Please Read if Your Kids Are Patients of Kids Teeth, LLC

[Anonymous]

Medical malpractice laws are designed to protect patients' rights to pursue compensation if they are injured as the result of negligence. However, malpractice suits are often complex and costly to win. Unless your child was harmed because of treatment done by Dr. Baren medical malpractice is very hard to win. Good luck though.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I read the Washington Post article, "Spreading the Word" by Mary Otto http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202115.html?hpid=topnews this morning. I've just read through this entire forum. I'd like to compliment the original poster, the folks who have provided this forum, and all who posted. Hopefully, this discussion has sensitized folks to the fact that information on disciplinary actions taken by state medical boards is available and often useful in choosing practitioners. Here in Virginia, the disciplinary information including the entire paper trail is available online. All too often, these disciplinary actions are not known to patients and the guardians of patients.

There are still medical boards in this country who actively try to keep disciplinary information from the public. Much of the information available today has been obtained by legal suits financed by consumer organizations and publications. The medical community is still very protective of the reputations of its members, whether competent or not.

The fact is that most of us are simply unable to judge whether medical professionals are competent or not, whether they may be recommending unnecessary care and whether they may be subjecting us to unnecessary risks (e.g., unnecessary anesthesia). So information from disciplinary reports is helpful to us in making decisions.

The mere fact that a medical professional has been disciplined should not be your only criterion in choosing a medical professional or choosing to continue with a medical professional you are already seeing. The facts of the cases or cases are important. But be aware of actions that involve a pattern of questionable behavior and in multiple disciplinary actions against the same professional.

Do you continue to see a dentist subjected to a year's suspension (with part forgiven if he meets certain requirements) and an additional three year's probation?? That's your call.

David in VA

[Anonymous]

If you'd like to get a copy of the consent order in PDF form, simply email your request for a copy of the the Consent Order in the matter of Ophir Alalouf, DDS to:

Desiree devoe - [e-mail]

David in VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I read the Washington Post article, "Spreading the Word" by Mary Otto http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202115.html?hpid=topnews this morning. I've just read through this entire forum. I'd like to compliment the original poster, the folks who have provided this forum, and all who posted. Hopefully, this discussion has sensitized folks to the fact that information on disciplinary actions taken by state medical boards is available and often useful in choosing practitioners. Here in Virginia, the disciplinary information including the entire paper trail is available online. All too often, these disciplinary actions are not known to patients and the guardians of patients.

There are still medical boards in this country who actively try to keep disciplinary information from the public. Much of the information available today has been obtained by legal suits financed by consumer organizations and publications. The medical community is still very protective of the reputations of its members, whether competent or not.

The fact is that most of us are simply unable to judge whether medical professionals are competent or not, whether they may be recommending unnecessary care and whether they may be subjecting us to unnecessary risks (e.g., unnecessary anesthesia). So information from disciplinary reports is helpful to us in making decisions.

The mere fact that a medical professional has been disciplined should not be your only criterion in choosing a medical professional or choosing to continue with a medical professional you are already seeing. The facts of the cases or cases are important. But be aware of actions that involve a pattern of questionable behavior and in multiple disciplinary actions against the same professional.

Do you continue to see a dentist subjected to a year's suspension (with part forgiven if he meets certain requirements) and an additional three year's probation?? That's your call.

David in VA

Thank you. Do you happen to know if this sort of information is available in the District? I would like to check on all our doctors.

[Anonymous]

It's not the answer you're looking for, but you can check Maryland licenses and major malpractice actions at
/www.mbp.state.md.us/bpqapp/
However, dentists are not included.

[Anonymous]

David in VA- thanks so much for the information. Can you also tell me if I can get a list of other dentists in the area whom have been reviewed and/or suspended in the recent past. I am finding it difficult to find a pediatric dentist in this area that has not had complaints and disciniplary action taken against them. I do find it odd that this one in particular has caused such a media frenzy. Possibly due to his popularity? oh well...thanks again.

