MA Dentist Guilty of Medicaid Fraud: Using Paper Clips in Root Canals

I myself have never had a root canal, so I can only go off the terrible things I’ve heard. I have also never met anyone who thinks trips to the dentist are enjoyable; but one Massachusetts dentist has done his part to make the visit and the root canal even worse.

According to boston.com, a former Fall River dentist has pled guilty to Medicaid fraud for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts while performing root canals.

Michael Clair is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30^th after pleading guilty in New Bedford Superior Court to a variety of charges, which include defrauding Medicaid of $130,000, assault and battery, illegally prescribing prescription drugs and witness intimidation.

Authorities say that in an effort to save money, he used pieces of paper clips instead of stainless steel posts for root canals -which can cause pain and infections. Gee, who would have thought that?

Prosecutors state that the 53-year-old dentist was suspended by Medicaid back in 2002, but he continued to file claims from August of 2003 to June of 2005 by using the names of other dentists who work within his practice, which is located in the New Harbour Mall.

Clair’s dental license expired back in 2008, and was revoked in Florida, West Virginia and Maryland.

According to the Dailymail, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley told Fox News that this case “paints a picture of someone who shouldn’t be practicing dentistry in Massachusetts, or anywhere else for that matter.”