Complaint Review: Roy C. Blake DDS - West Palm Beach, FL Florida

I was a patient of Dr. Roy C. Blake of Palm Beach Prostodontics

More than $18,000 was spent on my lower left jaw that was not needed and failed.

My healthy teeth were destroyed for their monetary gain only.

I published a teaching website called

www.dentalfraudinflorida.com

in order to prevent the public from ending up in my position.

The website displays all documents, medical records and research material.

I am presently being sued to shut down my teaching website and ultimately deny my freedom of speech.

HERE IS COPY FROM MY SITE:

Does your dentist say "trust me, I do this all the time!" or " It is no big deal!"?

Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Tolley do not want my Teaching Website / Forum available to the Public - Click Here for Legal "Cease and Desist Notice" and and My Response... They are now asking a judge to shut down my website. They claim:

My website is slanderous and is:

in violation of Florida law;

an interference with the Plaintiffs' (dentists') right to privacy;

an assault upon the privacy rights of each of the health care providers whom she harmed professionally;

an assault upon the rights of the public to secure their privacy; and

a public nuisance

What constitutes fraud?

"Fraud is the intentional perversion of truth or a false misrepresentation of a matter of fact" which induces another person to "part with some valuable thing belonging to him or her or to surrender a legal right."

How do you prove it in a court of law?

"Were you truly deceived by the misrepresentations given by a person and that you relied on the statements to your detriment (suffered harm)."

DENTAL WORK IS A "BIG DEAL"

DENTISTRY IS "BIG MONEY & HIGH PROFITS" FACTS:

Bad dentistry is performed on patients regularly but unfortunately few patients / victims are willing to talk about it. They are "too embarrassed".

An honest dentist gives priority to good patient care, conservative treatment and presents all treatment options in order to ensure that a patient makes an "informed decision".

Treatment options, both pros and cons, should be addressed with a patient in a manner that they understand.

It is very difficult for a "lay person" to determine if a dentist is over-treating.

Patients tend to feel "powerless and vulnerable" when being presented with "potential" problems with their teeth.

Dentists are required to disclose all material information in order to obtain a patient's consent for treatment please refer to Informed Consent.

It is your legal and ethical right to be in control of what is done to your body, including your teeth.

Dentistry is primarily "self-regulated and governed".

Some dentists receive "kick backs" from other dentists they refer you to.

The average income of a dentist in the United States is $158,000/yr as reported by the ADA survery performed in 1999.

Dentistry is medicine that is practiced without the financial constraints of managed care!

I strongly recommend that you do treat with an honest and skillful dentist. Have your teeth cleaned at least 2 times per year and have a full mouth series of x-rays taken. I do not want anyone reading what was done to myself by these dentists and assuming that this will happen to them. The whole purpose of my website is to teach you informed consent in dental treatments so that you do not end up in my position.

This website is my personal tragedy delivered to me by several dentists in West Palm Beach, Florida. I am ashamed and embarrassed to admit that I allowed these dentists to do this dental work in my mouth. I was not smart enough to see the reality of what their goals and intent were.

It certainly was not to promote healthy dental care or to "do no harm". In my opinion, my best interests never even entered into their "dental planning / recommendations and ultimate dental work they performed.

Date Dental Work Cost

Up to Dec 2002 braces, 5-unit bridge, 2 root canals, surgical removal of 2 teeth, 2 implants, etc Approx. $17,000

October 9/04 Root canal done on tooth left over from 5-unit bridge I have been advised that the filing down of the crown too low was the cause of the nerve dying Too much trauma to the tooth $ 980

November 9/04 Filling in root canal $ 220

Total Restoration cost to date $18,200

*** This total does not include consultations, models, x-rays, etc.

TREATMENT I AM CONSIDERING

My instincts are telling me that the back implant needs to be removed (due to bone loss and not being placed deep enough into my jawbone), area grafted, and if I am pursuing implants, then have them placed correctly by someone skilled and well experienced for maximum support and longevity.

It is easier to eat the $2,000 now that I paid Dr. Kaplan for this implant than to throw good money after bad.

I swore I would not have more surgeries and I am very afraid of losing sensation in my lower left jaw area.

Surgeries are needed or I will end up with a removable appliance / denture with 3 teeth on the left side and a metal bar across the back of my front teeth, in front of my tongue and have it hook on a molar on the right side.

Risks of Removable Appliance / Denture

Bone loss

Periodontal problems (irritation of gum tissue)

Wear and tear on natural teeth

Possible speech problems

Will need adjustments regularly

Comfort tends to be an issue.

I have also been speaking with my family dentist in Canada (the last time I saw him was 12 years ago).

I met with a Prostodontist that came highly recommended.

Both of these dentists agree that my mouth cannot be successfully restored with these 2 implants.

