Dentist Who Used Paper Clips for Root Canals Sentenced

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who actually enjoys going to the dentist. And then there are guys like Michael Clair, whose actions were enough to scare people away from the dentist's chair for the rest of their lives.

Clair, a former dentist in Massachusetts, was sentenced to a year in prison for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in root canals, according to a report by The Associated Press. Many of Clair's patients reported infections after he performed root canals on them.

Clair was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years, with all but one suspended. He was charged with assault and battery, illegally prescribing medications and witness intimidation. He should also be charged with ruining the dental profession, period, if you ask me.

Clair also plead guilty to defrauding Medicaid of more than $130,000. He was suspended by Medicaid in 2002, but continued to file claims using the names of other dentists in his practice. His license to practice dentistry in Massachusetts was suspended in 2006.