All Smiles Dental Centers

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All Smiles Dental Centers is a chain of dental care facilities that provides a wide range of dental services to patients. The centers are known for their comprehensive dental care, including preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, and emergency dental services. All Smiles Dental Centers aim to offer high-quality dental care in a comfortable and welcoming environment.

History

The history of All Smiles Dental Centers dates back to the early 2000s when the first center was established. The founders aimed to create a dental service that not only focused on the quality of care but also on making dental visits a more pleasant experience for patients. Over the years, All Smiles Dental Centers have expanded, opening multiple locations to serve a broader community.

Services

All Smiles Dental Centers offer a variety of dental services to meet the needs of their patients. These services include:

• Preventive Dentistry: Services aimed at preventing dental issues before they develop, including regular dental check-ups, dental cleanings, and patient education on proper oral hygiene.
• Cosmetic Dentistry: Procedures designed to improve the appearance of a patient's smile, such as teeth whitening, veneers, and dental bonding.
• Restorative Dentistry: Services that focus on repairing or replacing damaged teeth, including dental implants, crowns, and bridges.
• Emergency Dental Services: Immediate care for dental emergencies, such as toothaches, broken teeth, or injuries to the mouth.

Controversy and closure

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas had failed to provide adequate dental care to socioeconomically disadvantaged children, prompting the state to increase dental funds by $1.4 million five years before 2012. This led to a surge in dental providers like All Smiles, which introduced a braces program. All Smiles charged Medicaid amounts similar to entire state expenditures, billing at least $15 million over two years—double what Illinois did in the same period. By 2011, they had become one of Texas's largest braces providers, applying braces to 1,000 children under 12, despite Medicaid rules limiting coverage to severe conditions.

Originally owned by Malouf and his wife Leanne, All Smiles was sold to Valor Equity Partners in 2010, with Chris Roussos taking over leadership. In 2012, Texas began a Medicaid fraud audit on All Smiles, which did not initially include Malouf's significant brace-related charges. The company agreed to a corporate integrity pact in March 2012, repaying $1.2 million to Medicaid without admitting guilt. Auditor Dr. Christine Ellis reported overutilization of benefits during her 2007-2011 review, prompting discussions with state and federal agencies, although the U.S. Department of Justice remained uninvolved.

All Smiles filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2012, citing a Medicaid payment cutoff due to excessive and inappropriate care claims, listing significant debts. By June, the Texas Attorney General had sued the company for further alleged frauds. In July, the company ceased all orthodontic operations, affecting 12,000 patients, and laid off staff, while continuing some emergency treatments. By August 2013, South Texas Dental had acquired and rebranded all All Smiles locations.

External links

• All Smiles Dental Centers (Archive)