209&Lawsuit_Proceeds_Against_Dental_Chain_That_Left_Child_in_Pain#ixzz2cXaRJYQI

Yeah, it requires premium membership which I don’t have, but at least the Small Smiles cases are in the New York Law Journal

Ever wonder just what caliber of dentists the ADA considers distinguish enough to be a District Trustee?

Here is why their judgment should not be trusted.  

Maybe you remember Dr. Thomas Floyd from his mug shot? No? 

Well, maybe the news reports below about the distinguished gentleman (sarcasm) will jog your memory. Or educate those who are familiar with Dr. Thomas Floyd.

• Dr. Thomas Floyd on Google
• Menace to Society–Dr. Thomas Floyd–finally stripped of dental license
• Other Blog posts related to Dr. Thomas Floyd

Below is an announcement by the ADA stating what a glorious event the “Medicaid Challenges and Strategies Symposium” of 2008 turned out to be, which included the leaders of each of the ADA’s 17 "trustee districts” 

 

August 04, 2008

Medicaid challenges, strategies examined

By Stacie Crozier

Seventeen private practice dentists—one from each ADA district—who logged at least 1,000 Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program patient visits in the last year gathered at the ADA June 23 to identify challenges and successful strategies for improving access for this population group.

[We all know Dr. Thomas Floyd probably logged that many a week! Wonder what the other 16 dentists “logged”].

More non-compliance issues and attorneys plan to blame the children for the abuse suffered by Small Smiles dentists

I have the transcripts from the hearing held in Syracuse on Wednesday (14 Aug 2013) and right out of the gate there seems to be a problem right out of the Nashville office with “compliance”.  I’m sure everyone is shocked, right?

Guess who seems to have a problem with it, compliance, that is?  It would be Ms. Linda Zoeller.  What is the problem you ask?  She is having problems “complying” with a court Order issued several months ago.  (I know, stop laughing.)  Of course she is having trouble.  I know, I know, they don’t understand “comply” “compliance” or any other form of “following the rules”.  Yes, I know, Zoeller is the one who files the thousands of falsified documents for the fake owners and yes, I know she is the “keeper of the rubber stamps” (rubber stamp signatures of “owner dentists”), so of course she is not going to be forthcoming in anything she does.  Non of these folks are, they believe to their core laws, rules, standards and guidelines do not apply to any of them!  And frankly, from what I’ve seen so far, they are right; no one makes them follow any rules.

Well, apparently the folks in Nashville are still trying to hide evidence, and Zoeller is assisting in that endeavor.  (Stop it!  I know you are in tears laughing…  lol).  Zoeller issued an affidavit a few days ago and the attorneys, nor the judge can figure out if she (Zoeller) is saying she is finally in compliance with the court’s Order or not in compliance.  Just from my experience, I’m going with “not”. 

Amazingly Zoeller is having problems producing the performance reviews and and evidence on how they disciplined the dentists who didn’t meet the financial goals of the company.  I can’t imagine why they would want to hide that information!  (sarcasm)  You know they actually sent some files with blank performance review sheets in them!  I take that as a big ole F you!

If I were any of the dentists on trial, I would certainly want them shown to the court.  But I guess before that, those dentists have got to stop with the bullshit singing the corporate song and start worrying about saving their own asses.  Have the dentists not realized yet, these attorneys do NOT have their best interest at heart! 

Zoeller  is one old heifer I’d love to see on the stand and under oath, with a special perjury officer standing beside her.  Or, maybe one of those bark collars that shocks her ass every time she lies.  Oooo…what about a lie detector projected on a screen for the jury to see as she is asked questions.  Gosh, I’d buy a ticket for a performance like that, wouldn’t you?  Yeah, I know we can’t do that, but it sure would be fun.  One this is certain, she would likely blow a lie detector machine in about the first 3 minutes or less. 

Anyway, they have been trying to hide this intel for almost a year,(ok, since the beginning of time)  still no one can  figure out if Zoeller is saying she has produced them all or not.  I have a pretty good idea, don’t you? 

