Nightmare? Dentist Used Paper Clips for Root Canals to Save a Few Bucks

It sounds like the scene from a bad dream: you're in the dentist's chair for a scheduled root canal. Making matters worse, the dentist uses paper clips instead of sanitary, stainless steel posts in the procedure. Now the office supply you once saw as harmless is causing you pain and even leading to infection.

Unfortunately, this scenario was a real-life nightmare for some patients of a former Massachusetts dentist who has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud for using paper clips for just this purpose in an effort to save money.

Michael Clair is scheduled to be sentenced next Monday after pleading guilty last week in New Bedford Superior Court to a variety of charges, including defrauding Medicaid of $130,000 assault and battery, illegally prescribing prescription drugs and witness intimidation.

Watch the local Fox 25 News report with the reactions of local residents:

Mass. AG: Dentist used paper clips in root canals: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Prosecutors say the 53-year-old Clair was suspended by Medicaid in 2002, but continued to file claims from August 2003 to June 2005 by using the names of other dentists in his Fall River practice.

The Daily Mail reports that Clair's license expired in 2008 and that it was revoked in Florida, West Virginia and Maryland.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, according to the Fox 25 report, suggests those who were patients of Clair see a dentist as soon as possible. Marc Chase of South Shore Dental is reported as saying "I'm afraid of what we might find if we look at these patients," suggesting that the paper clips are not the end of the story.

"I think this is a symptom of a very large problem," Chase said.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report.