Fall River dentist used paper clips in surgeries

FALL RIVER, Mass. -- A dentist in Fall River has been accused of some shocking surgeries.

According to Attorney General Martha Coakley, that dentist used paper clips during root canals.

Between the fall of 2003 and 2005, Dr. Michael Clair had a dental practice at the New Harbour Mall shopping center in Fall River. His license had already been revoked in two other states.

A local dentist said paperclips used in this manner could potentially fracture the tooth or cause infection.

“Only if you took an x-ray you would be able to tell the paperclip is just way too thin...it’s really not structurally sound,” the dentist said.

However, former patients of his are only now coming forward about the botched dental procedures they received at his office.

One former patient said Dr. Clair actually lost his son’s dental records. Another said the dentist called him a “crybaby,” and a third even said she believes she still has a paper clip stuck in her mouth.

One former patient who wished to remain anonymous said she was not surprised to hear about Dr. Clair’s indictment.

“I’m not surprised he’s being indicted... He had given me a needle that caused my face to really become swollen, and he kept wanting to do root canals, everything was a root canal,” she said.

The Attorney General’s office has charged the 51-year-old dentist with profiting from those root canals. When doing the root canals, instead of using the stainless steel posts he was supposed to use, he used everyday paper clips.

“Wow, I can’t believe that. That’s crazy,” said one man upon learning of the case.

“This supposed dentist was thinking to make money and to hurt people. They walk out, and they don’t know what’s going on with the mouths until it closes down like this,” said Rose Martin, who was shocked to hear about the charges.

According to the indictment, Dr. Clair then charged Medicaid for the expensive posts.

On top of assault and battery charges stemming from the paper clip use, Dr. Clair is also accused of illegally prescribing drugs and submitting false Medicaid claims.

Dr. Clair now lives in Maryland. His license has been revoked in Massachusetts since 2005. Clair’s license is also revoked in Maryland, Florida, and West Virginia.

He will be arraigned on April 8.

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