A dental clinic in China has been ordered to rectify its operations after authorities found misconduct involving a 63-year-old patient who had all his remaining teeth extracted and his savings withdrawn following treatment.
The patient, identified by his surname Li, from Baoji in Shaanxi province, visited Datuanyuan Dental Clinic last September after suffering from a toothache.
Li said he was persuaded by the clinic’s advertisements, including promises of quick dental implants and improved quality of life after treatment.
After being offered a free consultation and transport to the clinic, Li underwent a procedure where his remaining 12 teeth were removed and replaced with 10 dental implants.
However, Li later claimed that clinic staff withdrew 18,800 yuan (about US$2,800) from his bank account and digital wallets, leaving him with an additional bill of 6,200 yuan.
He said his son found him after the procedure with his mouth covered in blood and only 30 yuan left for transport home.
Li’s family raised concerns over the procedure, saying he had several existing health conditions, including coronary heart disease, previous myocardial infarction, diabetes and high blood pressure. He also had four coronary stents, which required additional medical precautions before undergoing dental surgery.
Medical experts said patients with certain conditions, including uncontrolled diabetes and heart-related illnesses, may require careful assessment before dental implant procedures, with some cases requiring treatment delays.
The family lodged complaints with the local health bureau three times, questioning the clinic’s medical records and claiming some documents appeared incomplete or suspicious.
They also alleged that Li’s medical records contained incorrect information, including his gender being listed as female, while a cardiology consultation document was only provided six months after the procedure.
Following an investigation, the local health bureau found that the clinic had failed to provide alternative treatment options, conduct complete preoperative assessments and maintain proper medical records.
Authorities ordered the clinic to refund Li’s treatment fees and temporarily closed the facility for rectification.
The incident sparked public criticism online, with some observers questioning the clinic’s medical practices and expressing concern over the risks involved in performing extensive dental procedures on patients with serious health conditions.
