The Iowa Dental Board has reached a settlement with a Cedar Rapids dental hygienist after she allegedly pressured a patient into an expensive periodontal treatment he did not need, KCRG reported July 6.
Abby Young reportedly told a patient he had periodontal disease and that his teeth would fall out if he did not begin treatment as soon as possible. After the procedure, Delta Dental determined it was not medically necessary and denied the claim. The dental office then billed the patient directly and threatened to send the debt to collections. The patient has since been reimbursed, according to a final order from the dental board.
Under the settlement, Ms. Young received a warning and must complete an educational course on periodontics and ethics. She denied the nature of her conversations with the patient and did not admit wrongdoing, according to the order.
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