Sargenti Opposition Society - Insurance Companies

Sargenti Opposition Society
WHAT YOUR DENTIST MAY NOT TELL YOU
but you need to know before your next root canal

Injured patients should file an adverse event report with the FDA. Absent reports from the public, the FDA will not realize the extent of the dangers of Sargent Paste. Click here to file report. Also ask your doctor to file a report on your behalf. Since reports are voluntary over 90% of adverse events go unreported.

Last updated Aug 13, 2008

INSURANCE COMPANIES & SARGENTI PASTE

Are You Insured? Is Your Dentist Insured?

Not all dental insurers pay for root canals if Sargenti Paste is used. Not all dental malpractice insurers cover a dentist they use Sargenti Paste. This information is important for the dental patient to know. You may be on the hook for the entire cost of the root canal if your insurance denies payment. And further, should you suffer significant damage from a Sargenti root canal and your dentist's malpractice insurance does not cover them, you may have no recourse to obtain reimbursement for your costs required to treat the damage done by the Sargenti Paste. One founder of the SOS has medical bills of $600,000 and will continue to climb for the rest of their life.

The table below lists dental insurance companies that do not cover Sargenti root canals or a dentist if they use Sargenti paste and get sued. This is only a small set of insurance companies that we have found. We will be adding more entries to the table below as we obtain more information.

Is Sargenti Paste a Bigger Business Risk?

Some dental malpractice insurance companies ask, "Do you use Sargenti pastes or cements?" on their policy application. Cincinnati Insurance Company is just one of them. Look at Section V on their application at this link and search for "Sargenti". Why do they want to know that? Do they think that Sargenti is a higher business risk? Is it worth the potential cost to the patient? Unfortunately insurance is about business and money, it isn't about the toll on patient safety and well-being.

Insurance Co.

Ins for Patient or Dentist?

Sargenti Statement
(full document link)

Dentist's Advantage

Dentist Malpractice

Not a statement of exclusion but a telling statement from an insurance company.

There are several classes of cases that have brought extremely high settlements and awards. These include malpractice associated with the use of anesthetic agents, IV and IM sedative agents, aspirations, SBE problems, Sargenti Paste overfills, and adverse drug reactions. (Link)

Medicaid - Michigan

Patient

The Sargenti technique is not a covered benefit. (Full document)

Medicaid - Wisconsin

Patient

Sargenti filling material and other materials not accepted by the federal Food and Drug Administration are not accepted by Wisconsin Medicaid.(Full document).

Medicaid - Kentucky

Patient

(b) The following root canal therapy shall not be covered:

1. The Sargenti method of root canal treatment; (Full Document)

CignaDental

Patient

VI. Endodontic benefits are NOT available for the following:

• Use of unacceptable materials, such as paraformaldehyde containing pastes or silver point fillings. (Full document)

Dental Health Maintenance Organization,
Dental Care Plus

Patient

Endodontic Services (Includes local anesthesia and routine postoperative care, excluding Sargenti). Note the statement in the full document - "Our plan is owned and operated by area dentists." (Full document)

Jackson County Self Funded Medical and Dental Plan - North Carolina

Patient

DENTAL EXCLUSIONS
The following types of Dental Charges are not covered under the Dental Benefits section of the Plan:

Charges for Sargenti procedure-paste fill root canal. (Full document)

EDIC (pending confirmation that this exclusion is still in effect.)

Dentist Malpractice

Policy Exclusion:

EDIC will not underwrite any use of Sargenti-type compounds for the filing of canals during root canal therapy. These Sargenti compounds are commonly those which contain paraformaldyhyde and/or heavy metals. Other fillers which have been approved by the ADA will be covered by EDIC. (full dsocument)
Do you use paraformaldyhyde and/or heavy metal Sargeni-type compounds for filling canals in the course of root canal therapy?	Yes	No

PSIC’s Professional Liability Insurance Coverage

Dentist Malpractice

Please indicate if you provide/administer ansy of the following, and if so, what %:
Sargenti Technique............................ ________%
IMPORTANT NOTE: The procedures in number 3 above will be excluded under the PSIC policy.
Practices that have a total of 50% or more of above procedures are not eligible for coverage. (Full document)

Midwestern Dental Plans, Inc

Patient

B. Limitations are defined as:

5. Root canal therapy is covered for traditional fill materials (gutta percha and silver points) and not Sargenti type materials (Full document)

CNA HealthPro

Dentist Malpractice

We will consider all classes/specialties. We will not entertain applicants with the following characteristics:

Any dentist that performs the “Sargenti” technique (Full document)

Dora Dental Services of Illinois, LLC
*NEW*

Patient

Payment for Root Canal therapy will not be made if any of the following criteria are met:

• A filling material not accepted by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (e.g.
Sargenti filling material) is used.

http://www.allkidscovered.com/assets/010108_doral.pdf

Dental Care Plus
*NEW*

Patient

Endodontic Services (Includes local anesthesia and routine postoperative care, excluding Sargenti)

www2.dentalcareplus.com/dentists/dhmomanual.pdf

Dentist's Advantage
*NEW*

Dentist Malpractice

Confirmed via email on July 23, 2008 1:23 PM. This insurance company dos not insure dentists for malpractice if the procedure involves the use of Sargenti paste. Their application asks if you use it.

State of Tennesse
*NEW*

Patient

Dated July 2006, the document at this link states -

3. Endodontic services, excluding Sargenti procedures which are not covered

More information coming as we collect it. Please email us with any questions or inputs.

It is the policy of the Sargenti Opposition Society to post only the most current and verified information obtained from credible sources. If you have documentation that conflicts with any information on our site or demonstrates a violation of any type, please contact us and we will correct our site as necessary.