AG: Dentist Used Paper Clips In Root Canals

BOSTON -- A Fall River dentist has been indicted for allegedly using paper clips in dental work and then billing Medicaid for the stainless steel posts he should have used.

Michael Clair, 51, formerly of Fall River and now of Maryland, was also indicted on a charge of submitting additional false claims to the Medicaid program using other dentists’ provider numbers and illegally prescribing prescription drugs.

Clair was indicted on two counts of assault and battery; three counts of larceny over $250; five counts of filing false Medicaid claims; two counts of illegally prescribing a Class B substance; and one count of prescribing a Class C Substance.

Clair is accused of inserting pieces of paper clips into patients’ mouths as a post in root canals instead of utilizing standard posts made of stainless steel, then billed the Medicaid program for the costs of the post using other dentists’ provider numbers, Attorney General Martha Coakley's office said.

Officials said Clair was suspended by Medicaid in 2002. He allegedly hired other dentists for his clinic and filed Medicaid claims using their numbers totaling approximately $130,000 between August 2003 and June 2005.

Clair will be arraigned on April 8