Half Dental in Vancouver has closed after an investigation revealed the corporate structure of the dental office failed to meet the state’s legal requirements.
The dental service chain closed its office in Hazel Dell, at 910 N. E. Minnehaha St. Suite 12, on Oct. 30, an official confirmed.
“Half Dental in Washington ceases to exist,” said Jarrett Clark, director of marketing for Half Dental’s corporate office in Las Vegas. The franchise-based company also has locations in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho and California.
Patients have been notified and are being funneled to Gentle Dental, which is located in the same Hazel Dell neighborhood as Half Dental and has several local offices, Clark added. “They’re a great organization and we felt that they were the best option to ensure that all of our patients were adequately cared for,” he said.
In June, the Washington Department of Health’s Secretary of Health said it would issue a cease and desist order to Half Dental after a complaint-driven review revealed that the company’s corporate structure violated state law, said Kelly Stowe, a spokeswoman for the Washington Department of Health.
Washington law requires the owner of a dental facility to be a licensed dentist. The filing was against Implants Dentures and Dental Inc., doing business as Half Dental Inc.; Richard Blanchard; Brandon D’Haenens and John Doe.
The company faced a possible $1,000 a day fine until a licensed dentist could be established as an owner.
Clark said the company was unable to meet the state requirement. “We did not have a doctor partner up there who was interested in doing that,” he said.
Gentle Dental officials said they were notified of the closure last week and started working immediately with Half Dental last week on a transition plan.
“We’re dealing with it on a case-by-case basis,” said John Bukovi, director of operations for Gentle Dental in Vancouver. “All we’re doing is, we’re accepting the records.”
Bukovi confirmed patients with prepaid services will be taken care of, and that they were sent letters informing them of the change. “They’re going to get their services done,” he said.
Patients who don’t want to go to Gentle Dental can work with the dental office to get their paperwork transferred. The office is in the process of becoming the custodian of patient records.
But patient Elena Perry of Vancouver, who said she learned of the closure second-hand, said she is concerned. “I don’t know when my services are going to be filled,” she said. “I don’t know what I’ve paid for what I haven’t paid for.”
Perry had a full mouth extraction and was fitted with temporary dentures but needs regular check ups and a fitting for a permanent set, she said.
“I paid for services that I haven’t received,” she said. “I have a set of dentures that were provided to me out of the good mercy of (a) dental tech that are not right. I just want what I paid for.”
Perry is apprehensive about the change. “Now I have to start with a new dentist,” she said. “I don’t even know where to go.”
Bukovi said Gentle Dental is working to make a smooth transition.
“These patients are going to be taken care of,” Bukovi said. “They’re not going to be hung out to dry.”