Zoeller basically says she is over worked and they are short handed and in the past year hasn’t had time to pull any files.  LMAO!  Zoeller says she is working 80 hours a week.  Well, damnit, I’m close enough to check that out.  Just saying…

Anyway, the judge plans on issuing an “adverse inference” sanction and is going to require Zoeller  to be at the hearing to answer some questions.  Ooo, I might have to make this one. 

The judge says, “…clearly, my view, based on in large part Miss Zoeller’s affidavit about the efforts or lack of efforts that were made, is that an adverse inference is appropriate here.” 

“… I do think that the failure to produce was willful.”

“…it is very clear from Miss Zoeller’s affidavit that they didn’t take seriously this, the obligation to preserve these records, to obtain and preserve these records during the course of the litigation.”

Small Smiles Dental Centers’ last ditch effort to avoid trial has FAILED

After 2 years or more of stall tactics by attorney’s representing Small Smiles Dental Center defendants, the New York trials are set to begin in three weeks!  Yes, you heard me, three, count’em 1… 2,…3… weeks!  Yahoo!  Jury selection set to begin September 9, 2013.

Tuesday (August 14, 2013) the  court ruled against Small Smiles and defendants and their plea for a Summary Judgment — essentially telling the old boys to buckle-up, quit whining, they have you by the balls, be ready for trial or start writing checks. Small Smiles Dental Centers’ former dentists (17 in total) and that nasty DeRose crew in Colorado are in for a very bumpy ride. 

Small Smiles Dental Centers NY Malpractice Defendants are:

Companies	Individuals
FORBA Holdings, LLC	Dan E. DeRose
n/k/a Church Street Health Management, LLC	Michael A. DeRose
FORBA NY, LLC	Edward J. DeRose
FORBA, LLC n/k/a LICSAC, NY, LLC	Adolph Padula
DD Marketing, Inc.	William A. Mueller
DeRose Management, LLC	Michael Roumph
Small Smiles Dentistry of Albany, LLC	Maziar Izadi, DDS
Albany Access Dentistry, PLLC	Laura Kroner, DDS
Small Smiles Dentistry of Syracuse, LLC	Judith Mori, DDS
	Lissett Bernal, DDS
	Edmise Forstal, DDS
	Evan Goldstein, DDS
	Keerthi Golla, DDS
	Nassef Lancen, DDS
	Wadia Hanna, DDS
	Koury Bonds, DDS
	Tarek Elsafty, DDS
	Dimitri Filostrat, DDS
	Yaqobb Khan, DDS
	Delia Morales, DDS
	Janine Randazzo, DDS
	Loc Vin Nuu, DDS
	Grace Yaghmai, DDS
	and others

 

These sweet children were hurt and abused and forevermore changed from as far back as 2006, and it’s finally making it to trial!  So, as a warning to all you dentists still employed there, don’t think your ass is out of a bind when you quit; cause it “ain’t”.  Not by a long shot!

Some of the dentists say the used their best medical judgment to provide dental care to the children suing them, but evidence indicates that isn’t even close.  In fact, it’s laughable! Evidence provided showed Koury Bonds, DDS and the others violated the “relevant standard on care” on several issues. 

According to the ruling, there is plenty of evidence these dentists prepared and recommend treatment without clinical justification and performed substandard care. 

They unnecessarily restrained children in papoose boards; extracted teeth that without clinical justification; failed to use local anesthetics, filled teeth that didn’t need to be filled; altering records; performing unnecessary baby root canals;(remember that $35 million dollar award a few weeks ago over unnecessary root canals?) failed to obtain proper informed consent for treatment from parents; just to name a few.  These guys knowingly and purposefully used informed consent forms that they knew did not meet the standards or guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).

Now, haven’t I been screaming this as loud as I can for some 6 years now.  Everything I’ve uncovered and reported here about this horrible place is being proven to be the truth, and it looks like it’s going to be told in front of a jury, pretty damn quickly.

