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Dentist Suspended, Faces Fraud Charges

Horror stories about botched dental care fill a 21-page affidavit for a Pasco County dentist charged with fraudulently billing Medicaid for the services.

Miranda Smith of Smiles and Giggles Dentistry is accused of more than $140,000 in Medicaid fraud and had her license suspended, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The arrest affidavit allegations range from having children sedated for nonexistent cavities, to installing ill-fitting dentures, to getting unlicensed assistants to performing work for which they were unqualified, the Times reports. Smith denies the allegations and says she is owed $300,000 in back pay from Medicaid, according to the Times.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.