Sarah was 18 and hoped to smile like a movie star. That was her dentist’s promise. A few weeks later, her mouth was a single wound. “Lionel Guedj advised me to remove all my teeth. He said I would never have dental problems again,” she says. Hundreds of patients felt the same. 322 went to court. The ex-dentist could be sentenced on Thursday to ten years in Marseille.
In 2005, Guedj opened his practice in the north of Marseille, where many low-income people with North African roots live. He addressed his patients by first name, receiving up to 70 a day, many without an appointment. Five years later, with a monthly income of up to 80,000 euros, he was the highest paid dentist in France. His method: “After the first appointment, there was a systematic treatment plan to kill and crown as many teeth as possible,” according to an expert report.
careless actions
Guedj billed 28 times more dentures than an average dentist. He performed his operations quickly and carelessly. Many patients subsequently complained of inflammation, abscesses, ulcers and ill-fitting dentures.
“I had bad breath, I couldn’t laugh anymore, I had a wet speech and I had trouble eating,” Sarah reported in Closer magazine. She withdrew more and more after the treatment because she was ashamed. “I realized too late that you can’t have 24 teeth pulled at 18.”
More than 300 of his disappointed and angry patients eventually went to court. His prosthesis manufacturer testified that Guedj ordered bridges from him without adjusting them first. “He made so much money that he thought he was untouchable,” said his former colleague. Guedj said he could afford the best lawyers and therefore had nothing to fear.
Also manipulated X-rays
According to his secretary, the dentist did not shy away from taking x-rays of ominous white spots (indicating caries, ed.) with an image processing program. Guedj is responsible for so many operations that his workday should have lasted up to 52 hours. According to prosecutors’ calculations, Guedj killed about 3,900 healthy teeth, an average of 11 per patient.
“I had an appointment because a single tooth hurt,” says 60-year-old Yamina Abdesselem. “He told me to devitalize all teeth (kill the nerve, ed.). I trusted him. He had a great practice, he was so friendly,” she recalls. Today she lives with poorly adjusted teeth that only hold with lots of glue “Why did he do that?”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