In the ruling the Judge states, “There…is ample evidence from which a jury could concluded that the defendants perpetuated a fraud on the plaintiff by treatment him and other Small Smiles patients not to meet his medical needs but as a means to maximize profits for the dentists, corporations and Individual Defendants.” (the DeRose crew)

More excerpts from the ruling:

“Email correspondence… demonstrates the overriding emphasis on profits.”  One such email between Michael Roumph and the lead dentists in the Albany NY clinic states “[p]roduction per patient needs to improve.” 

Academy Of General Dentists (AGD) and the American Dental Association (ADA) Respond to Scathing Senate Report on Corporate Dentistry

If you read this blog at all I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the Joint Staff Report issued a couple of weeks ago, by Senators Baucus and Grassley, where they told of the abuse and illegal activities of Small Smiles Dental and other corporate dental chains.  With Small Smiles in particular they laid it out for everyone; from the founders to the current CEO and Garrison Group. 

To top it off, they all but call the folks at HHS/OIC who are supposedly “monitoring” this company, incompetent imbeciles.  It for certain shed light on the “pay to play” action going on between HHS/OIG and Small Smiles Dental Centers; sounded more like a game of Cat and Mouse Extortion between the two to me.  If HHS/OIG were actually assessing the fines for this company laid out in the 2010 Corporate Integrity Agreement, I’d say it would add up to $4 Billion by now.  (ok, I’m exaggerating, but it would be HUGE!)  A couple of years ago, I was told by someone I won’t quote (they don’t like being quoted at HHS/OIG) that they…being OIG…take “Quality of Care Corporate Integrity Agreements very seriously.  I say HA! (as I role my eyes) 

Anyway, below are the responses from the AGD and ADA to the Baucus- Grassley Report.  Hard to believe they are housed at the same address in downtown Chicago.

(I may have messed with the picture a little, but I couldn’t help it.  I only have so much control, ya know)

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The AGD Response

AGD applauds Senate report on corporate dentistry

 

Jul 26, 2013

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is applauding a jointly issued U.S. Senate report that criticized large corporate dental practices that engage in deceptive overtreatment of patients. The report, co-released July 23 by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, is titled “Joint Staff Report on the Corporate Practice of Dentistry in the Medicaid Program.”

The report says that the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) “should exclude from participating in the Medicaid program” any other corporate entity that employs a “fundamentally deceptive business model resulting in a sustained pattern of substandard care.”

Dr. Benjamin Lloyd Porter, DMD, receives horrible reviews. Maybe it’s the heroin?

Jun 25th, 2013

This dentist is horrible. He lacks the proper training to take care of his patients. Be very careful when considering him.

http://www.vitals.com/dentists/Dr_Benjamin_Porter/reviews#ixzz2ajBCYVVb

Feb 19th, 2013

Terrible Dentist. Does not follow proper procedures and doesn't care about the welfare of his patients.

http://www.vitals.com/dentists/Dr_Benjamin_Porter/reviews#ixzz2ajBGgUJj

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Ind. dentist arrested with heroin, police say

July 31, 2013 (LAPORTE, Ind.) (WLS) -- A LaPorte dentist was arrested during a traffic stop on the Indiana toll road after police found heroin.

Officers stopped Dr. Benjamin Porter for speeding on Monday night. Investigators say a police dog alerted them to the presence of drugs in the car.

Officers say they found ten small bags of heroin.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/indiana&id=9191370

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LaPorte (IN) dentist arrested for heroin

July 31, 2013|By Stan Maddux | WSBT-TV Correspondent

PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA – A dentist from LaPorte was charged Wednesday after police on the Indiana Toll Road allegedly discovered a large amount of heroin in his vehicle.

Benjamin Porter, 30, told officers in Portage that he had snorted two baggies of heroin prior to being pulled over, police said.

He was charged in Porter County with dealing in a narcotic drug, a Class A felony, and possession of a narcotic drug, a Class C felony.

According to Portage police, an officer observed a 2004 Chevy Impala weaving eastbound through traffic and clocked the car at 62 mph in a 40 mph zone near a toll gate about 7 p.m. Monday.

