SYDNEY, N.S. — Ryan Binder was crushed when he saw his daughter after her visit with a Halifax-based dentist on Wednesday.
"Daddy, you said I was going to be okay and it wasn't going to hurt, that the doctor wouldn't hurt me. But that doctor did hurt me ... you lied," six-year-old Peyton said as she looked at him.
That moment will probably forever be seared in Binder's memory and he wants to see disciplinary action taken against the man he believes hurt his daughter.
"It crushed me. I started bawling when she said that to me. I told her never again would I let that happen to her. I still get upset," said Binder, who wasn't at the appointment.
"I want his license revoked. He should never be able to work on another kid again."
BOARD STATEMENT
The allegation has not been proven, but the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia did provide a written statement and confirmed it was investigating the matter.
"One of the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia’s core functions is to investigate complaints regarding the standard of care provided by dentists. The Board has the power to discipline dentists that are found to have not provided the proper standard of dental care. This discipline can range from requiring the dentist to take additional training to suspending the dentist’s license to practice," said the statement from Dr. Curtis Gregoire, the deputy registrar of the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia.
"The Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia is aware of the recent concern posted on (social media). The Board is currently looking further into this matter."
The statement also said during the COVID-19 pandemic, no one is generally allowed in the operatory with the patient, however, in some circumstances, allowances are made like when the patient is a child.
POLICE INVESTIGATION
Binder wasn't able to go to the appointment so his mother took Peyton, who was referred to the Halifax-based dentist by one in Sydney. In a social media post Binder made after Peyton told him the dentist allegedly hurt her by holding his hand over her mouth and nose when she screamed, he also said his daughter alleges the dentist yelled at her.
Binder said his mother could hear Peyton screaming but her repeated requests to go into the room with her were denied.
The dentist in question has denied the family's account of what happened during Peyton's appointment, however, no other details can be given due to patient-doctor confidentiality.
The night after the appointment, while still in Halifax, Binder said his mother called Halifax Regional Police to report the incident.
Const. John MacLeod said they don't usually give information about investigations before charges are laid. However, he could confirm in a written statement there is an investigation into a report received "that a man who was working as a dentist ... assaulted a patient. The investigation is in the early stages and no further information is available at this time."
POSSIBLY MORE
Binder's social media post about the alleged incident went viral and he said he's received hundreds of messages from people who have shared their own negative experiences with the same dentist. Some told Binder they filed complaints about the dentist, however, this wasn't confirmed by the Provincial Board of Dentists in Nova Scotia when asked.
A social media group was started for people sharing their experiences with the dentist in question and Binder said he's spoken to a lawyer about the possibility of a class-action lawsuit based on how many alleged patients were possibly assaulted or harmed by the dentist.
(with files from Nebal Snan, SaltWire Network)
