I-Team: Small Smiles Follow-Up|ABC 7 News

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I-Team: Small Smiles Follow-Up

posted 5:05 pm Tue November 06, 2007 -

tags: iteam • baskin • small smiles

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Anchor:
NEW DETAILS IN OUR EXCLUSIVE I-TEAM INVESTIGATION.

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ABC 7 News - I-Team: Small Smiles Follow-Up

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THE INVESTIGATION WE SHOWED YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT PRACTICES AT TWO AREA DENTAL CLINICS HAS PROMPTED STRONG PUBLIC REACTION.

SMALL SMILES, A NATIONAL CHAIN OF CLINICS, EXCLUSIVELY TREATS MEDICAID CHILDREN. BUT HOW THE YOUNG PATIENTS ARE TREATED IS RAISING AN OUTCRY.

THE I-TEAM'S ROBERTA BASKIN IS HERE NOW WITH MORE.

Roberta Baskin:
WE'VE BEEN FLOODED WITH EMAILS AND CALLS FROM VIEWERS.

MANY OF THEM DISTURBED TO SEE AND LEARN HOW CHILDREN ARE HANDLED AT SMALL SMILES.

OUR INVESTIGATION, DRILLING FOR DOLLARS, RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VAST DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT GIVEN TO CHILDREN ON MEDICAID... AND THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE.

Story:
Here's just some of what we found.
*A policy to separate children from their parents.
*Strapping small children down on papoose boards so they can't move.
*Radiation exposure by uncertified x-ray technicians.
*Contests among clinics to do the most dental work (baby root canals and capped teeth.)
* And employee bonuses for making daily financial goals set by the home office.

These policies and procedures prompted a public outcry. Including from this pediatric dentist in Maryland.

Most of Dr. Winifred Booker's patients are also on Medicaid and she sees about one patient a day from the Baltimore Small Smiles clinic. She says most come in traumatized. Especially fearing the papoose board, which she doesn't use.

Dr. Winifred Booker: "When a child usually comes in and they understand that they're back in the dental environment there's a lot of crying and initially, even before we take them to the treatment area, or to the area where they're going just simply brush their teeth, they're crying and upset."

It's the Health and Human Services Inspector General's office that oversees the multi-billion dollar Medicaid program. And in response to our report they've set up a special hotline number for information about Small Smiles clinics.

Gerald Roy, Special Agent for Investigations: "We will look into these matters and determine whether or not there are criminal violations or civil violations and we act accordingly."

Roy promised a thorough review of these clinics.

Roberta Baskin:
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE STORY ... SOME OF IT COMING FROM THE STORIES YOU TELL US.

To See Part 1: CLICK HERE

To See The 11 p.m. (Nov. 5) Version Of Story: CLICK HERE

Questions About Dentistry Or To Find A Dentist: CLICK HERE

To Register A Complaint: CLICK HERE

Latest Comment on I-Team: Small Smiles Follow-Up

DebHgn

9:49 am on 01/18/08

Using Papoose Boards or any other type of restraint for non emergency dental care is ridiculous.

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