A former dentist who used segments of paper clip wire instead of stainless steel posts in his patients' root canals, which resulted in infections and lost teeth, was sentenced on Jan. 30 to a year in prison and 5 years' probation.

Michael Clair, DDS, pleaded guilty in a Massachusetts court to assault and battery for the misguided attempt at cutting case costs. His guilty plea also addressed charges of bilking Medicaid out of $130,000 by submitting claims for the unused stainless steel components; illegally prescribing medications; and intimidating witnesses.

Medicaid suspended Dr. Clair in 2002, but he'd filed claims with the program from August 2003 until June 2005 under the names and provider numbers of other dentists in his practice. He lost his license to practice dentistry in Massachusetts in 2006. According to the state attorney general's office, he is not licensed to practice in any other state, though he has since relocated from Fall River, Mass., to Crofton, Md.

State prosecutors had requested a sentence of 5 to 7 years' imprisonment, based on Dr. Clair's betrayal of his patients' trust. But the judge saw Dr. Clair's acceptance of responsibility, lack of a prior criminal record and undisclosed mental health factors as mitigating factors. Dr. Clair's attorney declined to comment.

David Bernard