A U.S. Dentist Uses Paper Clips in Root Canals

Paper clips being used by a U.S. dentist in root canals? We're not kidding!

Dental Care –Dentist Reviews –Rate a Dentist

Michael Clair, a former dentist in Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in root canals.  Source:  1/24/12 Associated Press

Since the emphasis in news story seems to be focused on the “Medicare Fraud” aspect, I want to focus, here, on the patient.

Seriously, folks, this is a rude “wake-up” call that you can’t assume your local dentist is ethical or any good at what they do.

Since I’m in the business of educating people on what a highly-skilled and ethical dentist is and does – and promoting only those dentists recommended by our members, I’ll share one article here:  ”Can your dentist pass the litmus test?”

I also suggest you read the reviews other patients have posted on Traveling 4 Health & Retirement, where only patient-generated reviews are allowed, i.e., no 3^rd party advertising.  No medical provider can “pay” to play here.  The review process is free to patients and only patients can post reviews.

This patient-generated review process is a new feature of our website.  We created the page so that people can read standardized reports on dental and medical service providers.  How this differs from reading patient testimonials on a dentist’s website, is that we facilitate unfiltered conversations between you and the patient who posted the testimony.

In other words, you can contact the patients and talk to them without having to contact the dentist or doctor.  This facilitates passive research that avoids the problem of being influenced by a sales-person.

What we’re finding is an eye-opener, folks . . . .  We are amazed at how many medical and dental professionals cannot, or will not, request their patients to post a review that the doctors cannot control.  Instead, they opt to “pick & choose” what a patient says and post on their own websites only what they can control.

The good news is that 1) the best doctors and dentists will participate, as they welcome the opportunity to distinguish themselves through unbiased patient-reviews, and 2) the unethical doctors and dentists will be exposed.

Our provider review feature is for you, folks.  We are the only place on the web where you can talk to other patients as if you were sitting next to them in the doctor’s waiting room.

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We are open to suggestions on how to make the review results more meaningful to patients searching for information.  We welcome your feedback at Ilene@traveling4health.com.  Here is where you, as the patient, can post a review of a dentist.

Tip: If you are researching a good dentist whose name does not appear on the reviewed list, then make that a condition of your becoming their patient and suggest that they submit a request to be reviewed by their own patients.