New York City officials have filed a lawsuit against two dental practices in Canarsie, Brooklyn, alleging that they exploited vulnerable patients through deceptive billing and high-interest loan schemes. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection announced the legal action on Wednesday, accusing Canarsie Family Dentistry and New York Family Dentistry of false advertising, deception, and predatory financial practices targeting low-income and elderly patients.
According to the city's complaint filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, the practices pressured patients who were already in pain and receiving treatment to accept costly dental procedures that were falsely claimed to be uncovered by their insurance. Patients were then encouraged—or, in some cases, signed up without their knowledge—for expensive payment plans carrying interest rates up to 27 percent. The city said this approach ensured immediate full payment to the dental offices, eliminating the need to wait for insurer reimbursement or negotiate partial payments.
The lawsuit cites multiple specific cases highlighting the alleged misconduct. One patient, Carol Romain, was told her insurance would not cover necessary tooth extraction, a crown, and antibiotics. The dental practice initially refused to submit her claim and withheld procedure codes, forcing her to pay $1,500 out of pocket. While she was in the dental chair, Romain’s husband was presented with a document he believed was an insurance form but later learned was a credit application that required repayment of $3,000.
Another patient, Lola Parchment, a retired nurse’s aide, recounts receiving only a routine cleaning but was pressured to take on a large loan for additional dental work she never requested. Parchment said she later received a court summons for a debt totaling $5,291. “They’re preying on elders and poor people,” she said.
A third case involves Yasmin Breeden, a 67-year-old Medicaid and Medicare recipient who sought partial dentures but was told all remaining teeth needed extraction and replacement with permanent dentures. The plaintiff alleges that the practice bypassed insurance billing and demanded $1,000 upfront plus a $5,000 loan. Breeden’s dental implants were reportedly improperly installed, and when her family sought repairs, they were told additional loans totaling $10,000 were required. The practice recently threatened to send her account to collections, according to city officials.
Canarsie Family Dentistry, which has one location in Brooklyn, denies the allegations through attorney Justin Kelton, who said the practice acted legally and in patients’ best interests. New York Family Dentistry, which operates three neighborhood locations, declined to comment. The city noted that despite similar business practices and location, the two operations are not connected.
New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection emphasized that it intends to hold these providers accountable for exploiting patients and aims to recover restitution and penalties through the legal process. The agency anticipates more patients will come forward with similar complaints in the coming weeks.