Paper clips have plenty of uses — but even MacGyver would be hard-pressed to use them for root canals.
The same cannot be said for this guy.
Michael Clair, a former Mass.-based dentist, is accused of using paper clips inside of root-canal patients’ teeth — instead of the more expensive stainless steel posts that the procedure calls for.
And to make a few bucks from his unique root canals, Clair would bill Medicaid for the more expensive parts.
Eventually the law did catch up to the rogue dentist. In addition to submitting false claims to Medicaid, Clair was charged with assault and battery, larceny and illegally prescribing drugs.
Even though Clair was suspended by Medicaid in 2002, he allegedly hired other dentists for his clinic and filed claims under their numbers between August 2003 and June 2005.
As for the drugs, he’s accused of illegally prescribing drugs to staffers — who in turn returned the medications to Clair.