[Anonymous]

There are many wonderful pediatric dentists in the state of Maryland with untarnished records, including the associate, Dr. Madani, at Kid's Teeth.
We will never know why only one of the many practicing dentists with "citations, warnings, suspensions, etc." had to undergo the media scrutiny that a local pediatric dentist did. Those whose records have been swept "under the rug" are begging forgiveness and giving thanks to whomever they worship these last few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many wonderful pediatric dentists in the state of Maryland with untarnished records, including the associate, Dr. Madani, at Kid's Teeth.
We will never know why only one of the many practicing dentists with "citations, warnings, suspensions, etc." had to undergo the media scrutiny that a local pediatric dentist did. Those whose records have been swept "under the rug" are begging forgiveness and giving thanks to whomever they worship these last few weeks.

I think it is the magnitude of the offense as to why Dr. A was brought out into the media AND his misleading/deceptive letter to patients saying that he was "taking time off to be with family and further his education." I am sure if he had sent a letter stating the facts to his patients he would not have gotten as "scrutinized" as he did. Plus it is unconsionable the excess treatments he was perfomring on MANY children. I think if you look carefully at dental suspensions etc.. you will not find many so offensive as Dr.A's.

The real hype about Dr. A is that so many have been fooled by him and they refuse to admit they have been duped. I think that is human nature. Why would anyone want to beleive they put their child in harms way?

I would be skeptical about Kids Teeth, LLC....bottom line.

Nothing is under the rug...it is all public record and only requires a phone call to the board. I think all parents need to do their homework before putting their trust in anyone...that's just good parenting.

[Anonymous]

I dont believe anyone was duped by Dr. A (as you can clearly see from all the posts of patients staying with him), I do believe that he is proactive or aggressive in dental care and alot of people LIKE that. I just think its personal opinion, we have never had anyhting but good, actually great experiences, therefore will remain at Kids Teeth with all the others whom dont believe they were taken advantage of. For those of you leaving that practice, its ok, you have to do what you as parents feels is best, as do we. No one is passing judgement. Good luck to all!

[Anonymous]

The same thing happened with my Rockville dentist back around 1989 - Mark J Breslerman who now practices in NW DC - because he has been prohibited from practicing in MD due to his crime. He was caught defrauding insurance companies in the late 1980s - submitting claims to 2 different insurance companies that he had to totally reconstruct several patients' teeth due to terrible car accidents. Well how often does that happen in real life ? The insurance companies grew suspicious and put him under investigation. He was eventually convicted of TEN COUNTS of felony theft and sent to prison for 6 months. I was a patient of his just before this and as soon as his name hit the news negatively, I quickly changed to another dentist. I had had a couple very small cavities - he told me they were small - but I ended up having very big fillings. My sister a hygienist said some dentists drill & fill more than 1 surface of a tooth to get more $ back from insurance companies, even if the cavity is only on 1 surface.

It's really a shame that with so many honest dentists out there that there have to be frauds taking advantage of their patients.

Lest you think I am lying about Mark Breslerman, here's from the Washington Post about his conviction & imprisonment:

Rockville Dentist Charged With Felony Theft; Companies Allege Insurance Forms Fraudulently Said Patients Were Accident Victims
From: Washington Post, Metro Section, B8 | Date: 8/2/1989 | Author: Paul Duggan

A Rockville dentist who allegedly defrauded insurance companies out of nearly $20,000 by lying on claim forms in recent years has been charged with 10 counts of felony theft, Montgomery County police said yesterday.

Mark J. Breslerman Jr., 44, who practices at 6232 Montrose Rd., allegedly filed $14,365 in false claims with Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. of Fort Wayne, Ind., and $4,504 in false claims with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of the National Capital Area…

…Breslerman of Tallwood Court in Potomac, allegedly told Blue Cross that he did root canal work and placed crowns on the teeth of numerous patients after they had been injured in accidents, said Joanne Crim, a Blue Cross official. She said the patients were covered by dental plans that would pay for such work only if it were necessary as the result of an accident.

