OC dental implant patients death reminds us of importance of a qualified surgeon

Two years after one OC dental implant practioner’s horific alleged dental implant nightmare was report, patient advocate and Orange County (OC) dental implant surgeon Doctor Tom Michaelis reflects the story from a CBS News investigation that caused a dental patient to die. Dr. Michaelis is a board certified surgeon in the dentisty field and is a patient advocate of proper dental education and practice. He also serves as an expert witness in situations where dental malpractice is an issue in a case needing expert dental surgery advice.

A disturing note in this article below is the fact many patients rely on TV ads about dental implants rather than looking at education, reviews, and experience.

(July 28, 2014) NEWPORT BEACH (CBS2)– Several individuals are charging an Orange County dental practitioner of billing them hundreds of dollars for oral implants and ultimately never responding to their phone calls for help. CBS2 investigative press reporter David Goldstein uncovered those individuals never beinged aware the California Dental Board submitted a problem in 2012 against Dr. Thomas Teich. He was also located negligent this May in a med negligence suit where the patient passed away. That’s not all: Teich had served time in prison for mail fraud.

The dental professional refused to comment on the allegations and the dental board’s grievance”Doctor, we’ve spoken to a number of your clients who claim they’ve been abandoned by you after paying you tens of hundreds of bucks. Exactly how can you do that? Exactly how can you abandon these folks?” Goldstein said. Many individuals that visited Teich’s Newport Beach office claimed the experience was nothing to smile about. “I had many infections in my mouth, it was just astounding,” one client said. “I do not also speak the method I used to, and he damaged me inside my face. It’s not the same. I’m hurting. All these folks are hurting. There are many other individuals,” another individual stated. Patients stated they were drawn to the Smile Implant Center after seeing TELEVISION promotions, proclaiming the workplace as the leader in dental implants.

Oral implants are made use of to support crowns or dentures, and could set you back tens of countless bucks. “I wish them to recognize they took money from a widow,” Cynthia Hernandez stated. Teich’s office aided Hernandez get a financing for even more than $12,000 at virtually 28 percent interest. “I sold my handbags, my footwear, my jewelry– anything that I had to offer to pay for this– and I still are obligated to repay the financial institution at the very least $5,800 still,” Hernandez claimed. Clients claimed the cash wasn’t the concern. It’s exactly what took place after they got their implants. “Did your teeth fall out?” Goldstein said. “Yes, twice, two times, and the screws come off,” Hernandez claimed. And they some state when they attempted to obtain aid, after paying all the money upfront, visits were difficult ahead by. “They hold your money hostage,” an individual said. A dental board rep stated Dr. Teich need to never ever have been accredited in California. In 1994, the dental expert’s certificate was withdrawn in Arizona and Illinois. He was punished to 15 months behind bars for mail fraudulent and admitted to a history of drug dependency. In 1999, Teich’s certificate was renewed in Arizona. Three years later on, the Dental Board of California witched him authorization to practice right here. “He must not have been licensed back in 2002. He was licensed by chance,” stated Russ Heimerich, a speaker for the California Dental Board. The board confesses Dr. Teich didn’t hide his past record when he applied in California, now they state he should not have actually qualified for a certificate. Nevertheless, it’s late to merely take it away. “There are legal issues with that. So, you recognize just what we can do now is to attempt and shut him down based upon the present complaints that we have,” Heimerich said. In April 2011, the state oral board filed a grievance against Teich, accusing him of repeated negligent acts and amateur conduct.

In May of this year, Teich was discovered negligent in a wrongful death medical negligence lawsuit. The patient quit breathing and entered respiratory failing from anesthesia while getting dental implants. Teich’s Newport Beach office closed a few weeks ago after getting a notice he owed greater than $280,000 in back rental fee. Goldstein went to question Dr. Teich at his brand-new workplace in Santa Ana. While there, somebody drove by and hollered, “Thief! You’re a crook!” at the dental practitioner. The doctor stated he was experiencing economic issues, despite the fact that a Mercedes-Benz signed up to him was parked outside his new workplace. “I wish I could possibly care for all these folks and I am attempting,” Teich said. “Oh, started, these individuals say it’s been months; some state it’s been years,” Goldstein claimed. With that, the dental professional really did not answer anymore questions.

A lawyer for the Smile Implant Center stated Teich wasn’t dismissing clients. He claimed this was caused by a poorly executed office moving. He stated 4 of the patients who talked to CBS2 have because been planned to see the dental expert Wednesday.

To submit a grievance against your dental professional with the California Dental Board call -LRB-714-RRB- 923-9725 or email dentalboardsouth@dca.ca.gov.

“Doctor, we’ve spoken to a number of your patients who say they’ve been abandoned by you after paying you 10s of many thousands of bucks. There are so lots of various other individuals,” one more patient said. A dental board representative stated Dr. Teich ought to never have been authorized in California. A lawyer for the Smile Implant Center claimed Teich had not been ignoring individuals. He stated 4 of the patients that talked with CBS2 have actually considering that been planned to view the dentist Wednesday.