A 63-year-old man in Shaanxi, China, who has four heart stents and suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, has sparked public outrage after alleging that a dental clinic removed all 12 of his remaining teeth during a single procedure and emptied his entire bank account, leaving him with only 30 yuan (about RM20) for transport home.
According to local reports, the incident occurred in September 2025 after the man, identified only as Li, was persuaded to visit Baoji Datuanyuan Stomatological Hospital for what was advertised as a “free dental check-up”.
Li, who has a history of coronary heart disease, heart attack, hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease, said he had sought treatment for just one painful tooth. However, after arriving at the clinic, he was allegedly convinced to have all 12 of his remaining teeth extracted in a single procedure before being advised to undergo the placement of 10 dental implants.
The clinic was reportedly displaying promotional slogans such as “Get dental implants in the morning, eat meat in the afternoon”, “Painless dental implants”, and “Complete your teeth and live beyond 100 years old.”
Li’s son alleged that clinic staff took away his father’s mobile phone during the visit and used facial recognition verification to withdraw all 18,800 yuan from his bank account, Alipay and WeChat Pay accounts. He also claimed his father was pressured into signing an additional 6,200-yuan debt agreement.
After the surgery, Li was reportedly given back his phone and contacted his son. When his son arrived at the clinic, he claimed the building was locked, while his father was sitting alone in the treatment room with gauze in his mouth and blood still flowing after the extractions.
Since the procedure, Li has allegedly been unable to chew properly on the right side of his mouth. Despite returning to the clinic 13 times for adjustments, the problem remains unresolved. He also continues to experience persistent pain and numbness in his face and left arm.
Li’s family accused the clinic of overtreatment and repeatedly lodged complaints. However, a representative of the hospital maintained that doctors had assessed Li’s medical condition before the procedure and insisted there was nothing improper about the treatment.
Following widespread media coverage, the Weibin District Health Bureau and the Market Supervision Bureau in Baoji launched a joint investigation into the case.
Authorities said expert assessments found the clinic had committed multiple violations, including overtreatment, improper medical record documentation, false advertising, and misleading consumers.
Officials have since issued a rectification order, summoned the clinic’s management for questioning, and announced that the hospital will face the maximum administrative penalties permitted by law, while those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with legal procedures.