Crim said she mailed questionnaires to nine of Breslerman's patients, asking why they had needed root canal work and crowns. She said four of the nine replied that they had damaged their teeth in accidents.

Crim and [Suzanne Milledge] said their companies have stopped making payments to Breslerman and have begun reimbursing his patients directly.


Rockville Dentist Sentenced in Fraud
From: The Washington Post | Date: 4/21/1990

A Rockville dentist charged with collecting more than $35,000 on fraudulent insurance claims from two companies in recent years was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in the Montgomery County Detention Center.

Mark J. Breslerman, who practiced at 6224 Montrose Rd., was accused of collecting $20,447 from Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., of Fort Wayne, Ind., and $15,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area after billing the companies for dental work he did not perform…

Also as part of the plea bargain, Breslerman agreed to make restitution of about $35,000. After sentencing him to 18 months in jail yesterday, Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Vincent E. Ferretti Jr. ordered Breslerman to perform 1,000 hours of community service after he is released.

[Anonymous]

The whole practice is at fault. I am in healthcare, and there is no way the other dentists could not have known.
I am so happy about this thread because solid facts were laid down, not just rumor.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Even the fact that there have been rumors about Dr. A circulating for years. There is NO WAY his whole office staff could have been kept in the dark about his shady practices. What a shame.

[Anonymous]

I am really upset!! My son has been seeing Dr.A for years. We have been through hell with his teeth. I was told that he has had soooo.... many fillings!! I am so scared that my poor baby went through pain for no reason!! I hope Dr A was honest with us. I feel like the worst mother for letting my son get all that work done. I am not a dentist and I have to trust when the dentist says something needs to be done. I am actually crying for my son now. What do I do now? How do I find out if he needed this work done? Has this work ruined my sons teeth? Will I ever be able to trust another dentist? How can I make my son go to another dentist if the one he loved and trusted may have hurt him?

[Anonymous]

We just became aware of this but we are not surprised. We brought our son to Alalouf's practice for the first time back in October 2007. The office looked really kid-friendly. However, Alalouf "found" 10 cavities after examining our son. He recommended general anesthesia and was very against attempting less invasive ways. We declined general anesthesia and asked him to try filling the cavity in the office instead. Alalouf discouraged nitrous oxide although we requested it. He was only able to work on two cavities in the office before our son was not cooperative. After that Alalouf pushed for general anesthesia again but we sought a second and third consult at another hospital and our own practice. Both consults discouraged general anesthesia and recommended good oral hygiene with a re-evaluation of our son.

Our gut feeling about Alalouf's practice was not good after the initial consult with him and the repeated attempt to go to general anesthesia. We feel very relieved that we did not accept his recommendation after being informed of this story and the ruling of the dental board. We are both healthcare providers and a suspension by a board is a very serious matter.

[Anonymous]

Have any of you found another dentist that your children enjoy going to? My children were patients of Dr. Alalouf. While I liked the way the practice was geared to make the children feel comfortable, I was VERY uneasy about his opinions on my oldest childs teeth, and I had a gut feeling that made me just not trust him. From the x-rays I was told she had two cavities, and she went in for 45 minutes and he told me he filled six. Now, I did not have dental insurance so this was VERY expensive for us. The next time my daughter went in, the dental assistant told me she had two, maybe three cavities, and when he came in he said it was five maybe six. This time I did not leave the room, and she ended up having two. That was the last time I had him fill any teeth for my child because I did not trust him at all. I went back for their cleaning, but that was it. I have cancelled my last cleaning because I just didn't want to go back to him because I knew I would hear that there were more cavities. I kept thinking I wanted to take them for their cleaning, but then find another dentist to find out if there were really cavities. I am SOOO upset that I just found out today about his charges from the Dental Board. I should have done more research myself and I would have saved my family a lot of money. I, without a doubt, one hundred percent, believe that he did these things. I should have registered a complaint myself. I'm out around $1800 because of Dr. Alalouf.

Christy R. Maryland