Small Smiles is a horror story of dental marketing, and the abuse of children. There is a legal malpractice aspect to it, which is wholly overshadowed by the callous dentistry here.
"All plaintiffs allege that: (1) defendants engaged in a scheme to treat patients for Forba’s profits rather than for plaintiffs’ dental needs; (2) the New York clinics operated in violation of law because they were not owned or controlled by licensed dentists; (3) defendants engaged in a course of conduct that intended to create "a culture at the clinics that put revenue generation as a top priority at the expense of quality of dental treatment" (Compl. ¶56); (4) defendants utilized a common "fraudulent script" with patients regarding the risks of restraints (Compl. ¶68); (5) defendants engaged in deceptive acts or practices; and (6) the treating dentists committed dental malpractice by following the Forba business model of increasing production (procedures) per patient and wrongfully restraining children.
Here are some examples:
"Plaintiff Bohn treated at the Syracuse Small Smiles clinic between May 2006 and March 2008, when he was between the ages of three and five. During that time he had four root canals with crowns, seven fillings, two extractions and one crown without a corresponding root canal. He was restrained twice, and on three occasions his teeth were filled without anesthesia. Compl. ¶155.
Defendant Montanye treated at the Syracuse Small Smiles clinic between June 2006 and September 2007, when he was between the ages of two and three. During that time he had four root canals with crowns and six fillings. He was restrained three times, and on three occasions his teeth were filled without anesthesia. Compl. ¶ 163.
Plaintiff Fortino treated at the Syracuse Small Smiles clinic between August 2005 and February 2007, when she was between the ages of four and six. During that time, she had nine root canals with crowns, two fillings, two crowns without corresponding root canals and one extraction. She was restrained four times. Compl. ¶157.
Plaintiff Kenyon treated at the Syracuse Small Smiles clinic between April 2005 and September 2008, when he was between the ages of three and seven. During that time, he had six root canals with crowns and seven fillings. He was restrained three times, and on three occasions his teeth were filled without anesthesia. Compl. ¶158.
Plaintiff Mathews treated at the Syracuse Small Smiles clinic between June 2005 and May 2006, when he was between the ages
of three and four. During that time, he had five teeth filled, two extractions, and one root canal with a crown. He was restrained five times, and on two occasions his teeth were filled without anesthesia. Compl. ¶160. "
We’ll discuss the legal malpractice aspects tomorrow.