The driver identified himself as Porter and told the officer he was on his way to LaPorte from Merrillville.

According to police, Porter seemed lethargic, broke out in a sweat, carried an odor of alcohol and avoided eye contact with the officer, who became suspicious enough to call for a K-9 dog to help with a search for drugs.

Porter then revealed heroin was in the car, said police.

According to police, 13 postage stamp-sized bags containing suspected heroin along with two straws containing an alleged heroin residue were among the recovered items.

His practice is Porter Family Dentistry at 1112 Indiana Ave. in LaPorte.

Porter is also listed as a service provider at LaPorte County Dental Services, a clinic operated by I.U. Health LaPorte Hospital & Physicians that offers dental care free or at a discount to low-income individuals.

According to the Porter County Prosecutor's Office, he was still being held Wednesday afternoon on $16,000 cash bond.

He's expected to be arraigned on the charges Friday.

He could face anywhere from a 20- to 50-year sentence on the Class A felony charge and two to eight years in prison on the Class C felony offense.

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Currently checking Dr. Porter’s dental license in Indiana shows no “previous actions”, but that doesn’t mean he’s not been there a hundred times.  It’s likely to say the same thing this time next year!

License Number: 12011510A
Issued July 7, 2010
License Type – CSR (Controlled Substance Registered)

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Laporte Community Health Center
400 Teegarden St
Ste A
La Porte, IN 46350
(219) 326-0043

Porter Family Dentistry (
1112 Indiana Ave
La Porte, IN  46350
219-362-5205

David L. Porter and Benjamin L. Porter
Porter Family Dentistry, La Porte, IN 

Senators Bacus and Grassley Report on Corporate Dentistry and the Failures of HHS/OIG to Protect Children

Corporate dentistry criticized for unethical practices, unnecessary procedures

by Eddie Burkhalter
eburkhalter@annistonstar.com

Jul 28, 2013

When Quintoya Seawright’s 3-year-old daughter, Destiny, chipped a baby tooth in November 2010, the young mother took her to the Small Smiles clinic in Montgomery. Quintoya, 25, would end up taking her daughter to the clinic four times that month.

On the last visit on Nov. 9, her daughter was strapped to a board for an hour while the dentist struggled to place two stainless steel caps on baby teeth while her daughter screamed and struggled, saying she could still feel it, the family said.
But without much money, the young mother had to rely on Medicaid to pay for her daughter’s care. Small Smiles specializes in treating children eligible for Medicaid. The company operates another clinic in Dothan.

The large dental chain is owned by a private equity firm and is managed by Nashville-based CSHM LLC. A report released by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee last week claims Small Smiles and clinics like it are motivated by profit, often performing unnecessary procedures, and should be removed from the Medicaid program.

The report also says the clinics are operating in violation of laws in 22 states, including Alabama, that ban anyone other than a licensed dentist from owning a practice. The report states that CSHM actually owns and operates the clinics, and not the “owner” dentists the company enlists to skirt to get around those state laws.

Quintoya said she was never allowed to go back with her daughter to watch the procedures at Small Smiles, but the 3-year-old girl’s grandmother, Sophia, demanded she be allowed on the girl’s last trip.

Destiny began pulling at her mouth, so workers strapped her arms and legs to the board, then the dentist struggled for an hour to place the two caps on the tiny baby teeth while Destiny “kept saying she still felt it. He said, ‘No. She’s numb. It’s just the noise,’” said Sophia.

“Her heart was just beating so fast,” Sophia said. “The lady was holding her head down and was trying to get her to open her mouth by squeezing her nose.”
Destiny had a total of five stainless steel caps placed on baby teeth over four visits. One cap fell out along with the tooth a couple weeks later. Quintoya said she never heard the dentist say her daughter had cavities in those teeth, but he said the caps would help prevent them from forming.

“I’m not sure if it was a necessity to have all those silver things in her mouth,” Sophia said.

Read more: Anniston Star - Corporate dentistry criticized for unethical practices unnecessary procedures