-WJLA SCRIPT-

ANCHOR:


TONIGHT, A TEARFUL WARNING FROM THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE CHILDREN FEATURED IN OUR I-TEAM INVESTIGATION OF THE SMALL SMILES DENTAL CLINIC. ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING ASPECTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION WAS THE SEPARATION OF PARENT AND CHILD DURING DENTAL TREATMENTS. TONIGHT THE I-TEAM'S ROBERTA BASKIN IS HERE WITH MORE ON THAT. 

ROBERTA BASKIN:


SMALL SMILES PARENT COMPANY DENIES THERE IS A POLICY TO SEPARATE PARENTS FROM THEIR CHILDREN. BUT ACCORDING TO DOZENS OF PARENTS AND FORMER EMPLOYEES, JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

STORY:


OUR FIRST REPORT ON WHAT HAPPENS TO SMALL CHILDREN BEYOND THE WAITING ROOM STIRRED AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE FROM VIEWERS. THE IMAGES WERE GRAPHIC. AND NO ONE WAS MORE SHOCKED THAN 4-YEAR OLD MIGUEL'S MOTHER, WHO COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HER SON WAS SO SCARED AFTER HIS DENTAL VISIT.

WE SHOWED HER SON STRAPPED TO A PAPOOSE BOARD SO HE COULDN'T MOVE. A DENTIST PINCHING HIS NOSE SHUT TO OPEN HIS MOUTH. MIGUEL SCREAMING FOR HIS MOTHER, WHO NEVER CAME.

IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS SINCE THAT VISIT TO SMALL SMILES. 

Ana Maria Mejia: "I didn't think they were going to treat my son like that. Because I don't treat my children like that. For others to treat them like that… I feel bad.

AND ANA MARIA MEJIA SAYS HER SON IS STILL TRAUMATIZED.

Ana Maria Mejia: "When we pass by that place, there is a grocery store close to it. He is so scared and he tells me 'NO' and he cries. He doesn't want to get out of the car."

FORMER SMALL SMILES DENTAL ASSISTANT TRINA CROSBY KNOWS FIRST HAND WHAT HAPPENS TO CHILDREN IN THE BACK. 

Trina: "It's terrifying for them. They cry. They scream. They want their mommies."

PEDIATRIC DENTIST DR. ROBERT CAMPS IS NOW TREATING MIGUEL. DR. CAMPS INSISTS PARENTS STAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN. 

Camps: "I want them there. They need to be there. And a child that age, when you have the separation anxiety, it just makes it worse." 

ANA MARIA MEJIA HAS BEEN TELLING HER FRIENDS WHAT HAPPENED TO HER SON AT SMALL SMILES. AND SHE WANTS OTHERS MOTHERS TO KNOW…

Ana: "I say don't leave your children alone. Follow your children. Always enter with your children. Because anything can happen. And as a parent you don't know. " 

BASKIN IN STUDIO:


SMALL SMILES CONTINUES TO SAY IT IS NOT ITS POLICY TO SEPARATE PARENTS FROM CHILDREN. THAT IT'S A MATTER FOR EACH DENTIST TO DECIDE. IT'S THE SUBJECT OF SOME CONTROVERSY. AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT ON ABC 7 NEWS AT 11.