This series dug into the painful allegations of dental negligence against Bakersfield dentist Robert Tupac — both in civil lawsuits and an accusation filed against him by the California Dental Board, the state agency responsible for disciplining dentists. The story broke in January 2013 when the Dental Board’s accusations came to light, including an eight-hour surgery performed without general anesthesia, crumbling dental work, drooling and bone loss. The reporting for this investigative series uncovered a host of other problems, including more than a dozen civil suits against Tupac scattered among three counties dating back three decades. Concurrently, the series reported on just how difficult it is for California consumers to discern whether their dentist has a history of malpractice allegations. Outdated databases, opaque regulations and limited public records present almost impenetrable roadblocks for consumers. The series showed how the Dental Board investigates claims of dental neglect, and highlighted that how dentists disciplined by the board are not required to notify their patients that they’ve been reprimanded. And as part of the series’ groundwork, reporters chronicled adjudication of the state Attorney General Office’s case against Tupac through an administrative law hearing covering parts of two calendar years. The series provided readers with valuable tools to use when choosing dentists, while listing available legal and dental resources for consumers.
