HYATTSVILLE, Md. - In our award-winning series on the dubious practices by the "Small Smiles" dental clinics, our cameras caught terrified children being strapped down for unnecessary procedures, including multiple baby root canals and crowns, so the chain could rake in millions in Medicaid reimbursements.

Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder responded to our I-Team investigation.

Maria Salazar's four-year-old son Jesus was a Small Smiles client. She fights back tears even now as she remembers taking him to Small Smiles for a routine checkup in 2007. He left with 14 crowns on his baby teeth. She now believes it was all unnecessary.

"I cried with him, I say 'I'm sorry, it's not my fault. I don't know why they say like that,'" said Maria Salazar.

Our I-Team investigation is now part of a nationwide crackdown on health care fraud.

Attorney General Eric Holder said, "These Small Smile Centers serve young children in predominately low income areas. But instead of treating kids, this company was exploiting them and siphoning millions of dollars from Medicaid."

"We have zero tolerance for those who break the law to exploit children in need," said Assistant Attorney General Tony West.

Last week, federal officials announced that Forba Holdings, the company that manages Small Smiles, will pay out $24 million in a civil settlement.

Moreover, Forba has agreed to change its practices, has fired a number of its dentists, and is cooperating in possible criminal probes as well. Those actions might never have happened had our cameras not been rolling.

Holder said, "For putting profits above patients' safety this company will play a $24 million fine plus interest. We are continuing to investigate the individual dentists who participated in this scheme."

The $24 million settlement will not go to families who were Small Smiles clients. The money will go to three whistleblowers and to reimburse medicaid coffers.

The clinics remain open but with more strict government oversight.

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