The letter threatens to report parents to authorities if they don’t call the office and schedule an appointment within 30 days of receiving it — something Hoyumpa wrote is in line with other shady practices she’s allegedly witnessed in their office. “Smiles4Keeps bullies the parents, controls the care behind closed doors, and turns parents into villains … and I will not stand for it anymore!!!” she wrote. Hoyumpa reportedly told the receptionist she wouldn’t be coming back, not only because they wouldn’t allow her to schedule same-day appointments for her kids, but also because she allegedly wasn’t allowed to stay with her kids during their appointment and she wasn’t allowed to meet the dentist. “People who got upset by that letter, they don’t understand that dental problems can very rapidly turn into a very serious medical problem,” Dr. Wezmar told WNEP. “It’s only getting worse, unfortunately. And it’s getting younger. The kids that are getting the care are getting younger … We really have to jar the parent to realize that with a child comes responsibility.” “Letters that refer to dentists’ mandate to report failure to seek necessary treatment are sent under specific conditions … and the letters are not sent unless attempts at multiple communications with the parents or guardians are unsuccessful or messages from our office remain unanswered. Letters are not sent after one missed treatment appointment,” the statement explained. “If a parent or guardian chooses to take a child who requires treatment to another provider, we ask for the name of the new treating dentist so we can record the information in the patient’s record. We remain responsible for the patient until the parent relays the name of the new dentist.” While it’s true that dentists are mandated reporters in all 50 states — meaning they’re obligated to alert authorities if they suspect abuse or neglect — the rules dictating what constitutes child neglect are murky at best. John Rutkauskas, CEO of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), provided a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle that explained, “The AAPD defines it [dental neglect] as ‘willful failure of parent or guardian, despite adequate access to care, to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a level of oral health essential for adequate function and freedom from pain and infection.’” He added that dentists must inform parents of kids’ dental issues and adequately explain the consequences of delaying treatment, as well as do everything in their power to aid the family if barriers to care — such as cost or lack of insurance — exist. “If, despite these efforts, the parent fails to obtain therapy, the case should be reported to the appropriate child protective services agency,” he said. But Hoyumpa, who is in the process of finding a new dentist, told Yahoo Lifestyle she wasn’t properly informed and doesn’t think the letter is warranted. “I’m being accused of abuse without foundation,” she said. “I wasn’t in the exam room, no one showed me any cavities, and I haven’t seen X-rays. Yet they have the gall to send me this letter.”
