WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A Florida dentist allegedly abused dozens of his pediatric patients, but was convicted in only one case, records indicate.
Thomas Floyd allegedly called children names, including cry baby and brat, and was also accused of pinching a 2-year-old and giving a 4-year-old eight crowns without her parents' consent, documents recently obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel indicate.
Investigators who probed the many complaints against Floyd hit many roadblocks, the Sentinel said.
Employees who filed complaints didn't know the patients' names in many cases, and doctors said some of the injuries could have resulted from the dental procedures.
But in 2012, he was convicted of a child neglect charge for jamming a dental tool in a 4-year-old's mouth, causing blood to squirt out.
He agreed to five years' probation and to never practice dentistry in the United States again.
Floyd's defense attorney said that complaints included the reports stem from complaints from his former employees who have been harassing his client.
"If these accusations were true, Tom Floyd would have had problems years and years ago," Michael Salnick, Floyd's attorney, said. "There were things that would go on that would have a reasonable explanation in the practice of pediatric dentistry."
Floyd declined to be interviewed, the Sentinel said.
