i have had multiple members of this forum ask me about this

the article this sunday in the star-adv was very surprisingly good and pretty fair and balanced
there is also additional coverage in the online media such as civil beat and hawaii free press
hawaii free press takes the issue a few steps further (since it has a conservative slant)
they place some of the blame on some state senators that messed with the dental practice act in the past
namely sen roz b from maui
the article also includes a choice quote from then senator brian schatz
basically, some dentists were suing the state dental board because they failed the exam
a bunch of legislators took the opportunity to eliminate our state dental board exam, and opened up licensure to anyone that passed a regional exam
the belief was that more dentists in the state would make dental fees decrease
(discounting the fact that dental fees in HI are less than all but 3-4 states and our expenses are in the top 2-3 states)
dr LT (now dr LG since she got married) was one of the named people in the lawsuit, and she received her dental license in HI once the law was changed
the hawaii free press also places blame on the dental board for not regulating general dentists that imply they are specialists
and also for not regulating the use of conscious sedation more
in addition, they place some of the blame on the media for allowing non-specialists to advertise in sections (like the yellow pages) that they are not qualified to be in

if anyone has any questions re: this case, i can answer (within reason)

it is a tragedy, and there will be changes to the dental practice act as a result
i am sorry that it had to come about this way

we can all learn from this, one injury as a possible result of a round from the range is all it's gonna take to change things forever

Very sad case. 

Is it really possible that a 3 yo truly needed all that dental surgery? Just seemed excessive to me. 

Very sad case. 

Is it really possible that a 3 yo truly needed all that dental surgery? Just seemed excessive to me.

it's possible
family had a dds examine the girl while she was in a coma, and lawyer claims dds also took xrays and found a few small cavities
but that's what lawyers are supposed to say
but, all kinds of people are now online saying their kids were treated at dr lg's and were over treated

i cannot say this without some people think i am blaming the mom, and supporting the dentist, WHICH I AM NOT
but as a parent, it is your right to ask a practitioner what they are doing to your child and why

it is a very, sad tragic case
the good thing is that people are beginning to communicate more, instead of just thinking, "oh, he's the dentist, i need to do what he says"
if you are an honest, ethical practitioner, you should not have any problems with people asking you that

I am going to have to read that articel when I get home now. My wife went to that office and she never felt anything was weird like over treatment, but that could be because we have tricare (dont know how it ranks against other dental insurance with payment).

I am going to have to read that articel when I get home now. My wife went to that office and she never felt anything was weird like over treatment, but that could be because we have tricare (dont know how it ranks against other dental insurance with payment).

tricare is much the same as any other dental insurance

here are some of the articles
you'll have to look up the one in the star-adv (you need a login to read)
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2014/01/21/20948-death-of-3-year-old-points-to-lax-oversight-of-hawaii-dentists/
http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/11738/Flashback-Schatz-Baker-Pushed-to-Loosen-Requirements-for-Dentists.aspx

I remember similar stories on one of the network nighttime specials years ago. Maybe not deaths, but over-treatment. That was on the mainland.

I remember similar stories on one of the network nighttime specials years ago. Maybe not deaths, but over-treatment. That was on the mainland.

the networks had lots of stuff over 5 years ago when a child on the east coast died of a facial swelling caused by an abscessed tooth that spread and choked  her by strangling her airway
was a little girl on welfare, living in shelters and on the streets
dentists and oral surgeons were not able to properly care for her since they did not have a stable address or phone contact for follow up

this guy used Demerol and hydroxyzine and chloral hydrate?  that is a weird mixture.  He didn't use local anesthetics?

also, who does 4 root canals at one time?