French dentist found guilty of ‘mutilating’ patients by removing healthy teeth for profit

Update May 8: The former dentist has been found guilty of performing unnecessary procedures and defrauding the French social security system. He was sentenced to six years in prison. The court also prohibited him from practicing again and permanently banned him from French territory.

A former dentist in southern France is on trial accused of removing healthy teeth from patients and replacing them with expensive implants without a medical reason. 

José Pereira Mendes, 61, pleaded not guilty, stating he is a victim and denies any wrongdoing. 

He appeared before the criminal court in Mende (Lozère) on May 6 and 7, in the region of Occitanie, where he is being tried for “violence resulting in mutilation or permanent disability,” “fraud against the social security system,” and money laundering.

“His compass was his oath: to relieve patients,” the accused’s lawyer, Mr Kominé Bocoum, argued, according to France 3 Occitanie. Mr Bocoum claims his clients received no complaints when he was practising in both Portugal and Mende, and he maintains that any issues would fall within the scope of possible medical error.

However, investigators and civil parties argue this was not a matter of error but a “deviation from medical practice,” with repeated and unjustified procedures carried out on patients.

The issues emerged during his practice in Badaroux (Lozère), where at least 40 patients have filed complaints against him, claiming he removed healthy teeth and replaced them with implants inappropriately and for financial gain.

“The driving force was money, not the patients’ best interests,” says Catherine Szwarc, representing 27 of the plaintiffs.

An investigation revealed that the former dentist’s turnover more than doubled in two years, rising from around €199,500 in 2018 to approximately €458,000 in 2020. The alleged damage to the social security system is estimated at over €300,000.

For his part, Mr Mendes blames his assistant, whom he accused of mishandling reimbursement requests linked to the financial aspect of the case.

Although Mr Mendes has been prevented from practice for the past five years after his medical licence was taken away, patients continue to report severe suffering caused by his treatment.

“Even today, I have holes in my mouth and can't eat properly,” said Mohamed El Mtalsi, a plaintiff. “He took advantage of my vulnerability, making promises to me, and this man extracted healthy teeth without my consent.”

Cases described during the investigation included extreme medical interventions. In one instance, seven teeth were removed from a single patient in one session, and 14 from another. Some patients were left in “great distress,” with procedures later deemed non-compliant and requiring complete rework.

One expert report noted that implants were sometimes placed inappropriately, with patients suffering severe complications. “In one of my clients, implants migrated to the sinuses. One of them endured 250 days of infection in one year,” Ms Szwarc stated. 

Facial deformities, thinning lips, posture problems, chronic tension and headaches were also reported, alongside deep psychological and social effects. 

The defendant, however, maintains that all procedures were justified and carried out at the request of patients, insisting he had the necessary training and experience.

Mr Mendes faces up to ten years in prison, in addition to potential damages owed to the victims.