Getting work done by a dentist can be an uncomfortable experience, but it can be even more unnerving if you knew the man or woman holding the scalpel had a history of "performing unnecessary root canals", "excessive procedures", or "heating" a dental probe with a cigarette lighter."
A NewsChannel 3 investigation revealed those are all deeds done by some dentists to whom the state of Virginia chose to give a license.
"Why don't you have to have something in your office so that everybody can see and know what they're dealing with?" suggested Rosemary Rogers, a former patient of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach dentist Derrick Broadaway.
Rogers' idea, similar to health grades posted in restaurants, came after she received a bad root canal from Broadaway. NewsChannel 3 dug up Board of Dentistry records that show Broadaway has a history of performing "incomplete extractions of teeth", "drill(ing) too deep into a tooth" causing the patient to have to have a root canal, and billing a patient for work he never did.
The Board fined Broadaway $42,000 over the last 15 years and even suspended him from practicing for 60 days last summer. They never revoked his license.
"I feel like the Board needs to be held responsible for every negligent act that he does from here on out," said Rogers. "They're putting the public in danger, so they should be responsible just like he should be responsible."
NewsChannel 3 asked Virginia Board of Dentistry Executive Director Sandra Reen about Rogers' suggestion.
"That's an interesting concept." said Reen. "It's certainly not contemplated in the laws and regulations that govern dental practice."
"There are opportunities to petition the Board for rule making," said Reen, who also explained that patients can reach out to state lawmakers with any ideas they have.
If you'd like to make that suggestion or any others to the Virginia Board of Dentistry, you can contact them at 1-800-533-1560, or send an e-mail to denbd@dhp.virginia.gov.
You can also reach out to state senatorsand delegates to make any suggestions.
Related:
Dentists allowed to practice after dealing drugs, committing health care fraud
Chesapeake dentist faces judge on felony charges
Another former patient of Chesapeake dentist planning to sue
Chesapeake dentist arrested for bad checks pays former employees
Former patient of suspended Chesapeake dentist speaks out
Employees take action against dentist accused of handing out bad checks
Chesapeake dentist faces millions in medical malpractice lawsuits