The 2 teeth left over from the bridge are not in the best of shape and should not be loaded with anything. They are fragile enough with the splinted crowns.

Both of these dentists are strongly urging me to have a block bone graft done in the area where I never had a tooth and remove the back implant and graft this area at the same time. No one understands why these two implants (size, type, and location) were used.

Block Bone Graft from Chin

This procedure requires cutting through the inside of my bottom lip (cannot cut along my gumline) and removing the bone from my chin. I do not have enough tissue in my gum area to cover the surgical site. Tissue will be used from underneath my tongue to create the flap. The surgical site needs to be covered for at least four months. I will have a scar in front of my lower teeth and this should not bother me. If I lose sensation because of nerve damage, my muscle tone should not be affected. I will have 1-2" along the inside of my lower jaw and chin. It may tingle and burn, but apparently I can get used to this? Also, the surgical sites may open up and need to be addressed with antibiotics, drainage, etc.

This block of my own bone would be held in place with small titanium screws.

It will take approx. 6 months to 1 year for these grafts to heal and integrate into my jawbone and the surgical sites will be kept covered with my tissue

Place 2 more implants and have all 3 implants functioning separately.

It will take approx. 6 months to 1 year for the implants to integrate into my jawbone.

Crown all 3 implants separately.

Keep myself strong and healthy and hope that it works for a very long time.

Have frequent cleanings (every 3 months) by a Periodontist's office.

RISKS OF SURGERIES

This still being defined. The obvious is losing sensation in my lower left jaw and infection and failure of the bone graft and implants.

Cost? I do not know yet.

How long with this restoration last? No one knows.

COMMENTS BY PROSTODONTIST

I am not going to identify him unless he wants to be. I believe my friends are correct and no dentist will work in my mouth if they know I have published my dental tragedy. In my opinion, accountability seems to be tough for these dental professionals.

So far I have not told the Prostodontist about my website or named any of the dentists involved in destroying my healthy teeth.

He did not ask me who any of the dentists were. Just the specialties and sequence of events.

He has never seen such poorly planned dental treatments.

This work should not have been done (braces, 5-unit bridge and implant restoration with respect to size, type and placement of implant.)

He asked me if I had ever gone back to the orthodontist? I said no.

The bridge failure is not my fault you are not a grinder. Your teeth show no signs of grinding and at your age it would show.

He was surprised that no x-rays were taken of the bridged teeth roots after placement and subsequent root canals. I did not tell him how many times my bridge was adjusted, dental cleanings, etc.

I did tell him that the Endodontist, Dr. Mohaupt, had made a comment in my file re: Blake's bridge? I said if this had been explained to myself, I would have this bridge disassembled immediately. I was still in temporary crowns and this disaster could have been stopped then. He asked me how the 5-unit bridge felt in my mouth. I said it felt very heavy.

The Prostodontist wanted to know who made the decision to place these implants here? I told him I did not know. He said the Prostodontist has this responsibility.

Any type of bone grafting around the back implant is useless.

I cannot even think of taking your money to place a temporary crown on this back implant. It will fail. You may get 6 months or 1 year, but I doubt it. I told him that I still have sensation around this implant. I can feel hot liquids drip down the inside of the implant into my jawbone.

He said your top 2 upper left teeth have dropped down. Why was this splint made for your lower teeth? You needed an orthodontic appliance for the upper teeth to prevent them from falling out. This needs to be made immediately.

He also adjusted my splint and put the occlusions on the inside of my teeth. Dr. Blake had them on the outside.

I am looking at approximately $70,000 to $100,000 over the next 40 years (depending on how my implants perform and loss of bone in my jaw).

I will never regain what was taken from me (natural healthy teeth).

REASON FOR DENTAL WORK

I was missing 1 lower molar. This tooth never developed /grew in and you could not see the space nor was I in pain. I never asked a dentist to "fix this space for me".

I was 33 years old and I listened to and trusted Dr. Tolley (a general dentist and Dr. Blake (prostodontist) and allowed them to to perform dental procedures that should not have been done. These two dentists convinced me that I would have "future jaw problems if I did not replace this tooth" that had never developed.

I did not give "informed consent" with the information they provided and the dental work was "not medically necessary vs. the risk involved". These dentists were not truthful in disclosing the risks of their proposed dental treatments.

I had to request my medical records from all the dentists involved (letters dated June 23, 2004) and asked them to answer specific questions and specific documents concerning their dental treatments. (please see actual correspondence on the links for each dentist's name).

Dr. Blake did not want to give me my records and none of the dentists involved in my dental care would answer my questions to date. I sent another letter by Certified Mail on August 4, 2004, to Dr. Blake (view under Dentist's name) more than 30 days after the first letter. I informed Dr. Blake that I would bring a reporter to their office if they did not turn over my dental records. Someone from his office called the next day and said "you will not be allowed on the property and we are not required to turn over your records in a specific time without a subpoena". In my opinion, there was nothing honest or ethical about this dental office, Palm Beach Prostodontics, and I assured them that I would be paying them a visit and I would not be alone.

