Dentist threatens to report mother for 'child neglect' after refusing to schedule appointment for kids' 7 cavities: 5 points

Bartonsville, Pa.-based Smiles 4 Keeps sent Trey Hoyumpa a letter threatening to report her for child neglect after Ms. Hoyumpa did not schedule appointments for her children's cavities to be filled, Yahoo! Finance reports.

Here are five points:

1. Ms. Hoyumpa took her children to Smile 4 Keeps in November 2017 where dentists found her two children had seven cavities combined. She left the practice the same day without making an appointment after struggling with the office to make accommodations.

Smiles 4 Keeps told Ms. Hoyumpa she could not make both of her kids' appointments on the same day. She left frustrated and went to seek dental care elsewhere.

2. Ms. Hoyumpa was not allowed inside the examination room where her children were diagnosed with cavities. Smiles 4 Keeps also did not show her the X-rays to prove her children had seven cavities.

3. The letter sent to Ms. Hoyumpa states the offices, "according to law, failure to bring your child for dental care is considered neglect. Pennsylvania Act 31 (Child Abuse Reporting and Recognition Requirements) states that health care providers must report failure to bring your child to the dentist for evaluation and care."

The practice went on to say Ms. Hoyumpa should call the dental office immediately to schedule appointments within the next 30 days.

4. Smiles 4 Keeps wrote in a Facebook post address the issue saying, "Letters that refer to dentists' mandate to report failure to seek necessary treatment are sent under specific conditions. Letters are indented to remind parents and caregivers of the need for dental treatment for the child in question, and letters are not sent unless attempts at multiple communications with the parent or guardians are unsuccessful or messages from our office remain unanswered."

5. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry does not specify a timeline for when parents must respond to treatment. In the past, Ms. Hoyumpa has had poor experiences at Smiles 4 Keeps. She has not responded to the letter from the office and does not plan to in the future.

More articles on dentists:
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Indiana dentist charged in fatal drunk driving accident: 5 things to know

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