Warnings Ignored: Utah’s dentistry board urged the state to revoke Nicholas LaFeber’s license after reports of failed root canals and poor dental work. Instead, regulators reinstated it.
New Harm Alleged: Since LaFeber’s license was reinstated, two patients have said routine fillings left them in prolonged pain and they needed to have the work redone by other dentists.
Opting for Lighter Discipline: Regulators say they prefer probation and rehabilitation over license revocation because it “ends a career.” A former board member said the public “was not well-served.”
LaFeber said he would not discuss individual patients because they did not grant him permission to do so. He told The Salt Lake Tribune and ProPublica that he has always tried to keep his patients’ best interests in mind. LaFeber, without knowing the identities of the board members, suggested that some might have been biased against him.
“I had a few outcomes from dental work that had complications and needed further treatment,” he wrote in an email in response to questions. “I assume every dentist encounters some percentage of negative patient outcomes and I have no reason to believe that my practice had a higher percentage than others.”
