Sacramento dentist allegedly did root canals on healthy teeth, submitted fraudulent claims [The Sacramento Bee, Calif.]

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Feb. 28--A Sacramento dentist was suspended by a state board on allegations of performing unneeded root canals and fillings on at least 17 of his patients and collecting insurance payments for work he did not do.

David Milton Lewis was barred by the Dental Board of California from performing dentistry until the board's case against him is resolved, board officials said.

"Performing unnecessary dental procedures to sound healthy teeth, and then submitting fraudulent dental claims under the penalty of perjury is the worst kind of evil a dentist can engage in," dental board attorney's wrote in a petition to suspend Lewis' licence, filed Feb. 24.

In addition to causing damage to patients' healthy teeth, the board alleged Lewis submitted numerous bogus insurance claims and offered cash rewards to United Parcel Service employees for referrals.

According to allegations filed by the dental board, Lewis targeted UPS employees because Delta Health Systems, the firm's dental insurer, covered 100 percent of dental treatments with no maximum payment or co-payment.

According to board filings, insurance investigators believe Lewis began performing the unnecessary work as the recession worsened in 2008, with claims soaring from an average of $154,000 a year before 2009 to about $870,000 per year afterward.

A hearing is pending against Lewis, who has a practice at 4350 Marconi Ave., according to the board, but an administrative judge levied the suspension until the hearing, ruling that permitting the dentist to continue to practice "might result in serious injury to the public," said board officials.

Call The Bee'sDarrell Smith, (916) 321-1040.

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