Dr. Blake's office called 3 days later and said "your records are ready and there is a charge of $70.00 for photocopies". In my opinion, $70.00 is excessive, but I do believe Dr. Blake and his office, Palm Beach Prostodontics, needs the money.

I have given each dentist involved in my care the opportunity to post their comments and in particular answer my questions of my letter dated June 23, 2004. I assured them that I would print / post their responses in their entirety. Click on the Dentists Name in the Menu Bar.

My goal now is to prevent the public from having dental work done that is not medically necessary and done without their informed consent.

I want you to understand what "informed consent is and why you need to give it". It is not in anyone's best interest to rely upon a dentist saying "trust me, I do this all the time and it is no big deal. This is an investment in your future in order to prevent future "dental problems".

Ask yourself, "Is this dental care medically necessary and is the dentist performing this work in my mouth competent and skilled, and not just motivated to perform dental procedures for their own monetary gain?"

Note: I never signed any "consent forms" outlining risks for dental work for Dr. Tolley, Dr. Blake or Dr. Mohaupt. They did not inform me that there was risk, in fact, there was significant risk. I am a living, breathing example of that risk and I will pay for this for the rest of my life.

The information contained in this website is based upon my dental records, money paid to dentists, x-rays of my mouth, and conversations and appointments with other dentists.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS WITH WORKING WITH DENTISTS

1. Take a look at the dentist's teeth. Are they crooked, crowded, chipped, etc.

FYI - Dr. Blake's teeth are not too pretty - they are extremely crowded." Maybe I should have paid more attention to this.

2. No matter what type of specialty dentist you are treating with, I believe it is in your best interest to have a general dentist that will be responsible for your overall dental treatments (cleanings and fillings).

3. Referrals to specialties should come from dental assistants and not the dentists.

4. Any treatment plans involving restoration should be given to you in writing, not just the cost and payment plan. I would insist to see the specific details of the treatment (drawings and measurements). I would review the models of your teeth with the dentist and make sure you understand all the pro's and con's for the proposed treatment.

5. Listen to your guts / instincts!

FYI - I knew when Dr. Kaplan's office called to schedule the uncovering of the front implant and place the abutments that there was a problem with the back implant. In fact, when I called and told them that the back implant / surgical site was uncovered and Dr. Kaplan did not even call me in to look at.

This is why I insisted that Dr. Blake x-ray these implants so I could see for myself that complete integration into bone had occurred. The inside of the back implant does not have bone growth. My instincts were right, I should have sought a second opinion with a Periodontist when the back implant / surgical site opened up.

6. Stop feeling that everything about your teeth needs to be perfect."

We are bombarded daily with advertisements to have the perfect smile." This is big business. No one is perfect and just because something can be done does not mean it should be done or that is in your best interest to treat.

If your teeth are healthy and functioning painfree, I would be very circumspect with respect to opinions that you need to fix something in order to prevent future problems."

7. Get a least 3 opinions on major restorations. I would get these appointments anonymously." I would not tell the dentist you are seeking the opinion from the dentists involved. This should level the playing field and prevent the good ole' boy referrals.

I would also seek opinions out of the area and even drive to a different county. Dentistry is a big business and the competition is incredible in South Florida. Remember, we all like the lifestyle here, including our dental professionals.

Dental Implants

Please be careful in the dentist you select to do this. Generally speaking, in South Florida, a Periodontist places more implants than an oral surgeon.

Once again, make sure that the restoration plan is in place and everyone understands what is happening. Insist on seeing this plan, down to the very last detail.

FYI- A prostodontist should be the dentist directing the dentist (Periodontist or Oral Surgeon) that places the implants.

GOAL OF WEBSITE / SPONSORSHIP

I am looking for site sponsors.

I will set up a "not for profit corporation" and use the sponsor money to help victims of dental fraud repair their mounths.

No overhead (salaries) will be paid from these funds. My time will be strictly voluntary. The costs to operate my website are minimal. The hosting is $20/month and the programming is paid by the hour. The funds will be controlled and distributed by a CPA firm.

I WILL NOT PERSONALLY USE ANY FUNDS FROM SPONSORS TO REPAIR MY OWN DAMAGED MOUTH!

I want to establish a network of dentists that are honest and skilled that I can confidently recommend to these victims for dental work and would be willing to work with these victims with reduced fees.

I also would like to assemble a panel of various dental specialties that can review these victims and recommend treatment options to repair their mouths.

Elaine

North Palm Beach, Florida
U.S.A.