NEWARK – An oral surgeon with practices in Monmouth, Passaic, Hudson, and Union counties has had his license revoked and is facing major fines after engaging in “hit and run dentistry” that left a swath of harmful consequences for patients, announced Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs.
State Board of Dentistry (“the Board”) revoked the license of Dr. Andrew Maron, a North Jersey oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and ordered him to pay more than $500,000 in penalties, costs, and restitution to patients.
Maron, 58, who also practiced as an itinerant oral surgeon in Monmouth, Passaic, Hudson, and Union counties, has been prohibited from practicing in New Jersey since the State filed multiple allegations of negligence, gross negligence and professional misconduct against him in 2015.
The Board revoked Maron’s license for his mistreatment of patients, many of whom were low-income, elderly, or disabled, calling his practice “hit and run dentistry.” According to the Board, Maron demonstrated a “cavalier indifference to his patients’ well-being” and a “pattern of substantial deviations from the standard of care that existed unabated for years.”
“Most dental practitioners are dedicated to the health and safety of their patients,” said Attorney General Grewal. “But revolving-door dentistry that puts practitioners’ financial gain ahead of patient health and safety erodes public trust and undermines the integrity of the entire profession. That’s why it’s important for the Board to take decisive action in cases like this one, and we are pleased that the Board did so.”
According to the case, Maron was found negligent in his treatment of 17 patients between 2010 and 2015, including:
- Pulling natural teeth and replacing them with dental implants with little or no regard to the restorability of the natural tooth;
- Placing numerous implants that failed, some dangerously so by migrating into the sinus, or by patients swallowing them;
- Performing, planning and undertaking treatment without regard to a patient’s ability to pay for the treatment;
- Discussing treatment with patients who were already in the chair receiving anesthesia;
- Pressuring elderly patients into having implants placed without pre-operative diagnosis, review, or informed consent;
- Pressuring Medicaid patients into taking CareCredit loans which exceeded their ability to repay;
- Ignoring or failing to take patients’ medical histories;
- Submitting inaccurate and inflated billing for treatment; and
- Failing to ensure that the dentists in his employ practiced with patients’ health, safety, and welfare in mind.
“Dr. Maron placed patients at risk through egregious conduct that violated the most basic tenets of professionalism,” said Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “His disregard for the well-being of his patients makes a mockery of the standards adhered to by those who are privileged to hold a license to practice dentistry. The revocation of his license not only protects the public from the threat posed by Dr. Maron, it removes a stain on New Jersey’s esteemed dental profession.”
Following a hearing on July 24, 2019, the Board ordered Maron to pay civil penalties totaling $138,500; restitution totaling $75,041.22 to 15 patients; and aggregate costs and attorneys’ fees of $303,856.22. The Board filed its written decision on Nov. 1, 2019.
Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.
