A former dentist from Marseille was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing around 3,900 healthy teeth out of greed for money. His practice in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods was “purely a money machine,” the prosecutor said. The court ordered the seizure of a villa and other assets on Friday.
Using his brutal machinations, the 43-year-old had amassed cars, a boat, works of art and bank accounts worth more than 2.2 million euros. The former dentist had transferred the villa to his wife before the start of the procedure. The man got the money because he promised his patients the smiles of movie stars and then pulled or killed as many teeth as possible and sold their expensive dentures.
Maximum 70 patients per day
There wasn’t much time for unnecessary treatments: the 43-year-old saw up to 70 patients a day, many without an appointment. “After the initial appointment, a systematic treatment plan was developed to kill and crown as many teeth as possible,” a report said. He carried out his operations quickly and carelessly. Many patients subsequently complained of inflammation and ill-fitting dentures.
His prosthetic manufacturer stated that the former doctor had ordered bridges without adjusting them first. According to the secretary, the man did not shy away from manipulating X-rays. He billed for so many procedures that his workday would have lasted 52 hours.
The 374 victims can now hope for compensation. A young woman had 24 teeth pulled at the age of 18. As a result, she sometimes had difficulty eating and her speech was wet, the affected person said. After the treatment she felt ashamed and became increasingly withdrawn.
Monthly income of 80,000 euros
The ex-doctor opened his practice in 2005 in the north of Marseille, where many people with low incomes and North African roots live. Five years later he was the best-paid dentist in France, with a monthly income of no less than 80,000 euros.
The former dentist followed the announcement of the verdict via video conference from his prison. His son “may have worked a little too fast,” the 71-year-old father admitted during the trial. He was sentenced to five years in prison for complicity.
Source: Krone
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