Dentist Threatens to Report Mom to CPS Over Missed Follow-Up Appointment

What the actual hell?! A mom in Pennsylvania is furious after a dentist threatened to report mom to CPS over a missed follow-up appointment. Like, they didn’t threaten to report her for neglect or abuse, which is warranted. They sent a letter to her home, with a not-so-vague threat, because she didn’t schedule a follow-up appointment at their office. This is some next level bullshit.

Trey Hoyumpa posted the letter to Facebook in outrage. In the letter, the dentist threatened to report mom to CPS for failure to bring her children in for dental care.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156149102176069&set=a.10151575928966069.1073741832.745416068&type=1&theater

The letter reads in part, “According to law, failure to bring your child for dental care is considered neglect. Pennsylvania Act 31 (Child Abuse Reporting and Recognition Requirements) states that health care providers must report your failure to bring your child to the dentist for evaluation and care.” The letter concludes, “To keep your child as healthy as possible and avoid a report to state authorities, please call Smiles 4 Keeps immediately to schedule a treatment appointment within the next 30 days.”

What … the actual … hell. Obviously, there’s more to the story, which Hoyumpa shared in her post.

She says, “Got this letter in the mail today. Smiles4Keeps bullies the parents, controls the care behind closed doors, and turns parents into villains”¦and I will not stand for it anymore!!!
1- Parent does NOT go into patient area with their child.
2- Parent does NOT meet dentist. (They meet hygienists.)
3- Only one appt for procedures (fillings) per day. If Parent has more children, they must come on a different day.
4- They will report you if you don’t respond to them.
There is no 5 because I’m already pissed and screaming my way out of the facility! HOW DARE THEY!!!”

Hoyumpa told Yahoo Lifestyle, “In November, Smiles 4 Keeps said that my kids had seven cavities between them, which sounded outrageous. I asked the receptionist to schedule both kids’ [follow-up] appointments on the same day so I wouldn’t have to take off work twice, and she refused. I got really angry because it showed that they didn’t care about their patients.” She says she told the office she wouldn’t be coming back for a variety of reasons. But the office sent the letter anyway.

The office took to Facebook to defend themselves. Honestly, this probably all could have been resolved BEFORE the dentist threatened to report mom.

https://www.facebook.com/smiles4keeps/posts/1592706137451677

To which Hoyumpa posted ANOTHER rebuttal, basically saying that when and where she takes her kids for dental care is her own damn business, not theirs.

https://www.facebook.com/treyplay/posts/10156157399246069?pnref=story

“I don’t have to tell you where I go with my children nor do I have to tell you my plans for their future care. Go ahead and do your mandatory reporting on me and see the firestorm that follows. What I do with my kids’ teeth after I LEAVE your office is none of your business. You ARE NOT the caregiver of my child WHEN I SAY that you are no longer the care giver, and NOT when YOU tell me so.”

Hoyumpa says she is currently in the process of finding a new dentist for her kids (I’ll say!). The whole situation is bananas, and really should have been handled better.

(Image: Facebook / Trey Hoyumpa)

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