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Concerns Grow Over Dental Implant Practices in the U.S.

Patients seeking dental implants are increasingly expressing concerns about the motivations behind tooth extractions in implant clinics. Some individuals report feeling pressured into unnecessary tooth removal procedures and question the ethics of these practices.

One dental professional noted the unsettling trend among patients who, after consulting with other practitioners, arrive at her office convinced they need extensive extractions. “I’ve actually felt more pressure sometimes from patients who have gone around and been told they need to take their teeth out,” she explained. “They come in and, honestly, taking a look at them, maybe they don’t need to take all their teeth out.”

Across the country, numerous lawsuits have surfaced, accusing dentists affiliated with implant clinics of extracting teeth without clear necessity. For instance, a patient in Texas claimed in a 2020 lawsuit that a dentist from Affordable Care removed all of her teeth unnecessarily and left her waiting in the lobby with gauze in her mouth while attending to lunch. Another case from Maryland highlighted a 2021 allegation against ClearChoice, where a patient stated that the clinic “convinced” her to have eight healthy upper teeth removed by minimizing the associated risks. In Florida, a 2023 lawsuit alleged that ClearChoice provided no alternative treatment options before extracting all of a patient’s teeth, which she described as “totally unnecessary.”

Despite the legal actions, both ClearChoice and Affordable Care have denied any wrongdoing and opted for private settlements in these cases. However, neither company has provided comment in response to inquiries directed to them or their legal representatives, nor have the attorneys for the plaintiffs offered comments on the matter.

Fred Goldberg, a dental malpractice attorney based in Maryland, revealed that he has represented multiple clients against ClearChoice. He reported that each of these clients initially engaged with a salesperson rather than a dentist. “Every client I’ve had who has gone to ClearChoice has started off meeting a salesperson and actually signing up to get their financing through ClearChoice before they ever meet with a dentist,” Goldberg stated. “You meet with a salesperson who sells you on what they like to present as the best choice, which is almost always that they’re going to take out all your natural teeth.”

This experience resonates with Becky Carroll, a ClearChoice patient from New Jersey, who detailed a similar narrative in her lawsuit. Carroll recounted her encounter with a so-called “patient education consultant” before meeting a dentist. She noted that the consultant encouraged her to secure financial assistance for the procedure, and it was only after she agreed to a personal loan that a dentist assessed her dental needs. “It seems way backwards,” Carroll remarked. “They just want to know you’re approved before you get to talk to a dentist.”

CBS News producer Nicole Keller contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared on KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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arstechnica.com